Key highlights of the proposed 30-year master plan for the redevelopment of downtown Columbia will be on public display between July 16 and July 24.

The eight-day exhibit will officially open Wednesday, July 16, at 7 p.m. in the Spear Center, 10275 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia, according to officials of General Growth Properties Inc., who are drafting the plan.

The exhibit will feature renderings and highlights of the proposed plan, which General Growth officials released April 28.

The plan, which county officials still must approve, includes 5,500 new residential units, along with new shops, offices and a hotel in Town Center. General Growth also is proposing to build roads and walkways to connect Columbia mall to an arts district surrounding Merriweather Post Pavilion. Company officials are encouraging visitors to the exhibit to provide feedback on the plan.

The exhibit will be open during the following hours: July 17, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; July 18, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; July 19, 9 a.m. to noon; and July 21 through July 24, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

General Growth officials also have scheduled a Wednesday, July 9 meeting in which they will release details about the amount of housing, retail and office space they propose to build downtown. The meeting will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Spear Center, in the company's downtown headquarters.

Company officials say they plan to submit the master plan to the County Council for approval later this summer.

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