If you Redevelop It They Will Come

One thing I've neglected to mention when I put up posts is that they all fit into a broad Master Plan I have for Columbia. Every post is a piece to that puzzle. When I do redevelopment posts, Village Center Posts, reinvestment posts, new School construction posts, or mass transit posts; I have that entire vision in my mind and every post is crafted carefully to "fit in the puzzle" Let me give you an example.Well here's a surprise, my example is Wilde Lake Village Center. I'm sure you're sick of me constantly writing about and being convinced that it can attract a Full Service Grocer. Well, I'm kind of sick of writing about it myself but it doesn't have one yet so I will write on. Now, why did Giant leave? Because it refused to compete larger Grocers nearby and did not want to commit to expansion which would be its only means of doing so. Now how may I ask will that convince another Grocer to build a larger store in the same spot and compete with the same Grocers Giant waved a white flag at? The truth is, it can't and it won't.So, does that mean I have given up on Wilde Lake? Of course not. My plan for Wilde Lake Village Center fits into a puzzle of other things I would like to see throughout Wilde Lake and Columbia. What has been true for Village Centers across Columbia for the most part has been the old saying "if you build it they will come" by "They" I mean Grocers. With Wilde Lake that's not possible seeing as the Village is 43 years old and is built out. However, new home construction can do wonders in attracting merchants to an area and old outdated construction with a reputation for crime can do wonders in keeping them away. But that old saying continues to stick with me, If you build it they will come.Now this isn't a lost cause, we just have to fine tune the old saying to fit Wilde Lake. How about "if you redevelop it, they will come"? If you remember a post I did back in 2008 regarding the need for redevelopment and new construction in Wilde Lake to broaden the income mix and make Wilde Lake viable on the ever evolving Real Estate Market known as Howard County? Suppose I wasn't just thinking of Wilde Lake's housing stock when I inked that post back then? Truth be told I wasn't. I looked over that post and I realized I left something out, something very important; the new found potential and leverage brought about by lots of new construction around the Village Centers will make Grocers take a second look at Wilde Lake. The demographics and statistics of the Village Center's surroundings i.e. "the Market" will be more favorable to a perspective Grocer or any new Village Center Tenant for that matter. If you redevelop it, they will come. Still not convinced? Let me take you around Columbia and see how the "if you build it they will come" mentality has shaped Columbia's Village Centers.Now Harper's Choice Village Center in the mid 1990s was doomed just like Wilde Lake is today. The Center's pathetic excuse for an anchor; Valu Food which was much smaller than today's average CVS, had closed and the Center was desolate. But how did it come back? As you can see it's anchored by a very large and modern Safeway today. The answer is in part new construction. Hobbit's Glen, the Village's newest Neighborhood was mostly built in the 1990s as were Neighborhoods across Route 108 along Homewood Road which Harper's Choice I'm sure was eager to draw. See? If you build it they will come.
Long Reach, in the late '90s was in danger of loosing its small Safeway. Unlike the Wilde Lake Giant, Safway was convinced to expand and modernize its store to the standards of the time i.e. relocating the front doors to face the parking lot instead of the parking lot. Kendall Ridge, was still under construction during the expansion of the Safeway bringing a larger Market to the Village Center's door step. The past several years has dealt several blows to the Long Reach in the form of newer, fancier, and specialty Grocers in Columbia's Big Box Centers and Out-parcels. Safeway stores (including the new one in Harper's Choice) have all been renovated lately, the one in Long Reach has not and it doesn't seem to be happening any time soon. Could Safeway be letting its lease run out?Owen Brown Giant, for a long time was the