Baltimore officials awarded a demolition contract at the site of a proposed slots casino without public bidding, drawing concern from the city comptroller and the head of a contracting association.
Rather than advertise the work as required for most city projects, the Baltimore Development Corp., the city's development arm, approached a handful of demolition firms and asked them to provide prices to knock down the Maryland Chemical building on Russell Street. The agency also sought estimates for a second project using the same selective method, to raze city-owned warehouses currently occupied by a nonprofit architectural salvage firm on Warner Street.
"We got an estimate from three to four companies," for each contract, said Kimberly Clark, the executive vice president of BDC. "You know the companies that are going to apply," Clark said.
The demolitions will help clear the way for a proposed $212 million slots palace near M&T Bank Stadium, a project that city and state officials are banking on to bring in new revenues and help lower the property tax bills of city residents.
The demolition costs will eventually be reimbursed by the developers of the slots facility if the state awards a license to the sole applicant for the city casino, a company called the Baltimore City Entertainment Group, headed by Canadian builder Michael Moldenhauer.
City Comptroller Joan M. Pratt, who sits on the five-member Board of Estimates panel that approves city contracts, says she believes the best way to seek work is by issuing a request for proposals. "An open process allows for more competitiveness and allows for the City of Baltimore to get better service at the best price," Pratt said.
"If it is not a process that allows everyone who is qualified to bid, and there is a list of selected sources that are being used, then [new] vendors will not waste their time with inquiries," Pratt said.
Arnold Jolivet, the managing director of the Maryland Minority Contractors Association, criticized the process - even though the Maryland Chemical demolition was awarded to an African-American owned firm that he called "well qualified."
"We should all be able to get a chance to bid in this city," Jolivet said.
The Baltimore Development Corp. can circumvent the regular bid process for demolition if a building presents a threat to public safety, said city solicitor George Nilson.
