Meeting in Oakland Mills to focus on village center

Local politicians, officials and residents will discuss the fate of Columbia's Oakland Mills Village Center at a village board meeting tonight. Village board officials have designated the meeting as a public forum to tackle issues that have arisen since the February announcement that the village center's Giant grocery store will close in June.

County Executive Charles I. Ecker is expected to attend, along with Democratic state delegates Shane Pendergrass, Elizabeth Bobo and Frank S. Turner, said Erin Peacock, village manager.

Also expected are Wayne A. Christmann from the Rouse Co.; a representative from Giant Food Inc.; Republican state Sen. Martin G. Madden and representatives of U.S. Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin and County Councilman C. Vernon Gray, both Democrats.

At the meeting, residents from the newly formed Save Our Center committee will detail actions it has taken -- including a signature-gathering drive to urge Giant to extend its lease -- and its plans to revitalize the center.

The meeting will start at 8 p.m. at The Other Barn in the Oakland Mills Village Center.

Pub Date: 4/08/97