In his first public appearance yesterday, General Growth Properties Vice President Gregory F. Hamm tantalized about 100 people with a list of concepts but no specifics on his firm's plans for redeveloping central Columbia.
"This is my maiden voyage speaking to the Columbia community. It's a week or two earlier than I would have liked" because he had no concrete news to convey, he told an early-morning crowd at a meeting of advocates for transportation at the Bain Center in Harper's Choice. He took over from Douglas M. Godine a month ago, becoming the third general manager of Columbia in two years.
Next week, the 45-year old Northern Virginia resident said, his firm will announce a schedule of community meetings that will precede release of General Growth's draft redevelopment plan, followed by another round of meetings and discussion before specific zoning changes are submitted to Howard County officials.
"If done properly and collaboratively, we can make progress," Hamm said.
He appeared to make a good first impression on a crowd peppered with veteran Columbia activists, such as Del. Elizabeth Bobo, who have not been shy about criticizing proposals such as the 23-story condominium tower or the planned town's developer.
Bobo, who represents the Town Center area, greeted Hamm as "Greg," as she rose to congratulate him for making his first appearance a public one. He called her "Liz" in return. Bobo told a lunch crowd Saturday at a League of Women Voters meeting that she had called Hamm about the demise of the 36-year-old Bun Penny store at The Mall in Columbia, an event that troubled some older residents.
Two County Council members -- Mary Kay Sigaty, a Democrat who represents west Columbia, and Jen Terrasa, a Kings Contrivance Democrat -- also attended, as did Marsha S. McLaughlin, the county planning director.
Hamm narrated a PowerPoint presentation that touched on the concepts that most Columbia residents have said they want enhanced as part of the redevelopment. Those include economic housing diversity, better transportation and pedestrian access, more social and business vitality, plus a transparent public process that values the opinions of residents.
But though he talked about General Growth's plan to hire a "world renowned transit consultant" and a desire to do a major upgrade of the town's storm water runoff system, Hamm offered no details. He said the new transit consultant's ideas could change conclusions reached in earlier transportation studies that dwelt mostly on traffic and roads. Mixing residential, commercial and office uses together could also cut the need for parking because people can walk more, he said.
