Thanksgiving Open Thread

What are you giving thanks for today? On top of the normal giving thanks for having a great family and great friends I am also giving thanks that the bad plan for redeveloping Downtown Columbia has not yet been approved and I am also giving thanks that considering who got elected there is a hope that with an engaged community we can get the plan fixed before it gets approved.

After the swearing in of the new County Exec and County Council in just over a week I suspect the dialog on Downtown Columbia will begin again and I give thanks that I think the new elected officials will create a more responsive dialog than has existed so far. As Thanksgiving is a time of reflection, let us reflect on what has been proposed for our community and ways we can make it better. Here are some past posts on the subject:

A Rough Review of the Plan Proposed by the Consultants at the End of the Charrette

The Proposed Grid System

Downtown Driving Experience

The Effect of the Road System on the Lake Front and the Grass Amphitheater

Specifics that Matter and Some Details Following the Feb. 27th Public Meeting

Pedestrian Oriented, Walkable Streets?

The Mall to Merriweather Promenade: Part 1

The Mall to Merriweather Promenade: Part 2

Mixed Income Housing: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Parking

Why community planning matters.

Martin Luther King Day thoughts on the impact of community planning and whether new developments are contributing or undermining his dream and Rouses vision.

Let's Not Be Florida

Let's Plan this Right

Will the county use the Focus Group to help restore public trust?

I guess not yet, but here's hoping they will do it this time.

Let's Talk Solutions