Another turning point nears in the history of Columbia [Commentary]

When I came to Columbia from Washington, D.C., in 1972, there was great interest in the new city being planned to the north.The very idea of starting a city completely from scratch was incredibly bold. We sit here today on the cusp of Columbia's 50th birthday and it is tempting to congratulate ourselves on all that has been accomplished. But we should also be thinking of what we have left to do because we have not realized our full potential.We are a comfortable suburban community of villages with a good mall at our core, but we have not become the &quot;city&quot; Jim Rouse envisioned.Columbia has been my home for 44 years, and I was privileged to serve as president of the Columbia Association for more than half of Columbia's history. I remain deeply interested in Columbia's development and its efforts to fulfill a vision that includes far more than being a better suburb.We want nothing less than a center of culture and commerce, a 21st century version of a long- delayed urban center.More than once in the past almost 50 years we suffered setbacks that diverted us from our goal of becoming a city, but the adoption of the Downtown Columbia Plan in 2010 was a major turning point in Columbia's history. Credit for that goes to the foresight of the County Council which realized that it was once again time for the boldness that characterized Columbia's beginnings.The Joint Recommendations on Affordable Housing and the public financing legislative package before the County Council are small in comparison to the transformative legislation of 2010, but they tie up loose ends, advance the ambitions, and make the fulfillment of the Downtown Columbia Plan possible. We don't want to stumble now.To accelerate the momentum of the revitalization now underway, new and improved roads and public parking are critical. Their absence is an impediment to timely and comprehensive development of the buildings that will house businesses that are estimated to bring 20,000 permanent jobs to Howard County, as well as all the civic amenities that will help attract employers and new residents. They will enrich Columbia both culturally and economically. Without public infrastructure in place, however, Columbia will continue to evolve in a drawn-out piecemeal fashion, extending the already long time frame of the revitalization now underway.The Tax Increment Financing proposal before the County Council is an extension of the public-private partnership that has been the hallmark of the Downtown Columbia Plan.Tax increment financing supports the development that will generate significant tax revenues which will pay back the debt, as well as help finance educational, cultural and fire protection entities. That development will also provide the county's general fund with additional tax revenues for projects here and elsewhere in the county.In addition, I strongly support the Joint Recommendations on Affordable Housing because I believe that Columbia should provide housing choices for people of all incomes. Providing that spectrum of housing in downtown is a key step in making Columbia the &quot;real city&quot; Jim Rouse envisioned.As a patron of the arts, I am excited about the plans to create an arts center and provide a home for the Howard County Arts Council in Downtown Columbia, as well as create studio apartments specifically designed for artist residents. This actually was an early idea for Columbia that could finally become a reality.In short, each cultural, residential, retail and office project is a step towards making Columbia a &quot;real city&quot; with a more engaging, walkable Downtown.Often overlooked is the fact that in addition to the substantial increase in county tax revenues, the new development, supported by the TIF, will also generate millions of dollars in assessment revenue for the Columbia Association, which can be used to reduce fees and fund new services.Leadership always matters. I hope the County Council will once again rise to the challenge and put in place the legislation needed to realize the vision and goals of the Downtown Columbia Plan.Padraic Kennedy is a former president of Columbia Association.

Another turning point nears in the history of Columbia [Commentary]

Don't miss our 4th of July sale!
Save big on local news.

SALE ENDS SOON

$1 FOR 12 WEEKS

Don't miss our 4th of July sale!Save big on local news.

SALE ENDS SOON

$1 FOR 12 WEEKS

Don't miss our 4th of July sale!
Save big on local news.