only game in Town for East Columbia. Oakland Mills Giant failed in comparison, the Long Reach Safeway as well, and the newer Valu Food in King's Contrivance was not a draw to the Center (smaller tenants were draws in and of themselves) So it really wasn't a surprise when Owen Brown Giant became dated and obsolete, it didn't loose much of its Market Base. When Oakland Mills has lost Grocers time and time again, Owen Brown has captured up its Market Share time and time again. Owen Brown Giant has since been expanded and renovated several times. Although past due, that Giant stayed viable the rest of the Village Center was not so lucky. Time will tell how Owen Brown Giant will react to newer Super Markets throughout the region. I do think it can gain a larger customer base through redevelopment throughout the Village. If you redevelopment it they will keep coming.
(Remind to take a picture of the completed redevelopment) Now Kings Contrivance for all intensive purposes survived very well without an anchor from its opening in 1986 to 2008 when it had two lame duck anchors. From 1986 to Thanksgiving 1999 it was a Valu Food and when that chain went belly up, Safeway had signed a lease within days end. Safeway was just like Valu Food in terms of attracting a customer base, the Center itself kept the lot full not the Grocer. When Safeway left in 2006 the amount of cars in the lot remained virtually the same. In the summer of 2008 marked an historical day for Kings Contrivance; the arrival of a brand new Harris Teeter. This was also the first and only Specialty Grocer to open in a Village Center. Now wait a minute.. Kings Contrivance's build out was 20 years ago, how could it attract such a prize? Well, look to the south to new Communitys like Maple Lawn and Emerson Kings Contrivance is not far from them at all. It might not have been in the Village itself but the Market share in Kings Contrivance grew due to new housing. If you build it, they will come.Dorsey's Search marked a new era for the size of Giants. Although renovated this Giant has not expanded since its opening in 1989. Dorsey Hall was nearing completion at the time of the Center's opening but Fairway Hills was just beginning. The Neighborhoods of southern Ellicott City; Burleigh Manor, Font Hill, and Gray Rock Farms also grew with Dorsey's Search and account for a large chunk of its Market Share. If you build it they will come. Hickory Ridge is different. The Village Center opened in 1992 but two of the Village's Neighborhoods were built in the mid to late 1970s. Clary's Forest however, was built in the 1980s. A few final touches came up in the '90s but Hickory Ridge went without a Center for a good 18 years from when its first houses came up and the Village Center opened. The Giant, although new in Village Center Years was new and large in 2008 inside it was showing its age. It has since undergone a massive renovation making brand new once again. If you build it they will come, 18 years later but they came none the less. I saved Oakland Mills for last because it defies logic! How could three Supermarkets fail yet it was able to attract a Food Lion? The Surrounding Village has stood in a virtual time capsule from 1971 with the exception of its renovated Village Center. Oakland Mills needs more redevelopment than Wilde Lake. Did I forget to mention that Oakland Mills Village Center has perhaps the worst location and the lowest traffic count of any Village Center. Just because it has a Food Lion doesn't put Oakland Mills out of the woods, I'd like to see more renovations, a larger tenant roster, and massive redevelopment throughout the Village. Perhaps the Food Lion could level up to a Bloom giving Oakland Mills a "niche".Now that I've showed you other Village Centers and the Historys of their Grocers, in most cases you will see that the construction of new homes has played an integral part in attracting Grocers to a new Village Center, keeping it at an older one, or reviving an old one. So it's obvious, to get a new Grocer for Wilde Lake there will have to be new construction around the Village Center. For further reading, I refer you to my Wilde Lake Redevelopment post here and my Wilde Lake Reinvestment post (not redevelopment, new exterior facades on viable housing) here.

