It is with pleasure that I report on the unanimous passage of CB 58 and 59, the legislation that amends both the County’s General Plan and the Zoning Regulations in downtown Columbia.
This is the culmination of a long process that has seen many ups and downs. At times, it seemed like nothing would ever happen. But thanks to the hard work of many, many people, Columbia will be reborn into the vibrant, walkable, connected city it was always meant to be.
I strongly support the redevelopment of my hometown because I always thought something was missing in Downtown. The mall was a good meeting place for many years, but it has become an outdated model. We need to get with the times in order to compete with other areas who are embracing smart growth, sustainabilty and better connectivity.
One week from today, the County Council will vote on CB’s 59 and 59, which is the legislation that will enable this important and vital redevelopment to take place. As a final push the get the ball into the end zone, New City Alliance is holding a great event featuring the use of Social Networking and New Media to show support. You are all invited! The details:
FIRST & GOAL
January 26, 2010
5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Tomato Palace (next to Clyde’s)
10221 Wincopin Circle, Columbia, MD 21044
After 5 years of hard work moving the ball 90 yards down the field, we’re sitting on the 10 looking to finally get into the end zone.
The County Council vote on the Downtown Plan is expected February 1st. Join us to celebrate the years of hard work that have gone into this vision and to show your support of the Plan’s final passage!
We’ll provide food and drinks, including beer and wine.
The suggested donation is $20, but please come whether you’d like to donate your time, money or effort. We’ll have more information available at the event and opportunities for you to make your voice heard.
RSVP via FACEBOOK: Search for “New City Alliance”
RSVP via E‐MAIL: info@newcityalliance.org
Wilde Lake Village Center has always been a very special place to me, as it has been for thousands of Columbians over the past 4 decades. When I was a young boy, my dad would take my sister and I to the indoor pool almost every weekend during the winter. After a couple hours of swimming, we’d dry off, get dressed and head over to Venarri’s Pizza to order a large cheese to go.
As I grew up, I would often have baseball games at Wilde Lake High School. After the games, my mom would stop by the Giant to pick up a few things before we headed home to Owen Brown. And my family and I still attend 12:00 Mass at St. John’s at the Interfafith Center every Sunday.
I still think back to these simple days with fond memories, but as anyone who has been to Wilde Lake Village Center recently can tell you, it is an outdated relic. Giant left a long time ago, and the businesses that remain struggle to compete with the Mall and the Big Boxes in east Columbia. Prolific blogger wordbones wrote a column about it recently. It’s a great read and offers a glimpse into the Village Center’s heyday.
Then I read this article in today’s Baltimore Sun and felt compelled to write about it. Because as great as Wilde Lake Village Center once was, it clearly needs help today.
I believe something drastic needs to be done to bring this once great place back to life. Keep what you can, and tear down what’s holding you back. The developer, Kimco, wants to add residential units and increase density. Do it. Reach out to GGP and find ways to connnect it to the downtown plan and for the love of all that is holy, don’t listen to a thing Liz Bobo and Lloyd Knowles say. They have their own no growth agenda and don’t care what is best for Wilde Lake Village Center or Columbia.
I have a feeling that 2010’s gonna be a good year. My resolution is to be more active on this blog, especially with so much at stake for Columbia. The first couple months of this year will be very important in determining the future of downtown, and as things heat up, I will be here to report on it. Stay tuned!
Please pray for the family of River Hill football player Steven Dankos, who was killed in a car accident early yesterday morning.
My favorite band The Izzys with an extended jam of their song, “Drinking Who Hit John?”
I’ve been following The Low Anthem’s rise to success for a while now, and they continue to amaze me. The first time I saw them live was at Toad in Porter Square in Cambridge MA, and I got goosebumps. This year, they’ve played SXSW, Bonnaroo, and Lollapalooza. Next up is a European tour followed by a U.S. west coast tour to end the year.
The Low Anthem: From L to R: Jocie Adams, Ben Knox Miller and Jeff Prystowsky.
Not much to say. Just a cool design I saw at a party.
