The Cab Calloway House

The Brew disclosed that the city plans to demolish the former home of bandleader Cab Calloway - sparking a drive to preserve the house and debate over whether a park there would better serve a struggling community.

“In the end, the city just did what they wanted”

The childhood home of Cab Calloway is gone, destroyed by a wrecking crew despite a citizen appeal filed in Baltimore Circuit Court.

Hearing officer approves plan to demolish Cab Calloway’s childhood home

Little hope remains to save the bandleader’s one-time residence in West Baltimore. “That door is closed. If another one opens, I will try again,” says his grandson, Peter Brooks.

Calloway house demolition opponents make their case at hearing

The bandleader’s grandson and a neighborhood advocate argue for preservation, while the Druid Heights CDC and city say the block must be razed.

City halts demolition of block that includes Cab Calloway house

Risk of a court injunction helped persuade the Young administration to temporarily stop the teardown.

Front steps of Cab Calloway house removed by city

After promising that the bandleader’s childhood home would not be demolished prior to a hearing, the city has torn out the building’s marble steps.

Vignarajah joins call for preservation of Calloway house

“In the middle of a global pandemic, to try to rush this through was irresponsible,” the mayoral candidate said.

Advertise with the Brew

With Calloway house teardown looming, an activist laments the lack of leadership that let it happen

“This demolition will be remembered as a calamity for African American culture and for the city of Baltimore.”

Cab Calloway’s childhood home set for razing

Demolition could start as early as today. A community critic calls for a delay due to health risks related to the coronavirus outbreak. UPDATED.

New information could save Cab Calloway house from the wrecking ball

CHAP asks the housing department to postpone demolition so it can determine whether the Calloway house is also a civil rights landmark.

Cab Calloway’s childhood house will be razed, HCD says

EXCLUSIVE: Housing department sides with a community development corp. that wants the site for a park. On Saturday, the same CDC barred Calloway’s grandson from attending a meeting where the park plan was approved.

We’ll keep some of the facade, but rest of Cab Calloway house goes, Druid Heights CDC says

The plan to tear down a block of Druid Hill Avenue moves forward despite the preference of many surveyed residents to save the bandleader’s childhood home.

Demolishing Cab Calloway’s house to make way for a park is shortsighted, critics say

The discovery that the bandleader lived in a building now slated for demolition has caused his grandson to mount a campaign to save the house.