The curious case of the condemned house that still hasn’t been demolished

First published Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 in the Dundalk Eagle.

The house at 3617 Bay Drive in Middle River has seen better days. The wood panels are falling off, the stones that make up the house are crumbling and trees are growing inside the house. It’s barely visible from the road — a tree has grown on top of it.

The house has been in that state for a while. A neighbor told the Eagle that the house was condemned over a year ago. The Eagle could not verify that, but Baltimore County records show that eight cases have been filed about the house.

The first record dates back to 2004, when the house was reported to be in disrepair. The case was closed in 2014. No further information is available online.

Complaints started flooding in again around 2023. First, in May 2023, a community member told the Baltimore County Code Enforcement Office that animals called the house home.

“Animals are getting into this home — seemingly from all over,” they wrote. “Squirrels got into the roof through holes, groundhogs and raccoons got into the crawl space under the house.”

Records show the house was brought into compliance in July 2023, a little over a month after Baltimore County mailed a notice to the house.

In June 2023, though, someone applied for a permit to demolish the house, records show. It’s unclear what the status of the permit is and who applied for it.

A note accompanying the house’s listing in the Vacant Property Inventory says that the office spoke with the applicant in November 2023. The applicant told the office that they hadn’t had contact with the owner since July 2023, according to the record.

A citation for the house says the permit “was started” on July 7, 2023, but “has remained inactive.” Baltimore County’s Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections did not reply to an email requesting comment.

The owner, Francis Barry Bilson, could not be reached for comment.

Another complaint filed in April 2024 about the house bemoans the moving container in front of the house, noting that it has been sitting there since 2023. Several inspections later, Bilson is facing a $3,000 fine for failing to remove the container.

He may also be facing a $1,000 fee for the house’s state of disrepair.

Bilson is no stranger to owing government money — five cases have been filed against him for failing to pay a total of over $1 million in federal and state taxes. All the cases, which were filed between 2011 and 2012, are closed.

Bilson’s house might finally be demolished soon. If repairs or demolition haven’t started by 30 days after the county published its decision — which a sign in the house’s front yard indicates was Sept. 9 — Baltimore County “may” order the house be demolished “at the owner’s expense,” the county’s website reads.