Wilde Lake Village Center: The Plans Are In!

Photo from the Columbia Flier

Now I made a promise to myself that I would wait until Kimco unveiled its plans for Wilde Lake Village Center before I ripped them to shreds. And rip them to shreds I will. Those of you who attended the meeting this past Thursday heard me ask where the Full Service Grocer was (I was called on first) Kimco remains firm that no Grocer is interested. Now being the good little residents that we are have no option but to believe them. If you've ever read this blog you will know that I am anything but and I will question how strongly Kimco pursued Full Service Grocers.

Now would I bad mouth Kimco's plan if I didn't have my own plan? Nope, it's easy to bad mouth something without a viable solution of your own (just ask a member of the Tea Party) but a big reason I don't like what Kimco has brought to the table is because I do have a viable solution that includes a Full Service Anchor and the Apartments Kimco is so enthusiastic about. I was never against them. At one point I had a plan that a Full Service Grocer AND all 500 apartments. This one has the 215 that Kimco's current calls for.This parking lot and the vacant Giant (far left) once demolished will be the site of the new Full Service Grocer. It will face Twin Rivers Road and will be easily accessible through any part of the Center whether it be the old Village Green Shops or Lynx Lane. It will house Offices above it. I'm thinking a Mars or a Superfresh would love to stake a claim in West Columbia which is dominated by Giants and Safeways to capture its share of the Market which will undoubtedly grow with 5500 new units of housing in Town Center. The building will be demolished to make way for additional parking. The Village Green in the foreground will remain and may be enhanced to provide more plush landscaping and better lighting. Although the Village Green will stay intact, some trees may have to be cut down in favor of shorter vegetation to give a more open feeling. All the businesses in the demolished buildings except for Pizza Bolis will be reloacted to a new building on Lynx Lane.
One thing that got my attention in Kimco's plan was the idea of locating the Bank in its own Building. I support this so the Columbia Bank will get its own Building at the southern end of Lynx Lane just before Cross Fox. This will allow for the demolition of the Columbia Bank's current drive up banking structure. Now the Columbia Bank paired with the second entrance to the vacant Giant (pictured below) once housed as any as three businesses; Ridings Liquors, The Cheese Shoppe, and the Butcher Shoppe.This "new" entrance to the vacant Giant (early 1990s) paired with the Columbia Bank, which will gets its own building will make room for three new tenants. The one closest to Star Nails will be a new Pharmacy Counter similar to the departed Medicine Shoppe. The new Grocer may not have a Pharmacy of its own. In the middle will be a Pizza Bolis. Its current foot print is way too big for its purpose. Nobody EVER sits at its tables and they add to the desolate feeling in the Village Green. All other Pizza chains that are delivery based have very small foot prints. Now the space that roughly housed the old Ridings Liquors will be a home to "Yogi Castle", a Frozen Yogurt place that just opened in Ellicott City and has been a draw to that Shopping Center and with its strategic location in Wilde Lake, it will draw patrons into the Village Green.David's will move roughly to where the vacated Produce Galore sits (more about that later) Here is where the demolished businesses will relocate (The current David's will be demolished and a new building will rise in its place). Above will be one of the four story Apartment Buildings with 108 units. Below will be the Melting Pot, Wilde Lake Karate, The Bagel Bin, Quiznos, and Tokoyo Cafe. These are some of the healthiest businesses in the Center most notably the Melting Pot and Wilde Lake Karate. This may also be a good opportunity for some of the Businesses moving here to retool and recapture their market share. The Bagel Bin can shift its focus on Coffee and Tea and market itself as a Coffee House. There was desire by a meeting attendee for a Starbucks and a Starbucks will drive the Bagel Bin out. When Tokyo Cafe opened several years ago Japanese Restaurants weren't a dime a dozen like they are today. It needs a gimmick to set it apart. My suggestion? Have the cooks prepare your meal table side. The Quiznos will be a new business that will be a draw. West Columbia lacks one yet EVERY other Village Center in West Columbia and two in East Columbia have a Subway. This will further set Wilde Lake apart and draw patrons into the Center.
Now the vacated Produce Galore will be demolished and just like the Kimco plan will house 27,000 Square feet of retail. David's will take 18,000 and the remaining 9,000 will be divided evenly to the other three existing Lynx Lane businesses (Acheiver's Hair Salon, The Ups Store, and Hunan Family) and the other 107 Apartments. I would like to point out that Lynx Lane was once home to a lot more retail businesses. Both Produce Galore and David's expanded once their leases expired. David's was tiny it has since taken over Wilhides Flowers, Mailboxes Etc, Omaha Steaks, a Bakery, a Maternity Consignment Shop, JK Pub, and Duron Paints. Produce Galore was also small, it shared its building with a Hardware Store which it over took and the Building's footprint was expanded at least twice during the 1990s to house the growing business. It's quite remarkable that Produce Galore thrived in the same Village Center for over 25 years.Now Kimco's plan for the Apartment Buildings is to give them their own green spaces in the back. I'm scrapping that because of their ground floor retail. But in between the two I will put in a second Village Green roughly where the above picture was taken. This would have been a parking lot in Kimco's plan. My plan gives not only a Full Service Grocer but more public Green Space.Now back to the Village Green. With the Melting Pot building demolished the Village Green will be visible from Twin Rivers Road. This will make back filling the vacancies left by the Medicine Shoppe and Feet First easier. Also struggling businesses (with the help of the new Grocer) will see new business. I'm thinking a Day Spa for the old Feet First space and a maybe a Jewler and a Florist for the Medicine Shoppe.Now this covered area will remain largely the same. Of course the vacant Giant in the background will be demolished and the end of the covered area will lead to the new Grocer which will be set back from existing retail. Well that's my plan for Wilde Lake Village Center. It includes keeping the Gas Station (Kimco's doesn't) a Full Service Grocer, (Kimco's doesn't), and two Village Greens (Kimco's doesn't) now be warned Kimco, I'm not convinced that you've exhausted all Full Service Grocer options. I will be trying to get in contact with a number of potential tenants to see if you've wooed them. If you haven't, I will and I would suggest to anyone reading this post who agrees with me to do the same.

