#BaltimoreRiots: Burning Building was to be 60-Unit Affordable Housing for Seniors

Pastor Hickman: burning building was to be 60-unit affordable housing for seniors. “It hurts my heart,” he says.

CBS/DC reports: A massive, 3-alarm fire is emitting smoke and large flames in Baltimore Monday night as the city is still trying to stop riots following Freddie Gray’s funeral.

WNEW’s Cameron Thompson reports the fire has engulfed what was supposed to be a senior center under construction at Lanvale St. and Chester St.

Southern Baptist Church was building the center to provide 60 affordable apartments and behavioral counseling for seniors.

“We’re going to rebuild. We’re going to come back strong from this,” says the church’s pastor Donte Hickman

The fire is one of many the Baltimore City Fire Department is trying to battle as riots erupted throughout the city.

Pastor Donte Hickman, who’s church’s prjct burns behind, says he hopes tonight is a wake up call. “Enough is enough” pic.twitter.com/aM2Cf76Z2w

— Cam Thompson WNEW (@CamThompsonWNEW) April 28, 2015

Mayoral spokesman Kevin Harris says the fire was related to the riots, while Baltimore’s deputy fire chief says the department is “99 percent sure” it is linked to the riots.

No one was believed to be in the building at the time.

Source: CBS DC