You Tell Us: What Should Happen to Old Simkins Mill Site?
The county has sent a letter to Simkins Industries asking the company to do something about the old Simkins Mill site.
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Nearly six months after another fire broke out at the old Simkins Mill building on River Road by the Patapsco River, Baltimore County has yet to receive a response from the company regarding how the company intended to clean up the 55-acre property.
The December fire drew fire crews from Baltimore and Howard counties and officials said that the mill has been the site of fires and disturbances ever since a huge blaze destroyed most of the mill in 2003, according to an article from the Catonsville Times at that time.
The building dates to the 1820s and was used to make cotton and fabric until it was converted to a paper mill in the late 1920s. It was purchased by Simkins Industries in the 1950s.
Baltimore County Building Engineer Donald Brand said in a letter earlier this month that he has not heard from Simkins officials since mid-January, when Brand exchanged emails with Simkins chief financial officer Anthony Battaglia.
According to Brand's letter, county codes require that a property owner maintain a building. If the building continues in a state of disrepair, the county can order that the building be razed.
The Simkins Mill is open to the elements and 20 percent of it is deemed unsound, according to Brand's letter. It also presents an eyesore to passing motorists and is vulnerable to vandalism because it is not sealed off, Brand wrote.
Simkins Industries has until July 1 to submit a plan to the county, according to the letter.
You tell us: Should the old mill be razed, or should it be restored?
Amy Kelly
7:45 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012
I believe the building should be torn down. It would be nice if it was replaced with a dog park much like the Hannah Moore dog park in Reistertown and the dog park in Hoco.
Richard Hiteshew
7:54 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012
Knock it down.
Deb N
8:11 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012
I would love to see that place torn down. The problem with that site is it is probably an environmental hazard, especially with all of the chemicals that were used for processing. Who knows what has seeped into the ground. Simkins probably does not want to pay for the costly clean up.
scott schools
8:12 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012
i.m.o.
it should become part of the patapsco valley state park.
Laura
8:39 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012
first thing they need to do is to give the parking area near the bottom of Hilltop Rd to the county to provide parking for users of the Avalon area of the park.
Valerie Androutsopoulos
8:51 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012
I agree but it is privately owned and it is unlikely the owners will just donate it for public use. Deb N raises a valid concern that would need to be addressed even if they were to donate it - who pays for cleanup if necessary?
Penny Riordan
9:03 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012
Valerie and Deb, that's a good question. In the county letter, there was no mention of environmental hazards on the site and I don't see anything in previous news articles about what was found after the fire. Will check on that the next time I speak to the county about this issue!
Steve Schreiner
5:06 pm on Thursday, May 10, 2012
I believe MDE has information about any hazardous materials there; a study was done several years ago but I have not been able to get an update from them on what's being done about it. Mainly asbestos I think.
Amy Bopp
9:05 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012
If it were mine...I wld turn it into ghost tours, a museum of the way things were, a place to teach environmental responsilibity to upcoming generations, a kayaking rental place and a place to park my RV. It is simply BEAUTIFUL if u can see past all the graffiti.
Mark Lundin
11:07 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012
I don't think kayaking rentals will work too well with the Bloede's Dam about 1/2 mile down river.
Penny Riordan
9:05 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012
Also, the letter from the county is now uploaded in the gallery for the article in case you want to read it. Thought I did that yesterday...
Karen
9:12 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012
Kayaking rental and parking for that sounds like a great idea. Grab some of the Ellicott City tourists.
Mark Lundin
11:12 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012
Maryland Department of the Environment Facts About Former Simkins Industries Property (Voluntary Cleanup Program) http://www.mde.state.md.us/assets/document/Simkins.pdf
The document discusses the Site Location, History, Environmental Investigations, and Current Status as of July 2010.
Penny Riordan
11:18 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012
Thanks Mark! I do remember you referencing this when I wrote about it in December.
Maureen Sweeney Smith
11:36 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012
It is in a flood plain and I think the building should be razed. It would be great to have a parking lot for trail users but keep the gravel (non-paved) surface in case of future floods. Like the dog park idea. I liked Scott's idea of turning over to State Park. The state, county and owners should work together to assist the owner with razing the building in exchange for making it State Park land.
fred desel
11:43 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012
turn it to state park use parking and great river access much could be done by both baltimore and howard counties
D. Jack MacConnell
12:08 pm on Friday, May 11, 2012
It would be good if the oldest part could be preserved and renovated and the rest razed, but where would the $$ come from? The kayaking idea sounds great if Bloede's Dam is going to be removed which I believe is the case. And what about the ghastly workers' houses above the site on Hilltop Rd.; are they part of the Simkins site? The whole complex is such an eyesore and hazard - something has to be done!
Sharon Silver
9:56 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
How about a mini Savage Mills of sorts, extending the charm of Ellicott City a little further down the river.
Christina Gick
10:47 am on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
I am really sorry D. Jack Maconnell finds the area such an eyesore. My father made a living for his family by working in that mill and we lived in 3 of the houses that are in a "shambles" now. It is really sad to see what it has turned into but to some of us it was our way of life.