The Pikesville Plaza Building — home to several Jewish offices and businesses, including Dougie’s Kosher BBQ & Grill — was evacuated recently after a Baltimore County Fire Department inspection revealed structural and safety concerns, as well as renovations conducted without permits.
The 47-year-old, seven-story building is located at 600 Reisterstown Rd., by the intersection with Slade Avenue and near the historic Pikesville Armory complex.
The building is owned by Plaza Investors LLC, which is registered to Michael J. Snider, according to state records. Snider is a managing member and founder of the Law Offices of Snider & Associates LLC , which operates out of the building.
On July 12, Pikesville Plaza tenants were told to secure their computers and remove all personal belongings as soon as possible because the 76,000-square-foot, concrete-and-glass building was going to be shuttered.
In the wake of the recent collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, Florida, buildings and structures across the nation are undergoing inspections.
A total of 98 bodies were recovered from the rubble of the Surfside disaster. On Monday, June 26, the remains of the last victim, Estelle Hedaya, 54, was identified by her brother, Ikey Hedaya.
In particular, Fire Department inspectors were concerned about the Pikesville Plaza’s parking garage. Engineers reportedly felt the expansion joint between the garage and structure made the building potentially unsafe. On July 13, structural engineers visited the building to examine the structural issues.
According to media reports earlier this month, the management team of the Pikesville Plaza was optimistic that tenants would be able to return to their offices and businesses within seven to 10 days. But a visit to the building on Tuesday afternoon, July 27, demonstrated that the building remained completely closed. Three construction workers on the site said it will be at least a month before the building reopens.
“No time soon,” said one worker.
The management is considering installing shoring supports on a temporary basis, according to Baltimore Jewish Life.
In 2006, the condo complex 130 Slade — which is located around the corner from Pikesville Plaza — was evacuated for a short period when a crack was found in its facade.
A former resident of Baltimore and central Florida, Ritt was active in the Soviet Jewry movement of the 1970s and 1980s.
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