Company Unveils Columbia Proposal

Walker-Friendly Plan Would Bring Shops, Housing

The developer charged with refashioning Columbia, one of the nation's earliest planned communities, wants to create public gathering spaces, shops and offices as part of a long-term master plan that could also bring thousands of new residential units to downtown.

General Growth Properties Inc. last night presented the first phase of a draft plan to create pedestrian-friendly links from the Mall in Columbia to Lake Kittamaqundi and Merriweather Post Pavilion, both of which sit several hundred feet away from the shopping center across the community's main thoroughfare, Little Patuxent Parkway. A standing-room-only crowd of about 500 attended the presentation at General Growth's local headquarters.

In advance of the formal presentation to the community, the plan for residential development more dense than current law allows grabbed much of the attention.

The plan for the Howard County community built by developer James Rouse in the 1960s calls for as many as 5,500 more housing units in the next 20 to 30 years, said Gregory F. Hamm, regional vice president and general manager for the Chicago-based developer.

Hamm declined to provide an overall cost for the development.

"We have studied the site very carefully," he said in an interview before the presentation to residents. "We believe that Town Center can very comfortably accommodate that number of units in order to achieve other objectives of walkability, connectivity, environmental restoration, amenities and inclusiveness."

If approved, construction of the first residential units could begin in 2011 or 2012, Hamm said. The units would be urban-style townhouses and apartments, some above retail shops, within walking distance of offices and attractions.

Said County Executive Ken Ulman (D) after listening to General Growth's presentation: "I'm thrilled with the direction. They've clearly laid out something special." Ulman in the past had opposed adding 5,500 units, but he said: "I'll keep an open mind to all of this. I'm listening to what folks will be saying about this. We've got lots of work to do."

The idea of building up to 5,500 more units drew opposition from residents when it was first discussed at community planning sessions in 2005. That number may again be problematic for those who believe the density could create problems for downtown, such as traffic congestion.

"We need to know up front whether we can handle that," said Del. Elizabeth Bobo (D-Howard), a former county executive who has followed the redevelopment closely. "They need to show us how they would sustain it."

County Council member Mary Kay Sigaty (D-West Columbia), whose district includes much of downtown, said that some of the plan's features were "real positives" but that the question of density loomed.

"We can't move forward in downtown without more residential units," she said. "How many units is the right number? I really don't know the answer to that."