Now in order for this to work, Wilde Lake as a Village needs both reinvestment and redevelopment of older blighted properties. With Wilde Lake full of new construction, new tenants for the Village Center will be easier to attract. Below are links to older posts I've published calling for reinvestment of existing housing stock and the redevelopment of housing stock that's too far-gone.
http://columbiafuture.blogspot.com/2010/01/wilde-lake-reinvestment.html
and
http://columbiafuture.blogspot.com/2008/12/wilde-lake-redevelopment.html

The Green Line's Connected to the Yellow Line I: From Greenbelt to Columbia

This is a particularly exciting post for me because it overlaps this and my sister blog "Baltimore City's Past Present and Future." This post is dedicated to bringing Rail Transit to Columbia both from Baltimore and Washington DC. Although this is not a priority for the MTA, I will press on, perhaps taking this proposal out of the hands of the MTA. With that I give you the separate entity known as the "Columbia Rail Transit Association" still funded by the State with matching Federal Funds it won't be gridlocked with MTA projects and the State will fund it separately thus speeding up the process.
First lets start off in the Suburban Washington DC Community of Greenbelt. This, like Columbia is a "Planned Community" for the purposes of this post that's a moot point. Greenbelt is the northern terminus of the DC Metro's Green Line. Now there have been proposals to extend the Green Line along the MARC lines into Howard County and into Columbia that way. Although localizing existing MARC Lines is a good idea, I'd like to create a new route that will give Rail Transit to other Communities that currently lack it while en-route to Columbia.
At first it will follow the MARC lines until its first stop in Beltsville. After that, things will get interesting. It will make a sudden turn northwest into the eastern edge of Calverton. Calverton straddles the Montgomery County and PG County Line. The Calverton Stop will be located in PG County at the intersection of Briggs Chaney Road and Old Gunpowder Road. Although this stop is located in PG County, Montgomery County will see traffic relief from this.Now rather than going into Montgomery County, the expanded Green Line will continue on old Gunpowder Road through what appears to be nothing. Now why wasn't this ever developed? I believe this was to be a right of way for the ICC. The ICC did not use this route (it will be south of here) so with a new Metro Line running through this outback, I think it only fair to develop a TOD Village known as "Greencastle", named for Greencastle Road which ends at the new stop here. The Green Line will turn easterly to meet Sweitzer Lane which is becoming a developing Commerce Area in its own right anchored by the UPS Customer Service Center. This area is known as "West Laurel."After West Laurel the Green Line will travel along Route 198 until its intersection with Route 29. When Route 29 was relocated to build the interchange Commuter Bus were added making Burtonsvillle a good location for a Multi Modal Transit Hub. This will also help the Shopping Centers that used to be on the main line of Route 29. Burtonsville can also be the ending point of a "Red Line Spur" I'm proposing as well.Well we've made it into Howard County with a stop that will generate a lot of Commuter Traffic with the APL, Tai Sophia, Rivers Corporate Park, and Maple Lawn all within a short walk. Next Stop Columbia.And we've done it! The DC Metro has been extended to Columbia! Next stop is Baltimore.

The Columbia School Construction and Equity Act

One thing about Howard County you can't help but notice is that it spends record sums of money on School Construction. Each School is fancier than the next. Since Howard County has seen record growth in the past 2o years, it seems only natural that the School System would have to expand its portfolio right? In that same amount of time, Columbia had a decline in enrollment in its Schools. Well now it's 2010 and future projections show areas with new Schools catching up and Columbia School's enrollment having a large upswing. With a few exceptions, Columbia's Schools have seen better days and fail in comparison to the rest of Howard County's Schools. This is why I'm proposing the Columbia School Construction and Equity Act that will put Columbia Schools right on board with the rest of Howard County. Redistricting will also be included as these new Schools are built.

First lets start off with Atholton Elementary. Redistricting associated with building a new Atholton Elementary will include receiving Dickinson and losing the Huntington Island. Atholton's enrollment jumped from 420 to 480 in just three years. In its peak years, Atholton has had as many as 550 students before adding PreK and all day Kindergarden. Built in 1961 its Capacity is 387.Picture from Bcps.org
Here is a new School that the new Atholton can model itself after. It will boast a Capacity of 588 to allow for Kings Contrivance and Allview Estates to have its young families attend a brand new School with room for growth.

