Columbia's Current Development Challenges

Nearing the original intent for 100,000 people in just over 40 years, the demographics of Columbia and our County are changing. We have a population that is generally well-off. Our community seems to agree that we have better than average schools, relatively low crime, and a wealthy historic of economic development opportunities. Still, Columbia is facing a crossroads in its development and population.

As our city - yes, city - has grown, it has become apparent that many modern urban planning philosophies have been abandoned. Like many smaller cities in the state, we have chosen to develop our land in a way that does not jive with the concept of the modern city. Columbia is experiencing development on its fringes that do not particularly tie into the city as a whole. We are seeing sprawl on a daily basis in retail and commercial construction. It is adding to traffic issues and creates a community that is not citizen-friendly.

At the same time, our downtown area has never fully achieved its potential. Yes, it has components of achievement - the Lakefront, the Mall, Wilde Lake Park - but so many issues face downtown.

While there are sidewalks everywhere in downtown, much of it feels and is disconnected. Traffic speeds along the Little Patuxent Parkway and Governor Warfield Parkway loop, creating a downtown that is not friendly for a pedestrian to navigate. I can walk to the mall from Vantage Point Road, but crossing Little Patuxent to get to the entrance is a gamble.

Downtown Columbia should not just be a retail destination for people who do not live here. The Mall in Columbia is the engine that drives downtown. Its engine is sputtering, though. The development around the Mall in recent years has been less than thoughtful and doesn't exhibit modern integrated planning techniques. What we now have is a Mall Loop that lacks identity, purpose, and direction.

When I moved to Columbia, all of my friends told me that it was great that I would be halfway between Baltimore and D.C. The implication was that I wouldn't want to spend my play time in Columbia proper. For the most part I don't, though I am a patron of several bars and restaurants outside of downtown. Downtown of a city, though, should attract people to it for nightlife, entertainment, and culture. With the exception of Merriweather events and concerts or the occasional Lakefront event, downtown fails to meet that standard.

The implication of all of this is that Columbia is now in more advanced stages of working with General Growth Properties on finalizing their 30 year vision for Columbia's downtown. In effect, we are engaging in a discussion for the next generation of downtown Columbia. We have to choose how much we should harken to our past - its successes and failures - as a base for our future.

There are groups that feel that Columbia's downtown has achieved well and should be modestly preserved. In effect, they would more or less like to keep things as they are.

I am not of that ilk. I believe that cities grow and evolve. The city is a living thing. It can and should change and become better. It can become more responsive to the people that live in it. Columbia's downtown can grow and actually improve the life of the city in terms of commerce, environmental stewardship, and vibrance.

The plan that GGP has proposed isn't perfect, but it's a good start. With modest changes and careful zoning requirements, it can be a solid vision for this city to have a real downtown.