NEWS
By June Arney and June Arney,Sun reporter | April 29, 2008
General Growth Properties Inc. unveiled its plan for downtown Columbia last night, with redevelopment ideas that include a skating rink, new office, retail and hotel space and walking routes from The Mall in Columbia to the lakefront and Merriweather Post Pavilion. "What we're trying to do here is lay out what we think is a 30-year plan," said Gregory F. Hamm, GGP's regional vice president and Columbia general manager. "During all this time, we hope we've listened. We hope we've learned, but we're not done."
NEWS
By Erik Nelson and Erik Nelson,Staff writer | April 12, 1992
The county Zoning Board last Thursday rejected an appeal by the Rouse Co., which had asked it to reconsider a proposal for up to 300 apartments on 12 acres in Columbia's Town Center. But the board left openthe possibility of hearing the case again at a later date.The board refused to allow the change from the property's current designation as employment center, saying residents of apartments or town houses might be disturbed by noise from the Merriweather Post Pavilion. The decision has been criticized by community leaders and Rouse Co. planners, who have long maintained that downtown Columbia would be enlivened by more high-density residential development.
NEWS
By Erik Nelson and Erik Nelson,Staff writer | March 4, 1992
Site plans for 100 town houses in downtown Columbia -- the first houses to be built in Town Center since 1985 -- were approved by the Planning Board yesterday.The unnamed project will feature 50 standard town houses and 50 "back-to-back" town house condominiums, said Maurice Simpkins, vice president for the Columbia Division of Ryland Homes.The 14-acre development, on Banneker Road in Town Center's southwest corner, is adjacent to land the Rouse Co. is trying to rezone from commercial to residential to help bring more residents, and consequently more urban character, to Columbia's downtown area.
NEWS
By Alisa Samuels and Alisa Samuels,SUN STAFF | June 16, 1996
Howard County police are searching for a woman who robbed a downtown Columbia bank Friday morning after indicating she had a bomb.No one was injured and no weapon was displayed in the robbery, which occurred at 9: 50 a.m. at Taneytown Bank & Trust Co. in the Clark Building, in the 5500 block of Sterrett Place, police said.The woman walked into Taneytown Bank, which had just opened, approached a teller at the counter and handed over a manila envelope, said Sgt. Steven Keller, a police spokesman.
NEWS
By a sun reporter | September 1, 2006
Responding to broad public concern, a height limitation of 14 stories for new buildings in downtown Columbia is under consideration by the county. That has been one of thorniest issues confronting a sweeping proposal to convert downtown into a dense city, and it has become even more contentious with the approval of a 275-foot-tall luxury residential and retail complex overlooking Lake Kittamaqundi, which would be the tallest structure in Howard County...
NEWS
By June Arney and June Arney,Sun reporter | May 9, 2008
Solar arrays, "green" roofs and storm-water management that doubles as civic art and takes place only when it's raining are among the ideas for improving the environment in the redevelopment of downtown Columbia, a consultant told residents this week. Town Center could be a "city within a garden," said Keith Bowers, a landscape architect on General Growth Properties' design team -- a vibrant place that makes use of renewable energy and is built with local materials so that little energy is expended to bring supplies here.