Doin’ the Downtown Dance

When you stop to consider that General Growth Properties, the Columbia Association, and the Howard Hughes Corporation all have projects underway in Columbia Town Center right now and that each of those projects is subject to a new sixteen step public review process that no one seems happy with, you can appreciate the need for someone to be in charge.

Mark Thompson is now that guy. Last month Ken Ulman hired Mark for the newly created position of Director of Downtown Development. In addition to guiding the review process, he also needs to create a housing trust fund and a new downtown partnership to bind the competing interests together under a common vision. In the old days The Rouse Company served this role simply because they owned everything. Today there are more players and competing interests involved. In addition to GGP, CA and HHC, you have Sears with eleven acres in the middle of the donut and now Dave Costello and what will likely be luxury condos at the lakefront.

Mark is well suited to the job.

In the news recap portion of the podcast we had a little fun with the viral video from Long Reach High School, the Explore Howard BOE endorsements, redistricting, and the early arrival of spring.

You can find the 62^nd episode of “and then there’s that…” here.