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As Columbia's original village, Wilde Lake was meticulously designed by
developer James W. Rouse, and its residents strive to stay true to his vision
of offering a cross section of affordable and high-end housing.
But that high end could soon skyrocket.
With a scarcity of land in a highly sought-after location, a developer wants to tear down homes in Wilde Lake and erect million-dollar mansions in their place.
At a time of low interest rates and rapidly rising home prices, such development is happening around the Washington, D.C., area.
But it would be a first for Columbia and could not only change the landscape but also challenge the philosophy of its founder.
This case will also be a test for Columbia's strict architectural covenants, as the 37-year-old town has never had to consider such a situation.
"It's just a matter of time before we're really expecting to see more of these teardowns occur, not just in Wilde Lake but in other parts of the county," said Steve Lafferty, Howard County's deputy county planning director.
"With land values as they are, it's easier to redevelop existing land than it is to find green fields," Lafferty said.
John McDonough, president of Keswick Homes, said his company has torn down older houses to build new ones in Virginia towns where few vacant lots are available - Vienna, McLean and Great Falls - and he's hoping Wilde Lake can be the next endeavor.
He's building his own home - a 5,300-square-foot mansion that began as an 1800s stone home that he renovated and added to - near Wilde Lake on an outparcel of Columbia.
Nearby, he is also constructing a home that he said has been sold for "well over a million" to buyers who were attracted to the prospect of moving into a finished neighborhood.
"What the people liked very much was the fact that it was an existing established community - great location, all the street trees were mature, the landscaping is in, all the paths are in," said McDonough, who has built homes in Columbia. "It's beautiful."
McDonough said he envisions building similar homes in the village after tearing down older, single-family homes that are beginning to deteriorate.
He said he believes such construction will help rejuvenate the area.
Rick LaRocca, a real estate agent with Re/Max in Columbia, said there's a market for million-dollar homes in Wilde Lake, where prices range from condominiums in the low- to mid-$100,000s to single-family homes in the $400,000s.
He said McDonough's homes would be in line with Rouse's vision by replacing "functionally obsolete" homes that have small master bedrooms and kitchens with houses that meet the desires of current homebuyers.
"No one is talking about tearing down all of Wilde Lake village and starting from scratch," LaRocca said.
Wilde Lake officials said they knew the time would come when homes would be demolished and replaced.
They say it's the natural growth of a town, pointing to the redevelopment adjacent to the village in Town Center on former commercial property, where a four- to five-story condominium complex is planned for near Lake Kittamaqundi, and nearby a high-rise with condominiums and commercial space is proposed.
Amid this redevelopment, the Rouse Co. recently made an unsuccessful bid to Howard County to add more residential units to Columbia's downtown in an effort to create a more urban atmosphere.
But that high end could soon skyrocket.
With a scarcity of land in a highly sought-after location, a developer wants to tear down homes in Wilde Lake and erect million-dollar mansions in their place.
At a time of low interest rates and rapidly rising home prices, such development is happening around the Washington, D.C., area.
But it would be a first for Columbia and could not only change the landscape but also challenge the philosophy of its founder.
This case will also be a test for Columbia's strict architectural covenants, as the 37-year-old town has never had to consider such a situation.
"It's just a matter of time before we're really expecting to see more of these teardowns occur, not just in Wilde Lake but in other parts of the county," said Steve Lafferty, Howard County's deputy county planning director.
"With land values as they are, it's easier to redevelop existing land than it is to find green fields," Lafferty said.
John McDonough, president of Keswick Homes, said his company has torn down older houses to build new ones in Virginia towns where few vacant lots are available - Vienna, McLean and Great Falls - and he's hoping Wilde Lake can be the next endeavor.
He's building his own home - a 5,300-square-foot mansion that began as an 1800s stone home that he renovated and added to - near Wilde Lake on an outparcel of Columbia.
Nearby, he is also constructing a home that he said has been sold for "well over a million" to buyers who were attracted to the prospect of moving into a finished neighborhood.
"What the people liked very much was the fact that it was an existing established community - great location, all the street trees were mature, the landscaping is in, all the paths are in," said McDonough, who has built homes in Columbia. "It's beautiful."
McDonough said he envisions building similar homes in the village after tearing down older, single-family homes that are beginning to deteriorate.
He said he believes such construction will help rejuvenate the area.
Rick LaRocca, a real estate agent with Re/Max in Columbia, said there's a market for million-dollar homes in Wilde Lake, where prices range from condominiums in the low- to mid-$100,000s to single-family homes in the $400,000s.
He said McDonough's homes would be in line with Rouse's vision by replacing "functionally obsolete" homes that have small master bedrooms and kitchens with houses that meet the desires of current homebuyers.
"No one is talking about tearing down all of Wilde Lake village and starting from scratch," LaRocca said.
Wilde Lake officials said they knew the time would come when homes would be demolished and replaced.
They say it's the natural growth of a town, pointing to the redevelopment adjacent to the village in Town Center on former commercial property, where a four- to five-story condominium complex is planned for near Lake Kittamaqundi, and nearby a high-rise with condominiums and commercial space is proposed.
Amid this redevelopment, the Rouse Co. recently made an unsuccessful bid to Howard County to add more residential units to Columbia's downtown in an effort to create a more urban atmosphere.
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