CHAP & “Buzz”… Coincidence?

Update: AstroGirl’s Galaxy Guide take

When I’d heard that the Commission for Historical & Architectural Preservation (CHAP) had posted a notice that they planned to designate The Senator’s interior as a “Landmark” and “Public Interior Special List”, I initially thought this would be a good idea. After all, my understanding is that such would prevent a future owner from changing the theatre into something other than a theatre. However, when I started to look into CHAP, I found something interesting…

Senator CHAP notice

Among the commissioners serving I came across the name James “Buzz” Cusack… And I knew I’d seen that name recently, but it took me a moment to realize that it was in relation to The Senator.

Mr. Cusack was identified as one of the potential bidders in a Baltimore Sun article of March 13, 2009.

So, the man who runs The Charles Theatre is:

1. Interested in buying The Senator?
   AND
2. Has influence in a group that could apply restrictions to the property that would probably thin-out the number of other potential bidders?

Anyone else smell something fishy here? Like “conflict of interest” at least?

On top of that I found something else that seems odd about the “application” for these designations. The current owner of The Senator, I understand, did NOT submit the application. And, I’m no lawyer, but in reading the Baltimore City Landmarks & Commission Ordinance document (on the CHAP site), it sounds to me that these designations are only to be applied to “public” areas… Last I heard The Senator was privately owned.

I’d appreciate it, if anyone could comment on this as well!