Columbia’s back, baby! We’ve been waiting 5 long years, but the plan to redevelop downtown has been unanimously approved by the County Council.
Yesterday, we participated in a press conference hosted by our friends New City Alliance to mark the historic event.
This redevelopment makes Columbia a trend setter for the second time in it’s young history. I can’t wait to get started! Let the games begin!
It’s taken us five years to get to where we are today with the plan to create a vibrant, walkable Downtown Columbia. With the County Council vote expected February 1, our deadline is fast approaching and New City Alliance needs you to help push its effort over the goal line.
Please join New City Alliance tomorrow, January 26 at the Tomato Palace (adjoined to Clyde’s) for its FIRST and GOAL! event. NCA will provide food and drinks, including beer and wine. Whether you can donate $5, $10, or $20 — or your time and effort — please head to the Tomato Palace from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. tomorrow.
Enjoy a great evening with friends, fun and opportunities for you to make your voice heard. Celebrate the years of hard work that have gone into this vision and to show your support of the plan’s final approval!
RSVP on Facebook here or shoot an email to info@newcityalliance.org.
Today is a big day for the redevelopment of downtown Columbia. First, New City Alliance will hold it’s weekly conference call at 11 AM. If you want the straight facts about where we stand with the plan, you should call in to participate. Participants are free to ask questions.
WHEN:
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 11:00 a.m.
WHERE:
Call in to (605) 475-4800
Access Code: 923292#
WHAT:
New City Alliance, the bipartisan political alliance urging the County Council to implement our community’s consensus plan for a new Downtown Columbia, will discuss its progress Tuesday on a conference call. We will discuss amendments to Council Bill 58 and 59 and what we plan to present in testimony.
Then, public testimony will be heard on CB’s 58 & 59 starting at 7:30 at the Board of Education. If you are available and willing to testify, you can sign up here.
As you may know, our founder David Yungmann is also a founding member of New City Alliance (NCA). NCA is a bipartisan political advocacy organization that supports the redevelopment of Downtown Columbia into a walkable, vibrant and sustainable city with density and economic viability.
As we get closer to the County Council’s vote on CB’s 58 & 59, NCA has been working tirelessly to set the record straight about the redevelopment. We encourage you to listen in to their weekly conference call. Deets below:
WHEN:
TODAY! TUESDAY January 12, 11:00 AM
WHERE:
Via Interactive Conference Call (participants will be able to ask questions)
Dial-in #: (605) 475-4800
Call-in Code: 923292#
WHAT:
The members of New City Alliance will discuss the status of the Council Bills 58 and 59 – specifically, affordable housing and other key issues that remain in the forefront after the recent County Council work sessions.
DETAILS:
Participants are instructed to call into the Dial-In number shown above and log into the call using the Call-In Code. The organizers will make a brief statement after which any participant may ask a question. Participants may join the call and disconnect at their leisure during the call.
Big news today. Northrup Grumman announced that they will be moving to the D.C. area in 2011. Seems Northrop executives are looking for a site in Maryland, Virginia or the District and plan to identify one by spring. Let the games begin.
If shovels were already in the ground downtown, Columbia would be a great fit for the defense contractor. We’re minutes away from Fort Meade and D.C. is a short jaunt down the beltway. But sadly, we’re probably going to miss out on this one.
This just highlights the tremendous opportunity we have with the pending legislation in front of the County Council. With the passage of CB’s 58 and 59, Columbia will at least be in the game in the future.
WHEN
Today! January 5, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.
WHERE
Call in to (605) 475-4800
Access Code: 923292#
WHAT
New City Alliance, the bipartisan political alliance advocating for the smart development of Downtown Columbia, will discuss the various amendments that have been proposed to the General Plan Amendment and Zoning Regulation Amendments. We will also discuss our upcoming fundraising event, First & Goal, which will mobilize supporters for our final push across the finish line.
The call will be open, and participants are free to ask questions.
WHO
Michael Davis
Lin Eagan
Phil Engelke
David Yungmann
This Saturday, The County Council will begin hearing public testimony on CB 58 and 59, which is the legislation for Downtown Columbia. We are coming dow the home stretch, so it would be a big help to have a strong showing at the hearing. Let us know if you’re interested in testifying. Click here for more information and to sign up.
Also, check out these videos below by HoCoMoJo for a much more in depth look at all the issues surrounding the redevelopment of Columbia!
Last Wednesday, we headed downtown for a bike ride with the Mayor of Columbia Missouri, Darwin Hindman. In his hometown, he has spearheaded many wonderful initiatives for bicyclists, and it was great to get his insight into what we should strive for with the redevelopment of downtown. Watch this video, and pay attention the the very end. The Mayor, talking about biking downtown, says, “But, when you get downtown, and your downtown is surrounded by this big parking lot….that is a challenge…and I don’t know how much life is going on in the downtown area, but you need to have that to be an attraction.” He gets it.
Advocates of Plan to Redevelop Downtown Columbia
Launch Political Advocacy Organization – NEW CITY ALLIANCE
COLUMBIA, MD (October 19, 2009) – Four leading advocates of the plan to redevelop Downtown Columbia announced the formation of a bipartisan political advocacy organization today via an interactive teleconference.
The group’s leaders, David Yungmann, Lin Eagan, Michael Davis and Phil Engelke, are all well-known advocates of transforming Downtown Columbia into the economic, social and cultural heart of Howard County and the region.
“After five years of hard work by our community to create a plan, it’s finally in the hands of the County Council and time for the citizens of Howard County to fight for its passage,” said Lin Eagan, a local business owner and resident of Harpers Choice. “The lack of a plan to create a vibrant Downtown is the key failure of Columbia,” she added.
The primary land owner in Downtown, General Growth Properties, has worked with the community and County for the past several years to create such a plan. The General Plan Amendment and Zoning Regulation Amendment that support the plan are awaiting County Council approval.
Co-founder David Yungmann explained, “We started New City Alliance to talk directly to voters across Howard County, to explain how important this plan is to them and to actively campaign for its passage.”
New City Alliance will use traditional campaign vehicles like direct mail and neighborhood canvassing to connect with voters. The group has also launched a large scale internet campaign focused on specific issues addressed in the redevelopment plan.
Not only will New City Alliance campaign for the plan’s passage, it will work to keep the process moving forward so the plan doesn’t fall victim to delays or unwarranted compromises.
Michael Davis, longtime resident of Wilde Lake warned, “If we delay we will lose our competitive edge to other communities who already have similar projects underway such as Konterra just 15 minutes away.”
Phil Engelke of Oakland Mills added, “I worry that the plan will get diluted by public officials trying to appease the special interests of the folks who routinely oppose all development.”
New City Alliance is a bipartisan 501c4 political advocacy organization led by four longtime residents of Howard County and Columbia. NCA supports the redevelopment of Downtown Columbia as a walkable, vibrant and sustainable city with density and economic viability. NCA believes timely passage and implementation of the plan to redevelop Downtown is essential to the long-term success of Howard County.
The County Council will finally start its review and approval process of the General Plan Amendment (GPA) and Zoning Regulation Amendment (ZRA) that comprise the plan to redevelop Downtown Columbia.
The first step in this process is GGP’s presentation of the plan to the Council tomorrow night – Tuesday 10/13 at 7:00. There is no public testimony but it’s important for us to show support from Howard County’s young professionals, business owners and future leaders. Dropping in for even an hour will make an important impact on the council members that will be voting on the Downtown plan you support. There’s no need to register or notify anyone in advance.
Location is the Board of Education building at 10910 Route 108 Ellicott City 21042. Directions Here.
