Columbia's Downtown Transformation

The start of construction at the Metropolitan Downtown Columbia and the Mall in Columbia have brought a focus back to the development of Columbia's Downtown.

As the Downtown Columbia Plan becomes a reality, more and more of the designs presented in past community meetings will begin to appear in the city.

Currently, construction projects are underway at the Mall in Columbia, the Warfield area where the Metropolitan is being built, and Clyde's on the waterfront where a $4 million renovation project was announced in December.

John DeWolf, senior vice president of development for the Howard Hughes Corp., said at the Metropolitan's groundbreaking that the renovation of the former Rouse Company Headquarters to make it ready for a Whole Foods grocery store and a Columbia Association fitness center will soon begin.

DeWolf also noted Howard Hughes will start planning for the Crescent property surrounding the south side of Merriweather Post Pavilion.

DeWolf indicated that Howard Hughes is working on a plan to update Merriweather Post Pavilion, but said he wasn't ready to talk publicly about it yet.

In January, Columbia Association revealed a new plan for developing Symphony Woods, the Inner Arbor Plan, that was dramatically different from the original pathway and fountain plan. At the CA Board meeting on Feb. 14, the board voted to pursue the Inner Arbor Concept plan for the development of Symphony Woods, although it still must go through the county planning process before any kind of construction can begin.

Above, flip through the design plans and construction sites for the current projects being developed and discussed for Downtown Columbia.

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