Some critics of General Growth Properties plans for the redevelopment of downtown Columbia have questioned the urgency of approving the legislation that will enable these plans to proceed. They hang their argument on the company’s bankruptcy darkly suggesting that this will somehow prevent the company from performing.
Let’s look at the facts. GGP has already spent somewhere between $10 to $20 million dollars preparing a comprehensive master plan for Columbia’s downtown. They hired some of the best planners and architects in the country and have spent more time and energy on crafting a vision for the future of Columbia than The Rouse Company did for the last twenty years of its existence. For the last five years they have met with and spoken to virtually every community organization in Howard County as they fine tuned their development program.
And finally, even in bankruptcy, GGP has kept its Columbia development team together despite enormous pressure to simply cut their losses and move on. They have clearly demonstrated a level of patience that is rare in the real estate development business.
To suggest that the county is now somehow rushing this through is ridiculous and quite frankly dishonest. It is also highly insulting to the people who have worked so hard for so long to get to this point.
Let’s look at the facts. GGP has already spent somewhere between $10 to $20 million dollars preparing a comprehensive master plan for Columbia’s downtown. They hired some of the best planners and architects in the country and have spent more time and energy on crafting a vision for the future of Columbia than The Rouse Company did for the last twenty years of its existence. For the last five years they have met with and spoken to virtually every community organization in Howard County as they fine tuned their development program.
And finally, even in bankruptcy, GGP has kept its Columbia development team together despite enormous pressure to simply cut their losses and move on. They have clearly demonstrated a level of patience that is rare in the real estate development business.
To suggest that the county is now somehow rushing this through is ridiculous and quite frankly dishonest. It is also highly insulting to the people who have worked so hard for so long to get to this point.
