Origins and Mission of SCAR

(SCAR mission statement, UB Archives)

My examination of SCAR logically begins with a statement of their cause. I discovered a SCAR mission statement while pouring through the primary documents in the SCAR collection at the University of Baltimore Archives. This mission statement, dated March 9, 1971, indicated that SCAR was formed in 1968 to stop the expansion of the 3-A Highway system into Fells Point and the surrounding areas. The highway system was described as a source of "blight, destruction and distress" to the Fell's Point area. This poignant commentary is represented throughout the entire mission statement.

The SCAR mission statement does not wholly dismiss the idea of a road through Southeast Baltimore. In fact, the statement indicates that SCAR initially advocated certain versions of the highway based on meetings with the Urban Design Concepts group. This organization, headed by Louis Sauer and Associates, created the plans for the 3-A highway system in Southeast Baltimore. Their task was to work with the community to create a less destructive roadway. However, the mission statement indicated that the design team was not forthcoming through numerous parts of the process.


The residents of Southeast Baltimore felt deceived throughout much of the highway battle. They were initially supportive of a non-intrusive road that would help improve the City as a whole. However, their support for City initiatives waivered with the misleading statements by the design team. Thus, the mission of SCAR shifted from a group willing to work with highway supporters, to a group that opposed any proposed highway through Southeast Baltimore.