In 2016, a rainstorm caused the Tiber to swell and inundate the first floor of the building with eight feet of water. The Tiber is steps from its confluence with the Patapsco River. The Berkowitz building sits on top of the Tiber River, and it dates back to the 1800s. Historic Ellicott City sits at the confluence of three streams - the Hudson, Tiber and New Cut branches at the bottom of a steep slope. The shop sits over the Tiber Branch, which flooded earlier in 2018, inundating the shop. Len Berkowitz, 74, and wife Sherry Fackler-Berkowitz, 65, stand in now-gutted Great Panes Art Glass Studio on Ellicott City’s Main Street. They say that no matter how much infrastructure is built, there’s no guarantee another catastrophic flood can be prevented.Ī historic milltown ELLICOTT CITY, Maryland Many experts say the problem is more complicated than just development - a combination of unique topography, urbanization, climate change and bad luck. Others have backed more expensive proposals that call for saving the buildings but constructing additional water-slowing infrastructure upstream. Some residents and others have partly blamed upstream development for the recent devastating floods. The decision by Ball to tap the brakes on the plan comes amidst a broader debate over how Ellicott City can maintain its historic atmosphere and still protect itself against future disasters. The move was seen as controversial by preservationists and others, and has now been put on hold temporarily by Democrat Calvin Ball, who was sworn in Dec. ![]() The plan also includes other infrastructure enhancements to protect the area from flooding. They and other business owners are now stuck in limbo as arguments rage over the future of quaint and picturesque Ellicott City.įackler-Berkowitz said she and her husband believed buyout money was coming - part of a five-year plan approved by Howard County in October to purchase and raze hers and nine other buildings on lower Main Street. They have owned a stone-and-stucco building where their studio is now for 35 years.īut after a second flood earlier this year destroyed their studio again, the Berkowitzes want out. ![]() Sherry Fackler-Berkowitz, 65, has run the business in the historic mill town with her husband Len Berkowitz, 74, for 40 years. ELLICOTT CITY, Maryland - After a 2016 flood destroyed Great Panes Art Glass Studio on this city’s Main Street, the owners resolved to rebuild.
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