Image from Google Earth
Here is the associated redistricting with the rebuild of Atholton Elementary. (blue is a gain, red is a loss) The Patuxent Valley feed has been eliminated. Students attending Hammond Middle will attend Hammond High and those attending Oakland Mills Middle will attend Oakland Mills High.
Now we come to Bollman Bridge although its relatively new having opened in 1988 it's had to adjust its capacity to accommodate all day Kindergarten and up until recently was always very overcrowded. With Huntington projected to yield large numbers of young families again, redistricting, and the Savage MARC TOD; Bollman Bridge is due for an addition. 222 seats from its current 566 to 788 the largest an Elementary School can be in Howard County. Given that Bollman Bridge is 22 years old, it's time for a complete renovation to complement its addition.

Here's a look at the Bollman Bridge redistricting I have proposed.
Next is Bryant Woods. Hawthorn has provided most of Bryant Wood's population until very recently. Hawthorn is still yielding large numbers but Faulkner Ridge and Bryant Woods itself are beginning to have young Children. Enrollment jumped from 299 in 2002-2003 to 398 in 2006-2007 it's very clear that Columbia's first Elementary School, which opened in 1968 is due for a new larger building. Redistricting to Running Brook dropped enrollment down to 337 in 2007 but now enrollment is back up to 373. With a Capacity of 355, Bryant Woods is projected to keep growing well past 400. No redistricting here.Here is a picture of what I envision the new Bryant Woods to look like. With a Capacity of 454, allowing for growth and making a great selling point for young Families to buy a house in its district.This will be the crown and jewel of my proposed "Wilde Lake Redevelopment." Despite no redistricting in Bryant Woods all students will now attend Wilde Lake High.
Next is Clemens Crossing. At its peak Clemens Crossing topped at 700 Students. It bottomed our at 459 a few years ago and is almost back to 500. Projections show enrollment soaring past 600 and quite possibly 700. With a capacity of 522 and 31 years of age Clemens Crossing needs a new building that can hold all these additional students.Here is the face of the new Clemens Crossing. It will have Martin Road frontage allowing for construction of the new building while keeping its current building in operation. The Pool will be relocated across Quarterstaff Road on a piece of vacant land. The current building's location will be the new ball fields. The new Capacity will be 688.One reason the building size is so large is so Clemens Crossing can help relieve crowding at neighboring Fulton. The Clarksville Hunt Neighborhood will be redistricted here and Cedar Acres, currently at Clemens Crossing will be sent to Swansfield. This eliminates the Harpers Choice Middle/Wilde Lake High feed and expands the Lime Kiln Middle feed. All Students regardless of Middle School (Wilde Lake or Lime Kiln) will attend Atholton High.
Next we come to one of Howard County's oldest Schools; Guilford. Opened in 1954, it has seen the development of Columbia and has been added on to redistricted into and out of more times than anybody can count. In 2003 Guilford's population was at 412 and in 2009 it's surged to 511. This trend is expected to continue to least 600 and with 462 as its current capacity and the building's old age something must be done.
It's time we replaced Guilford with a newer larger building that can handle its continued growth.
It will have a capacity of 610 allowing room for growth. The Hammond Middle feed will be eliminated through the following redistricting proposal.Dickinson will go to Atholton which is closer than Guilford. In turn Guilford will receive the high growth area of Jessup from Bollman Bridge and Deep Run. Route 1 has a lot CAC districts which allows for new high density housing among other uses and this section being redistricted to Guilford. This part of Jessup will also contain the Jessup MARC TOD area where BRAC families may locate. A new Guilford will allow for this growth to be absorbed easily. Students attending Owen Brown Middle will attend Oakland Mills High and Students attending Patuxent Valley Middle will attend Hammond High.Next is the 36 year old Jeffer's Hill. For a couple of years, Jeffer's Hill was very crowded. Redistricting took care of that making enrollment better suited for its capacity of 421 with room for growth. Redistricting dropped Jeffers Hill's enrollment from 512 to 358 in just one year. It has slowly climbed since then to the 380s. It should top out at its capacity of 421. That's before you factor in my "Long Reach Redevelopment" which has the Trevor Condos and Jeffers Glen Town Homes hitting the wrecking ball for new housing. This will certainly yield more students and will have a ripple effect making the School more desirable for those wishing to buy an existing Single Family Home in Jeffers Hill. April Brook Circle and Eckers Hollow, two existing new Communities in the Jeffers Hill District will continue to yield high enrollment numbers.Now wouldn't this Elementary School make a much more attractive and modern looking Jeffer's Hill? I think so, I'm giving it an ambitious capacity of 528. I think it can be filled with a little help from Waterloo and some TOD.The Developments near Long Reach will be redistricted to Jeffer's Hill from the overcrowded Waterloo. The TOD will be built on the grounds of the recession casualty known as Columbia Crossing II. (This will be explained in a future post) this should bring growth to the Jeffer's Hill Community. The Bonnie Branch Middle Howard High feed will be eliminated.
