Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The redevelopment of Columbia's first village center is expected to complete construction in about two years, said officials Wednesday.
Officials gathered Wednesday to break ground at the Wilde Lake Village Center, a $17 million redevelopment project that will bring new retail space, offices and apartments to the property that was built in 1967. "This is a marathon and we're in the final stretch," said Geoff Glazer, vice president of Kimco Realty, the development company handling the construction. At the event on Wednesday, Kimco staff, local residents, and public officials mingled under an event tent. Glazer spoke about the delays in beginning development due to a vocal Wilde Lake community that criticized the company's plans throughout the process. "This is not a shy village," said Glazer. "They have an opinion and they will share it with you." Plans to develop the …
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
All information was provided by the Howard County Police Department.
Columbia Assault, Attempted Robbery Approximately 10 individuals approached a man who was walking in the 5400 block of Blue Heron Lane and threatened him. One of the individuals held a Taser to the man, as others attempted to take his cell phone. After a struggle, which resulted in a minor injury to the victim, the attackers fled on foot. Police located a 14-year-old male nearby the scene hiding behind a vehicle. In the same area, they located a pink Taser in a black case. The 14-year-old was charged with attempted robbery. Robbery Two males assaulted a juvenile and stole his cell phone at the intersection of Columbia Road and Little Patuxent Parkway. The juvenile was transported to Howard County General. Police did not provide detailed …
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Deshawn Jones was indicted on second-degree rape charges this week.
The Columbia 17-year-old who is accused of raping a 14-year-old student inside Wilde Lake High School was indicted on rape and assault charges by a Howard County grand jury this week. DeShawn Rasheed Jones, of the 6000 block of Laurel Wreath Way, was indicted as an adult on second-degree rape and second-degree assault charges after he allegedly raped the 14-year-old girl inside an unoccupied choir practice room at the school on Feb. 4, according to court records. The police report notes Jones tried to persuade the girl to go to a number of different rooms in the school, including the roof, before bringing her to the choir room. Once inside, he blocked the door and forced her to have sex with him, according to the report. On Monday, Jones…
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
The master planner's Wilde Lake home offers lakefront views and remnants of the past.
There's a piece of history on the market in Columbia, one that offers some of the best views of any lake in the city—James and Patricia Rouse's Wilde Lake home. James Rouse was the founder of the Rouse Company and a noted developer who led the design of the city of Columbia, Fanueil Hall in Boston and indoor malls across the country, according to a biography in the Columbia Archives. Patricia Rouse married James in 1974 and later went on to co-found the Enterprise Foundation with him in 1982, noted her obituary. The five-bedroom, five-bathroom house located at 10450 Waterfowl Terrace still has many of the design features the Rouse's added after they bought the home, such as a breakfast nook, clay tiles on the kitchen counters and around …
Sunday, February 10, 2013
A junior is accused of raping a freshman at Wilde Lake High School on Monday, according to police.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
James LeMon said the school is continuing to improve safety procedures at the school after an alleged rape occurred inside the school on Monday.
The principal of Wilde Lake High School wrote in his second letter to parents in as many days that the school is evaluating safety procedures in the wake of an alleged rape reported at the school on Monday. "We will maintain a safe and orderly environment for all students at Wilde Lake High School with our continued vigilance and alertness," wrote Principal James LeMon. He said the school will monitor the 31 cameras placed around the school as well as continue to enforce the following regulations: In his letter he also thanked the school's community for their support after the incident. "We will not let this tragic incident outshine all of the great things that go on at WLHS every day," wrote LeMon. On Tuesday, police announced they had …
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
The principal at a Columbia school where police said a rape occurred sent a note to the school community Wednesday.
Wilde Lake High principal James LeMon wrote that the school proactively addressed general concerns and provided individual support the day after police said a student was raped by another student inside the high school. "Although this experience has been difficult for all involved," he wrote in a letter to the school community Wednesday, "it is important for me to communicate the genuine pride and admiration I hold for the amazingly dedicated staff and the wonderful student body at Wilde Lake High School." "The news of a student arrest yesterday has deeply impacted our Wilde Lake High School community," he wrote. He wrote that as soon as he was notified by police of the alleged incident, he collaborated with police and central office …
Police provided a more detailed outline in court documents of what they said happened at Wilde Lake High School earlier this week.
The 14-year-old female who accused a fellow student of raping her at Wilde Lake High School told police the incident happened Monday inside a choir room, according to the statement of probable cause filed in court documents. Police said that the school provided evidence that shows the girl and DeShawn Rasheed Jones, 17, entering and leaving the choir room, as well as the 14-year-old taking one of her friends to the restroom after it happened, according to the documents. Jones is currently being held on $500,000 bond, according to court officials. He is being charged as an adult with second-degree rape, second-degree assault and false imprisonment. Patch contacted a woman who said she was Jones' mother on Wednesday. The woman said she …
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Village Center redevelopment plans move forward with a new CVS building.
Kimco has reached an agreement with CVS to bring one of its pharmacies to the Wilde Lake Village Center. The new CVS will take the place of the current Crown Gas Station, according to Wilde Lake covenant adviser Carl McKinney. Plans for the new building were put on display Monday at Slayton House after Kimco development officials outlined their plans for the development of the village center at a Village Board meeting. The store is estimated to be about 13,000 square feet. Before being approved, plans for the store will open to public comment for the next three weeks, then the plan will go to a design panel for further recommendations and then come back to the Village Board for approval, according to McKinney. Ground is scheduled to be …
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
A Columbia man was sentenced to 70 years after he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder before the conclusion of his retrial.
The retrial of a Columbia man previously convicted of first-degree murder came to an abrupt end on Monday when the man pleaded guilty to first-degree murder at Howard County Circuit Court. The sixth day of the retrial was set to get underway, when prosecutors and the defense attorney announced that a plea agreement had been reached. That was when Antajuan Lawntee Wilson, 23, pleaded guilty to the 2008 Wilde Lake murder he was previously convicted of in December of 2008, according to Wayne Kirwan, spokesperson for the Howard County state's attorney's office. The retrial had been ordered by the Maryland Court of Appeals after it was determined the jury in Wilson's 2008 trial had not been properly advised. After pleading guilty, Wilson was …
Esther
9:49 pm on Monday, May 20, 2013
agree - the fear was/is that "big corporation" does not care about the original concept of Columbia - your local village center should have a drug store, grocery store, a bank, an eatery, and a few other retailers so that you do not have to have a car to get what you need. I came to Columbia and raised my children here because of Mr. Rouse's vision. Big business and too many apartments and other … more ›