VIDEO: 'Poor Little Rich Girl' Activist Discouraged, Expecting Demolition

Standing alone along Belair Road Wednesday evening, Mark Patro said he had hoped more community members cared about the impending demolition of the former Poor Little Rich Girl bridal shop. 

Patch reported the planned tear-down of the structure at 9010 Belair Rd. on Monday, a joint effort by County Councilman David Marks and property manager George Perdikakes. 

Perdikakes called the house "ugly" and an "eyesore," and said its demolition is in direct response to requests from Marks and several community members. The tear-down, which includes asbestos removal, will likely cost around $25,000, he said.

Patro, outraged by the plans for demolition and citing the century-old structure's historical significance, planned a protest with Light Brigade Maryland on Wednesday evening. Eventually he was joined by three demonstrators, who left a lit sign reading "Save This House" near the entrance. 

Marks announced on Tuesday that the demolition would be postponed at least two weeks to allow for a possible buyer of the structure. 

But Patro said he was discouraged by the protest and does not expect the house to be saved from demolition. 

"When you do something like this, you always hope that more people care," he said.

"Do I expect it to be saved? No, not at all," he added. 

Marks, in a statement, urged community members to instead focus their attention on restoring the Perry Hall Mansion, built by Perry Hall's founder in the 1770s. 

"Any historical significance associated with this structure pales in comparison to the heritage of the Perry Hall Mansion. That is a far more worthy project which could sure use the time, attention, and money of civic-minded residents," he stated.

But Patro said he believes in saving structures owned by the common people of Perry Hall, as well as the rich.

"Yeah, there was a man who built the Perry Hall Mansion, and he was a rather wealthy man with a lot of influence, and he built a big house. But there weren't many of those houses in the neighborhood. There were more of these kind of houses in this neighborhood," he said.