Now is the right time for Columbia Redevelopment
Now is the right time for Columbia Redevelopment
Columbia, MD, November 12, 2009: It is time for the legislation allowing for the development of downtown Columbia to be passed. The County Council will be holding a public hearing on Saturday, November 14th and I encourage the County Council to approve CB-58 the Downtown Columbia Plan and the CB-59 ZRA related to the Downtown Columbia Plan. I also call on the County Council not to delay the passage of these two bills. Postponing the development of Columbia is only going to delay the creation of new jobs and the increase of tax revenue which is so badly needed during these tough economic times. Critics will argue that due to GGP’s current bankruptcy the county should delay implementation of the legislation and hold off on passing the bills until the economy turns around. This is the wrong approach. There needs to be plans in place so that once the economy turns around and there is money available for construction; ground can be broken and the creation of a new and vibrant Columbia can begin.
Holding off on passing these bills until the economy turns around will push back the planning stages of a new Columbia, and it will result in businesses that would have moved to Columbia to begin to look elsewhere. They will look for more desirable and business friendly locations, such as Konterra just 20 minutes down the road. This means the loss of potential Howard County jobs and tax revenue. Doing nothing is the wrong approach. Standing in the way of positive progress is wrong. Obstructing the changing of downtown Columbia and impeding the creation of new jobs and a huge boost to the local economy is tantamount to stealing jobs from those wanting to provide for their families.
This is a thirty year process. For Howard County residents currently in their 20’s and 30’s, of which I am a member, this means that at completion they will be in their 50’s and 60’s. They will be able to witness the creation of a new Columbia and enjoy all the amenities and opportunities that come along with a vibrant downtown. Improved public transportation, the ability to walk and bike around Columbia, and the cultural and recreational opportunities that will enrich the lives of Howard County residents. This is an exciting time for Columbia. It is the dawn of a new chapter for Howard County, a chapter that will take us into the future as a regional leader in business opportunity and job creation. Columbia can be great, but there must be progress. Standing still and doing nothing while longingly reflecting on the past will eventually just lead to the past becoming a distant memory as the community changes and jobs and retailers move on to a more vibrant area. What will be left is a community of vacant storefronts, increased crime due to the lack of opportunity, and a sense of what could have been. In our current economy turning our backs on job creation is the wrong decision. I question the motives of those who wish to stand in the way of job creation and increased public transportation options. Now is the right time and the plan currently being proposed is the right plan to take Columbia into the future as a thriving community full of life and opportunity.
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