When George and Angela Sfakianoudis had their property demolished, they had no idea they'd be ordered to resurrect the Fells Point rowhouse -- down to the period decor.
It turns out the 19th-century home at 516 S. Bond St. was historic, and in what might be an unprecedented local act, Judge Timothy Doory ordered the Sfakianoudises this week to rebuild the two-story house -- and make it look authentic -- by Feb. 7, 2002, and pay $4,150 in fines.
The attorney for George, 67, and Angela, 63, said he plans to fight the District Court judge's order to re-create the property, which the couple had torn down without proper permits in 1998.
Theresa Shaffer, the special assistant city solicitor who prosecuted the civil case, said she couldn't recall a similar court order in which someone was required to rebuild a structure. Shaffer said that if the couple fails to make the deadline -- building the home could cost $200,000 -- they could face contempt charges and jail time.
"Clearly, it's in the judge's power to [order the reconstruction]," said Shaffer. "I'm not aware of a judge ordering that before, but part of it, I think, has to do with a real change in the tone and tenor of the prosecution of these cases. The mayor wants these cases aggressively prosecuted. The community wants these matters aggressively prosecuted. It's all about furthering the mayor's agenda, enforcing the law and doing what's right for the city of Baltimore."
The Bond Street homes were built for free blacks who were working in the shipping industry, said Romaine Somerville, development director for the Society for the Preservation of Federal Hill & Fells Point.
The Sfakianoudises have owned the property since 1973. Somerville said an application for a permit to repair termite damage at the Sfakianoudises' building was made in 1998, before the demolition. Urban Contractors of Baltimore took the house down but was not charged in the case.
After the couple had the house demolished, angry Bond Street residents contacted the Society for the Preservation of Federal Hill & Fells Point, which filed an appeal with city housing officials.
The Sfakianoudises' attorney, Baltimore lawyer Peter Prevas, said, "I will file a motion to vacate that order [to rebuild the house] on the basis that it was improperly submitted to the judge. I am very surprised that this was submitted to the judge without me even being copied on it."
