Politics & Government

Study: Roland Water Tower Structurally Sound

Members of 40th Legislative District will again attempt to get state funds to help restore the historic tower.

The Roland Water Tower is generally in sound structural shape, according to a recently-completed engineering study done on the 106-year-old landmark.

“The problem is what’s falling off,” said Peter Pearre, an architect and Roland Park resident.

Pearre, who has been involved in efforts to preserve the tower, made a presentation regarding the engineering study during the Roland Park Civic League meeting on Thursday night.

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He said the terracotta on the top end of the tower is crumbling and falling off. Other problems with the tower include a stress crack and one fairly disgusting issue.

“There’s an incredible amount of guano and bird skeletons [in the tower],” Pearre said.

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But he said overall, the study, which was paid for in part with a , found the tower to be in good shape.   

During the meeting, Delegates Barbara Robinson and Shawn Z. Tarrant said they intend to pursue a bond bill to help pay for the preservation of the tower during the upcoming General Assembly session.

Last year, members of the 40th Legislative District introduced a bond bill, which was spearheaded by Tarrant, seeking $250,000 to save the tower. That measure failed. This year, the delegates said they are going to use a different tactic.

Robinson, who serves on the Maryland House Appropriations Committee, will be the lead sponsor of the bill this year and will attempt to shepherd it through the committee.

“We want to do something substantial for Roland Park this year,” Tarrant said.

Philip Spevak, president of the Roland Park Civic League, said during the meeting there is a sense of urgency to save the tower.

“We feel we have a critical wind right now, [the tower] can be saved,” Spevak said.

The tower was built between 1904 and 1905 but was out of service by 1930 when the city transferred to a reservoir system.  Residents from several surrounding neighborhoods have been trying to save the tower for years.

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