The Row Houses of Baltimore, Maryland USA

Baltimore families living amongst abandon row houses.

Story and Photos by David Schalliol

As someone who primarily grew up in the Midwest and has called Chicago home for several years, cities dominated by row houses seem alien. Among those row house cities, Baltimore stands apart for the relative wholeness of these districts — even of those in tremendous disrepair.


Miles and miles of unattended, abandon row houses.

Certainly, many portions of the city have been dramatically altered by demolition and redevelopment projects, but the ability to walk down a formerly residential street flanked by uninterrupted derelict row houses is unique to me.

In a city like Philadelphia, there would be more pockmarks. Elsewhere, like Camden, NJ, those pockmarks may even dominate the landscape.


Familiar scenario for years and years in Baltimore with people living in areas in need of rebuilding or demolition. Many of the Baltimore communities have been left abandon since the April 1968 riots following the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Such Baltimore blocks demonstrate that the city has clearly resisted quite a bit of demolition. The photo images in this article are of a block that will soon endure the demolition of 67 of its' buildings.

Given the current economic climate and the condition of the neighborhood, I would be surprised if anything fills these slots for years and years to come.