Downtown Columbia could be known for its carillon bell tower, its ecology museum without walls or maybe its public maze or children's garden under a cultural plan being proposed by General Growth Properties Inc.
"In most places, the years and the effort that have gone into this would not take place," said Gregory F. Hamm, General Growth's regional vice president and Columbia general manager. "But Columbia is a very different place."
Gail Dexter Lord, president of Lord Cultural Resources, shared Columbia's strengths and weaknesses with about 100 people last week at the third of three forums on specific elements of the master plan that GGP unveiled April 28.
Columbia has diverse arts and educational opportunities, reasonably priced cultural events and talented professionals. But those arts elements are decentralized, don't meet 21st-century needs, and events and programs are not designed to draw a regional audience, she said.
"Culture is one of the forces that can create a truly great gathering place," she said at Thursday night's meeting. "The plan will fulfill Jim Rouse's aspiration for Columbia by developing a strong cultural dimension. It will create a center for the community that isn't a shopping mall."
Lord suggested forming an advisory committee to study cultural attractions for Columbia - one with diverse members that would include teenagers who would bring a different set of ideas to the table.
GGP's plans call for a first phase that includes a skating rink that converts to an open air market in the summer, 300,000 square feet of new retail space, 200,000 square feet of office space and a new hotel.
A makeover of Merriweather Post Pavilion is a key piece of the plan, along with the addition of new cultural attractions nearby, perhaps including a children's theater, a specialized library and a visitors center.
The redevelopment of downtown, a plan that would span three decades, would include, in the near term, pedestrian walkways connecting The Mall in Columbia to the lakefront and to Merriweather. It is the first major renovation of the Howard County planned community since it was built 40 years ago.
Lord described a themed library that could have separate rooms for kids and adults.
The creation of a center for small cities could capitalize on the legacy of Rouse and turn Columbia's archives into an attraction. The idea of an institution that would study cities is especially timely given that 2008 is the first year in human history when more than half the world's population lives in cities, she noted.
