Thanks For Coming Out!

Thank you all very much for coming to our, “Sustainability Happy Hour” last Thursday. It was a great turnout, despite the rainy weather. We’d like to give a special thanks to Keith Bowers of Biohabitats who gave a brief presentation on sustainability as it pertains to Town Center. We’d also like to thank all the local bloggers who came. As you can see, we’ve added you all to our blogroll.

There’s been a lot of news about GGP lately. If you haven’t heard, they are considering selling off some of their properties. The good news is Columbia isn’t one of them. In fact, they are submitting their rezoning propposal this week, which is the culmination of 3 years worth of charettes, meetings, workshops, panels and plans. We are one step closer to fully realizing the future of Town Center.

C20 Event Next Week!

We’re having a great event next week and everyone is invited.  It’s a happy-hour type gathering at which you’ll be introduced to numerous online sources of information and dialogue regarding the redevelopment of Town Center.  We’ll show you everything from local blogs to websites that will give you the tools to stay informed and speak out when it’s convenient to you – and in less time than it takes to grab a cookie at one of the 3-hour community meetings!  Some of the bloggers and other major players around this issue will be there, so it’s also a great networking opportunity.  The event will be at Serafinos in Ellicott City from 5-7 next Thursday 9/25!  It’s free and there’s no need to register.  Bring anyone you think would enjoy learning more about the redevelopment plan and these ways to stay informed.  Click here for directions to Serafinos www.serafinosonline.com

News Bias and Labels

As we mentioned in our last post, a new Columbia-focused community group launched this week called Columbia Tomorrow. Like us, they favor significant change in Town Center. But, just as it did in its coverage of our press event in July, The Sun labeled the group as business-oriented. Why is it that a community group formed by people with actual jobs is classified as “business-oriented” in an effort to discredit the group as having impure motives? This is just the same old spin from people who care more about retaining their control over a dying suburban town (after presiding over its decline) than joining with private enterprise to save it. We reject the same old business versus community labels and will forge ahead to break down these old ways of thinking.

2.0 Blog!

After our initial launch last month, a few of you suggested we start a blog to better communicate our thoughts on the redevelopment of Town Center. We thought it was an excellent suggestion, so we are proud to announce that we are re-launching as a blog.

 

We’re currently working on a lot of exciting projects designed to bring awareness to our generation’s participation in this next phase of Columbia’s growth. More importantly, switching to a blog also allows us to hear from you in real time, which we always welcome.

 

So now that you’re up to date on our new look, let’s move on to some good news out of Columbia. We were invited to a press conference in Symphony Woods today given by a new group called Columbia Tomorrow. They held the event there to highlight the fact that it is unhealthy, underutilized and disconnected from the rest of downtown.

 

Phil Engelke, Columbia Tomorrow’s Vice President, stated the last time he was in Symphony Woods was when he took his now grown kids to the petting zoo that used to be there. Hint: that’s a really long time. I guess if you’re not into music (Merriweather) or wine (Wine in the Woods) there’s really not a lot going on in the woods.

 

Add to that the years of neglect and watershed mismanagement, and Symphony Woods is in bad shape. Columbia Tomorrow believes we have a crown jewel here in our backyard, and they want to see it live up to its potential. We think they have a great point, and look forward to working in conjunction with them to ensure that Symphony Woods will be enjoyed for many generations to come.

 

That’s all for now. But please check back often as we plan to be much more active, both online and in the community.