A History of the Columbia Town Center Project.
June 2008
Greg Hamm meets with the Kings Contrivance Village Board.
May 2008
During a two-week period, the GGP team conducts meetings at all 10 Columbia villages to solicit further feedback and ideas from members of the community about the draft master plan.
April 2008
On Monday, April 28, 2008, almost 500 people came to The Spear Center to view "Many Voice; One Vision," the presentation of General Growth Properties' draft master plan for the revitalization of Columbia Town Center.
May 2008
GGP hosts its “Vision in Focus” discussion series, focusing on three key elements of the draft master plan presented on April 28, 2008. Consultants present additional information on sustainability/environment, transit/traffic and culture to more than 400 interested Columbians over three evenings.
April 2008
Greg Hamm meets with the Village Board Members of Long Reach.
April 2008
Two additional Community Forums featuring Keith Bowers of Biohabitats and Jaquelin T. Robertson of Cooper, Robertson & Partners are held.
March 2008
Greg Hamm continues meeting with the Village Board Members of Dorsey’s Search, Harper’s Choice, Oakland Mills and River Hill.
March 2008
GGP hosts two Community Forums, featuring architect and landscape architect Alan Ward of Sasaki Associates. Inc and Gail Dexter Lord of Lord Cultural Resources. The Community Forums are intended to introduce GGP’s world-class planning and design team to the community.
February 2008
Greg Hamm attends a regular meeting of the Wilde Lake Village Board. Many residents attend what turns out to be a two-hour question and answer session on the impact of Columbia Town Center on their Village.
January 2008
At the Columbia Association Board of Directors’ monthly meeting, Greg Hamm speaks about an open and public discussion on the development of the master plan.
December 2007
Greg Hamm takes over as GGP's regional vice president and general manager of Columbia
December 2007
Department of Planning and Zoning released “Downtown Columbia: A Community Vision,” the County’s final draft framework for the master plan for Town Center.
September 2007
Department of Planning and Zoning releases its draft vision framework.
January 2007
The fourth and final "Voices of Vision" event features Adam Lerner, Ph.D., director of the Laboratory of Art and Ideas at Belmar. Dr. Lerner speaks about the importance of a “culturally energized” community center with art in public spaces and the need for places where young artists can hone their crafts.
November 2006
Ann Forsyth, Ph.D. is the second featured speaker in the "Voices of Vision" speaker series. Dr. Forsyth, professor and director of the Metropolitan Design Center at the University of Minnesota, focuses on the social aspects of physical planning, urban design and development.
October 2006
GGP and Howard Community College jointly present the first of the "Voices of Vision" speaker series. "Voices of Vision" is designed to elevate the conversation of the future of Columbia's downtown to important, visionary, forward-thinking concepts and solutions. Vernon D. Swaback, a widely published author on the topic of urban planning and design, speaks about the importance of planning and design and the impact on quality of life.
February 2006
Department of Planning and Zoning releases its Preliminary Draft Master Plan, which is based on the initial concepts developed during the Charrette.
December 2005
The first of 14 Focus Group meetings sponsored by the Department of Planning and Zoning are held through September 2006. These groups consisted of community leaders and major stakeholders in the redevelopment of Columbia Town Center. Discussions focus on the needed components for the master plan.
October 2005
Department of Planning and Zoning hosts a week-long Charrette, a collaboration between designers and more than 300 residents to generate ideas for the future master plan. Improved public transportation, pedestrian walkways, a civic center and a Central Park in Symphony Woods are among some of the ideas that resulted from the meetings.
June 2005
The second GGP Town Hall Meeting draws about 350 people to further the discussion about Town Center’s future. The central topics of the meeting are walkability and traffic capacity.
May 2005
Almost 500 community members turn out to GGP’s first Town Hall Meeting, which focuses on James Rouse’s vision for Columbia, the town’s history as well as a framework for the future master plan.
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