Now we come to Long Reach's first School; Phelps Luck which opened its doors in 1972. It's been East Columbia's most crowded School for quite some time. With new students arriving constantly from the new Montjoy Development it won't be letting up anytime soon. In 2004, after redistricting Phelps Luck's enrollment was trimmed down to 496. Since then it has sky rocketed (with no additional redistricting) to 651. It should top out at around 725 where it will stay.The new Phelps Luck will be a carbon copy of the new Clemens Crossing. With a capacity of 688 it will be much better fit for the density of Phelps Luck. The district is very small in size. Speaking of the Phelps Luck district lets see what redistricting tactics I have up my sleeve.As you can see I flip flopped Phelps Luck and Waterloo. Why? Two reasons; Middle and High Schools feeds and distance. Each neighborhood is now located closer to their new school than their previous one. Also Phelps Luck will have eliminated the Mayfield Woods Long Reach feed. Whether Phelps Luck Students attend Bonnie Branch, Ellicott Mills, or Oakland Mills Middle they will attend Howard High. At Waterloo whether they attend Bonnie Branch or Mayfield Woods, they will attend Long Reach High. None of my "Long Reach Redevelopment" properties are in the Phelps Luck District, they're now in the Waterloo District.
No here we are at my Alma Mater Running Brook Elementary ('89-'95.) Rebuilding a new Running Brook is my answer to the new Town Center Development. They want to build an additional School for said School all the while Schools in West Columbia continue to age not so gracefully. With redistricting handling some of the blame, Running Brook's enrollment exploded from 299 in 2002-2003 to its present enrollment of 434. Its projected to blast through the 500 mark in the coming years and if Running Brook takes all the Town Center Students it could be as high as 600!Say hello to the brand new Running Brook Elementary School, as a '95 graduate, I can say that I won't miss the old building. The new capacity will be 588 allowing for Town Center, the part of my "Wilde Lake Redevelopment" post that's districted her, growth and some small redistricting.To relieve crowding at neighboring Longfellow, Running Brook will be the new home to students living in Beaver Brook. All Running Brook students will not only attend Wilde Lake Middle but Wilde High as well. The Atholton High feed will be eliminated.
This next entry takes us to Oakland Mills, Stevens Forest to be exact. Stevens Forest Elementary once played host to almost 400 students. It receives an addition in 1995 bumping its capacity to 333. Since peaking at 391 in the late '90s enrollment has been on the decline. In 2002 it was at 306. The following year redistricting of a projected 91 students from Talbott Springs to relieve crowding there and boost enrollment at Stevens Forest. In 2003 enrollment jumped to only 358, that projection was off. Enrollment continued to decline until 2008 when it bottomed out at 282. Enrollment went up this past year for the first time without the help of redistricting to just under 300. I think Stevens Forest has more kids in its district than are enrolled at their neighborhood School. The same can be said about Dasher Green. Now I project enrollment to be on the rise again and so does the county. I think Stevens Forest at its current district can have almost 500 students. It had 391 prior to redistricting, and with its larger district it can boost past 450 to just below 500.A new Stevens Forest like the one pictured here would usher more kids into the District as well as existing Private School kids who might give Steven's Forest another look. Also, a small part of my "Oakland Mills Redevelopment" post involves homes in the Stevens Forest District.Now I don't think Talbott Springs was finished with Stevens Forest. It remains crowded while Stevens Forest can take students. So, the redistricting of a few Oakland Mills Road side streets to Stevens Forest (it's closer) will be in order. Ah, Swansfield my current Home School. If I had kids they'd go here since I'm a Clarys Forest resident. Speaking of Clarys Forest it was supposed to have its own Elementary School. Instead they built an addition to Swansfield bumping its capacity to 484. That really wasn't enough. In the mid 1990s Swansfield peaked at 692. It's now at a more reasonable 521. For all day Kindergarten its capacity was again bumped up to 528. However, the decline in enrollment at Swansfield is not permanent. In the time I've lived in Clarys Forest I've seen the population grow younger once again as well as Swansfield proper. 