ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced the completion of the County’s 2023 Downtown Columbia Redevelopment Monitoring Report. The 2023 report revisits the Plan’s original recommendations, documents what has been accomplished and lays out the progress anticipated over the next five years. This report provides the second update on the implementation of the 2010 Downtown Columbia Plan.
When envisioning Columbia, James Rouse hoped to create a place that fostered growth, where residents could live and work, and that respected the land - a city in a garden. Through our Downtown Columbia Plan we aim to fulfill Rouse’s goals, while moving them forward into a new era. With his inspiration and the modern principles of a city, we hope to create an ecosystem brimming with fresh possibilities and a bright future.
The Downtown Columbia Plan was adopted as an amendment to PlanHoward 2030, the County's previous General Plan, and creates a 30-year master plan for the revitalization and redevelopment of Downtown Columbia. HoCo By Design, the County’s new General Plan, carries forward the Downtown Columbia Plan. Focused on new construction, transportation assets, arts and culture, and the environment, the Downtown Columbia Redevelopment Monitoring Report provides a status update every five years regarding the implementation of the goals and vision laid out for Downtown Columbia in the master plan.
The 2023 Downtown Columbia Redevelopment Monitoring Report is structured to report to the community on the progress of the Plan’s implementation across the following elements:
- Residential and commercial development;
- Transportation and transit;
- Arts and culture; and
- The environment and sustainability.
More than a decade has passed since the Downtown Columbia Plan was adopted in 2010 and both our community and the world have dramatically changed since the last Downtown Columbia Monitoring Report was released in 2018. In the last five years, significant progress has been made in implementing the plan and as a result, the landscape of Downtown has changed. Projects that previously existed only on paper, are now completed or under construction. We have built on the successes highlighted in the last report during this time and are excited for the new developments on the horizon.
For more information about the Downtown Columbia Redevelopment Monitoring Report, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/planning-zoning/community-and-master-plans.