Flag House Courts
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Flag House Courts was a public housing project located in Baltimore, Maryland. Comprising three 12-story buildings, and multiple low-rise units. Flag House was built in 1955. The project had recreational facilities with bingo and dances, a swimming pool, and a basketball court. However, the complex had problems from its opening. Elevators broke down often, trapping riders for hours. Residents were forced to run fans (even during winter) because a faulty heating system made the buildings unbearably hot. In addition, there were the problems of crime and drug dealing. By the late 1960s, gunshots were very common, elevators and the stairwells reeked of urine. Residents often threw objects out of windows including holiday Christmas trees. Vacant apartments were turned into drug hangouts, and stairwells became violent crime areas.
In 1993, the projects were renovated slightly, but problems continued. They closed in 1998 and 1999 and were imploded in 2001.
Flag House is mentioned briefly in The Wire. Officer Ellis Carver tells Bodie Broadus in season one, episode five ('the pager'), that he was brought up on the Flag House Courts project.
[edit] Bibliography
- Hayward, Mary Ellen and Charles Belfoure (2001). The Baltimore Rowhouse. Princeton: Princeton Architectural Press.
- O'Donnell, John (1996). "City housing officials pick team to head Flag House Courts project; Complex will be leveled, replaced with 260 units." Baltimore Sun. June 3.
- Valentine, Paul (1995). "2nd High-Rise to Go." Washington Post. December 4.
