Postpone demolition of McKeldin Fountain until traffic study and new plaza design are complete and sufficient funds are raised to complete both.

Postpone demolition of McKeldin Fountain until traffic study and new plaza design are complete and sufficient funds are raised to complete both.

The Issue

It is critical to postpone demolition of McKeldin Fountain until the following three tasks are complete: feasibility study of removal of Light Street traffic spur, the detailed design of the new McKeldin Plaza is approved through an inclusive public process, and sufficient funds are raised to implement the approved design.

  • The Fountain represents one of the only remaining examples of Brutalist public sculpture in Baltimore City, and nothing like it will ever be built again.
  • The Fountain is a cornerstone of the Inner Harbor redevelopment which brought international renown to Baltimore's waterfront.
  • The Fountain is still functioning, used and relevant by a diverse cross-section of tourists and locals.
  • Designing a replacement that is equally meaningful and iconic as The Fountain should be a prerequisite to demolition.
  • While demolition of the fountain was approved six years ago, detailed plans for the future of McKeldin plaza and the traffic spur have not been publicly discussed. Therefore, the demolition of the fountain should still be subject to further discourse.

This petition is not intended to stifle progress, but rather to guarantee that decisions made about the future of McKeldin Plaza reflect the ideals and values of all of Baltimore’s residents, employees and visitors, new and old.

For more information: 
http://bmoreart.com/2014/11/why-save-mckeldin-fountain.html

http://hyperallergic.com/163559/will-landmark-modernist-fountain-in-bmore-soon-be-no-more/

http://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/makes-building-worth-saving

This petition had 169 supporters

The Issue

It is critical to postpone demolition of McKeldin Fountain until the following three tasks are complete: feasibility study of removal of Light Street traffic spur, the detailed design of the new McKeldin Plaza is approved through an inclusive public process, and sufficient funds are raised to implement the approved design.

  • The Fountain represents one of the only remaining examples of Brutalist public sculpture in Baltimore City, and nothing like it will ever be built again.
  • The Fountain is a cornerstone of the Inner Harbor redevelopment which brought international renown to Baltimore's waterfront.
  • The Fountain is still functioning, used and relevant by a diverse cross-section of tourists and locals.
  • Designing a replacement that is equally meaningful and iconic as The Fountain should be a prerequisite to demolition.
  • While demolition of the fountain was approved six years ago, detailed plans for the future of McKeldin plaza and the traffic spur have not been publicly discussed. Therefore, the demolition of the fountain should still be subject to further discourse.

This petition is not intended to stifle progress, but rather to guarantee that decisions made about the future of McKeldin Plaza reflect the ideals and values of all of Baltimore’s residents, employees and visitors, new and old.

For more information: 
http://bmoreart.com/2014/11/why-save-mckeldin-fountain.html

http://hyperallergic.com/163559/will-landmark-modernist-fountain-in-bmore-soon-be-no-more/

http://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/makes-building-worth-saving

The Decision Makers

Downtown Partnership
Downtown Partnership

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Petition created on November 23, 2014