Clarke Wants City to Purchase Former Uncle Lee's

The Baltimore City Council is considering condemning and purchasing the building that was home to Uncle Lee’s Szechuan Restaurant.

Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke introduced legislation on Monday for the city to condemn, purchase and then sell the building near 3313 Greenmount Ave. that was once a popular place to eat before games at the old Memorial Stadium.

Clarke said the city should to take control of the property because its owner has no interest in improving the building’s deteriorated state. 

"I’ve had enough," Clarke said.

According to a 1993 article from the Baltimore Sun, Uncle Lee’s acutely felt the sting from the loss of people coming to the neighborhood after 1991 when the Orioles moved downtown.

Read this about the rise and fall of Uncle Lee’s.

The side of the building is also home to a mural referred to as the Great Wall of Waverly, which depicts life in the neighborhood.

"When you start messing with murals on Greenmount Avenue you’ve gone too far," Clarke said.