Tonight General Growth Properties will finally make its case for the redevelopment of Columbia Town Center to the County Council. Getting the councils approval is the last legislative hurdle to get these plans moving towards reality.The plans have been tweaked some since GGP first started this process five years ago but for the most part the key elements remain. The conceptual plan finally approved by the planning board after nine months of meetings and deliberations would allow for 5,500 new housing units, 4.3 million square feet of new office space ,1.25 million square feet of new retail space, road improvements and cultural amenities including a major renovation of Merriweather Post Pavilion.
Tomorrow night the Howard County Economic Development Authority will present the results of a study it commissioned on the economic impact of GGP’s plans.
Thanks to a deal reached with the Ellicott City Cable Company, anyone with a computer and an internet connection will be able to watch these proceedings live via streaming video.
Right now the prognosis for GGP getting the council’s approval to move forward looks good. I won’t jinx their chances by naming the council members who are generally supportive but it appears they have the support of three of the five members. Since this is the beginning of a new election cycle it will be very interesting to watch where the chips fall.
2 comments:
Dennis... check your facts. The Planning Board DID NOT approve the plan. They suggested that the Council initially address the General Plan Amendment so that any subsequent redevelopment plan could be measured against the GPA.
And, as to internet access, abandon cable service now. Get FIOS. Seriously, it's the wave of the future, man. Cable is, like, so twentieth century.
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