Finally! Sidewalk Closed!

A shout out to Frederick City's stalwart guardian of public safety Ned Bond for push, push, pushing city leaders to admit that 56 S. Market needs to be demolished, and to put safety measures in place until that happens. [Photo below courtesy of Ned Bond, Feb. 8]

As of today, the sidewalk between 56 and 70 S. Market is closed until further notice to ensure pedestrian safety. Despite hearing from two structural engineers months ago that the building needed to come down, the city dragged its feet, putting the onus on the city's Historical Preservation Commission to make the decision Mayor Randy McClement could have made himself.

Bond has monitored the deterioration of a number of blighted buildings over the past few years, most recently 56 S. Market. While the owner and the city bickered back and forth over who shoulda, coulda, woulda done something about the downtown eyesore, Bond has been tracking with pictures and words, and emailing city officials about the danger of a building collapse. Read here and here about Bond's efforts.