Reportedly mistaking roses for weeds, a Baltimore Housing Authority crew cut down a curbside garden of rose bushes and lilacs alongside Perkins Homes on the same day that Housing Commissioner Paul Graziano verbally dueled with residents and activists over poor conditions at the public housing complex.

The events took place nearly simultaneously on Thursday morning.

While The Brew and other media were observing the confrontation between Graziano and activists near Bond Street, a maintenance crew was around the corner, ripping out 10 rose bushes (with pink and cardinal red flowers), two lilac bushes, daisies and ground cover planted in tree wells in the 1600 block of Bank Street.

Housing Authority spokeswoman Tania Baker yesterday confirmed the destruction, calling it a case of mistaken identity.

“As part of their routine grounds maintenance, the HABC maintenance crew mistook the bushes for weeds,” Baker said in a statement to The Brew, adding that HABC “will work to replace the bushes as soon as possible.”

To Have a Certain Look

Perkins Homes resident Rosalind Haines said she immediately noticed the rose-stricken block when she returned home from work on Thursday.

Flabbergasted, she asked a housing worker what had happened.

“He said, ‘Perkins Homes has to have a certain look to get approval for more money to do what they want to do.’ ”

HABC recently won Planning Commission approval to rezone the land that holds the low-rise, low-income complex and is seeking federal funds to demolish the buildings to make way for a “mixed-income” development.

Located midway between Harbor East and Upper Fells Point, the site has long been eyed by developers, and many residents fear they will be displaced.

The bushes were planted five years ago by Victor Corbin as part of a beautification project.

The former president of the Fells Prospect Community Association said he was encouraged by the city’s Streetscape plan for Southeast Baltimore, which had designated Bank Street as a “green walkway.”

Trees had been planted along the street, but they looked barren without additional vegetation. That’s how he hatched the idea of buying the bushes to plant on Bank Street. He said he received city approval for the plantings and was encouraged by City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young.

Perkins Homes resident Tanetta Wilson said she loved when the lilacs bloomed in the spring and filled the air with fragrant smells. When the roses came out, “Victor would come over and say, ‘Netta, I got you the roses!’”

Sense of Pride

But more important than aesthetics, the row of bushes helped instill a sense of pride in a community that’s been worn down by “the horrible conditions we have been fighting about,” Wilson said.

In her mind, the bushes were removed in a clumsy attempt to make Graziano look good before the media.

“When he saw all the newspeople and TV cameras out here, he sent out the maintenance crew to make it look like they was really working hard, and they cut the wrong bushes down,” Wilson said.

Imagine my Shock

Corbin wrote an impassioned statement on Facebook that has since spread through social media.

He said the rose bushes were especially thriving this year thanks to the regular rainfall.

“Imagine my shock today when I come home to see that the Baltimore City Housing Department cut them all to the ground.

“[My neighbor] said I guess they don’t want us to have anything nice. Tomorrow I am digging out the only thing left (grass) and taking it to my garden. So much for urban greening and providing a nice setting for those who live in public housing. I texted Bernard Jack Young and said ‘Never again.’ I am not picking up one piece of trash unless it’s in front of my own house.”

Haines, 61, said she shares Corbin’s frustration.

“It’s just amazing that they can take the time to tear up something so beautiful, but just leave the rat holes open that we, as residents, try to patch up. They won’t even close up the rat holes so our grandchildren can play when they come visit.”