Advocates of a plan to redevelop downtown Columbia have formed a new organization to further their cause.

On Monday, a group of residents announced the formation of the New City Alliance — a bipartisan, nonprofit group committed to encouraging the passage of a plan by Columbia developer General Growth Properties that would transform Town Center over 30 years.

The Howard County Council is reviewing the developer’s plan, which calls for 5,500 residential units, almost 5 million square feet of office space and 1.25 million square feet of retail space and would require changes to both the county’s zoning laws and its general plan. The council is slated to take public testimony on the plan next month.

Phil Engelke, a founding member of the New City Alliance and member of the Oakland Mills Village Board, said the plan carries out Columbia founder James Rouse’s initial vision for the area.

“What I think we realize is, this plan has to be bold,” Engelke said. “It cannot be watered down and the council needs our support.”

The group plans contact Howard County voters to encourage support of the General Growth proposal and will launch a bumper sticker campaign entitled “Walk Much?” to encourage walkable development.

For more information about the New City Alliance, go to www.newcityalliance.org.

— Sarah Breitenbach

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user comments (6)

user commonsenseplease says...

After such a long process of meetings and work sessions, is it fair to keep calling this GGP's plan? They paid for it, but the community has certainly had a big hand in its creation!

Posted 11:12 PM, 10.19.09 | Permalink

user citizentaxpayerjane says...

Developer interests have a big stake in this and are willing to back it up with money. Contacting the residents will be expensive, like funding a campaign and like a political campaign they are hoping that the one with the most money wins.

Posted 6:06 AM, 10.20.09 | Permalink

user citizentaxpayerjane says...

Nonprofit? Who are the members? Must be easy to set up anything and call it nonprofit, but that should not be in the headline.

Posted 6:08 AM, 10.20.09 | Permalink

user wildelakemike says...

CTJ, as always, looking to the dark side. New City Alliance will disclose all of its donors after its first fundraiser. Then, if you like, CTJ, you can take your shots. In the meantime, please understand that there are lots and lots of people who have been involved in the discussions surrounding the redevelopment and revitalization of downtown Columbia, and if I have heard one universal refrain from residents in my neighborhood, it is "will anything happen in time for us to enjoy it too?" The goal of New City Alliance is to try and answer this question with a resounding "YES!"

Posted 11:09 AM, 10.20.09 | Permalink

user jamieay says...

FYI - According to New City Alliance's website (http://www.newcityalliance.org/donate.html) they are *not* a non-profit organization, nor are they listed in any of the nonprofit databases I can find online (www.guidestar.org or www.melissadata.com). Was any fact checking whatsoever done prior to the publishing of this article?

Posted 6:43 PM, 12.22.09 | Permalink

user milton says...

Interesting. Howard County Citizens Association (HCCA) is not a non-profit organization either. I suspect that most of these types of citizen groups have not obtained non-profit status.

Posted 6:54 PM, 12.22.09 | Permalink