The downtown Baltimore headquarters of the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) was roped off and condemned yesterday after bits of masonry fell from its facade onto the sidewalk.

A yellow “emergency condemnation and demolition notice” could be seen taped to the front door of 200 West Baltimore Street today, signed by a city housing inspector warning that the building is “unsafe and dangerous.”

The tape extended around the corner to the Liberty Street side of the ornate, tan brick building.

A pile of masonry rubble was sitting on the sidewalk on the Baltimore Street side.

There was no mention of the shutdown on the website of the Education Department, whose spokesperson referred The Brew to the state Department of General Services (DGS).

Neither they, nor the city Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), also contacted earlier today by The Brew, have provided information yet about the condition of the structure.

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UPDATE: Responding after publication, spokesman Eric Solomon said DGS yesterday was “informed of falling masonry” near the building’s main entrance.

“No injuries were reported as a result of this incident,” Solomon wrote in an email to The Brew.

“City officials promptly assessed the situation and closed only the main entrance to the building, pending an assessment by a structural engineer,” he said.

The building remains open and all employees and visitors may enter through the Liberty Street or garage entrance, he said, adding that no evacuation of personnel was required.

“DGS responded immediately and followed standard protocols to evaluate the matter and implement a plan to ensure safety and to address the issue,” the email said. “The agency initiated the emergency procurement process to engage a structural engineer to evaluate the site, and to install overhead protection.”

MSDE’s 643 staff have been redirected to an alternate building entrance until the repairs have been completed.

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In January, the building was placed by Gov. Wes Moore on a list of state agency offices – including those housed in the city’s aging State Center complex – to be downsized or reconfigured.

As part of this cost-cutting initiative, “DGS canceled a comprehensive renovation of the building,” at 200 West Baltimore Street, according to a press release at the time.

DGS has determined that MSDE and the Maryland Higher Education Commission, also located in the building, should be moved to commercial leased space, “the most cost-effective option” the release said, estimating that the move would save the state $36.7 million.

Former Baltimore Bargain House

Located across from the CFG Bank Arena, the building, completed in 1911, was originally known as the Baltimore Bargain House, one of the largest establishments on the city’s Westside with a colorful history.

A post by Baltimore Heritage described it as “a mail-order wholesale business that employed over 1,000 people and earned profits in the millions that grew to become the fourth largest wholesaler in the country.”

Established by Jewish Lithuanian immigrant Jacob Epstein, the building became a hub for Jewish merchants, the post continued, noting that at its opening ”a crowd of 500 local businessmen, the mayor of Baltimore and the governor of Maryland all attended the dedication.”

Descriptions of the business made it sound like an early version of online mega-retailer Amazon.

Here’s how one of their items for sale was described in a reproduction of the 1905 Baltimore Bargain House Catalogue :

“Stylish hand-made turban, of velvet and fancy braid, trimmed with lace medallions, steel ornament and fancy feather; colors: black, brown, navy, and green.”

In 2005, the building was renamed for Grasmick, then entering her 14th year as state schools superintendent.

Then-Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. made the renaming a surprise to Grasmick, who thought she had been summoned to Annapolis to address the Board of Public Works about student achievement.

A few minutes into her talk, Ehrlich cut her off.

“Blah, blah, blah,” he said. “The real reason why you’re here is, there’s a building, the Civic Plaza Building, 200 West Baltimore Street. It’s now going to be known as the Nancy S. Grasmick Building.”