600 Students in the coming years doesn't seem that far fetched. In the long term it could hot 650 or 675.The new Swansfiled will be the largest an Elementary School in Howard County can be. It will have a capacity of 788. Why so high two reasons. One, a lot of my "Harpers Choice Redevelopment" properties are in the Swansfield District which will produce larger numbers of Students. And the other is redistricting. With Clemens Crossing providing relief for Fulton, what School will provide relief for Clemens Crossing? The answer is Swansfield. It's easy to fathom because Swansfield's closer for the neoghborhood in question (Cedar Acres) these are the reasons that the new Swansfield will be so large.
Now we come to the School whose District has always been non contiguous; Talbott Springs. This can be blamed for proposed Schools that were never built in Hopewell and Elkhorn. Talbott Springs (with Dasher Green) has stepped up to the plate in providing a home to Students who would have attended these Schools that never came to fruition. At times Talbott Springs with a capacity of 443 can handle these students while other times Talbott Springs has been over crowded. Enrollment at Talbott Springs changes drastically every year, this can due to a large number of Rental Apartments in its District. In the 2004-2005 School Year enrollment was 507, then in the 2006-2007 School Year it was 426, today it's back up to a whopping 532.The new Talbott Springs will have a capacity of 610. This was set higher because the Talbott Springs District will so many of its older Apartment Complexes redeveloped as part of my "Oakland Mills Redevelopment Plan" The redeveloped Oakland Mills will have a higher home ownership rate that will keep enrollment steadier. The Talbott Springs District will still be non contiguous. Redistricting includes adding some Thunderhill kids as it will play a role in providing relief for the northeast. A small part of the Sewells Orchard/Fairmead Lane area will go to Stevens Forest. If crowding continues, consideration should be paid to one or two parts of Hopewell and consider redistricting one or both of them to Dasher Green.
Now come to our final School in Oakland Mills; Thunderhill. I'm using Thunderhill as a School to help relieve the north and northeast. Northfield is undergoing a renovation and addition as I pen this post in order to house its current District comfortably. I think redistricting some of Northfield into Thunderhill, allowing Northfield to relieve crowding at Centennial Lane and Veterans is a better idea. Why? That way we can build a new Thunderhill. It's 368 capacity is too small as is and with the additional Northfield Students forget it. This is what I envision the new Thunderhill to look like except with a grander front entrance.Look grand enough for you? I think so. The new capacity for Thunderhill will be 555. That will allow for a bigger District.The new district will include the remainder of Dorey Hall not currently districted here. It will eliminate the Northfield Wilde Lake High feed. Also eliminated will be the Ellicott Mills Howard feed. Thunderhill Students will either attend Dunloggin Middle and Wilde Lake High or both Oakland Mills Middle and High. Last but not least we come to Waterloo. Enrollment jumped from from 560 in 2005 to 723 today. In my Phelps Luck section I called for "flip flopping" its district with Waterloo's The new Waterloo District will look like a lot like the curent Phelps Luck District with Waterloo having more Students living closer to it attending. Waterloo spent many years having its District cut up as new Schools were built to relieve crowding now it's Waterloo that will get the new School after 46 but it will still relieve crowding at other nearby Schools.
The new Waterloo won't be much larger than its current School. Its capacity will be 610 versus the current 594. It's not about numbers it's giving Waterloo a new building to accommodate all the new growth coming to the area. Remember when I said Phelps Luck will not have any Students from the Long Reach Redevelopment? That's because they've been redistricted to Waterloo.The new Waterloo District will now absorb growth from Locust Park via my Long Reach Development and the new Shipley's Grant. Gone are the days that Waterloo draws from far away neighborhoods that are closer to newer Schools. Now Waterloo itself will be a new School with a District that draws for closer neighborhoods.

Well it's great to be back blogging about this is the first of many new posts. It's high time that the School System addressed the inequities between Columbia Schools and those in newer parts of the County. One good thing is that there are plenty of temporary buildings that can house Students while their Schools are rebuilt. I'd like to see all Schools complete by 2025. Starting.....NOW!