emleh t1_iyriz1e wrote on December 3, 2022 at 4:37 PM

Reply to comment by vpi6 in They finally fixed Oakland Mills RD and added bike lanes. by DefibrillatorKink

Untrue. I’m open to change but Columbia was not supposed to be a developers dream. When I was a kid, the streets were filled with children. Not so much anymore.

vpi6 t1_iyrkwll wrote on December 3, 2022 at 4:50 PM

What if I told you Columbia is literally supposed to be a developers dream. From start to finish. Who do you think Rouse was? Lmao.

What would you say to old farmers who said all the development in the 70 and 80s ‘ruined the vibe and culture of the community’

Also, the older neighborhoods are increasingly filled with old retirees whose children moved (because they can’t afford houses in Columbia because we stopped building housing). That’s why there aren’t as much kids. Newer places have more kids.

emleh t1_iyrmngc wrote on December 3, 2022 at 5:01 PM

What if I told you I worked at The Rouse Company during the sale to GGP? It was a huge controversy because Rouse fought for diversity and affordable housing. His family chose to sell to a developer for a pretty hefty price, and Rouse’s vision was abandoned. Additionally, the farms were sold by the landowners. That was their choice. This wasn’t some eminent domain kind of situation.

You mentioned the same level of kids, which I refuted, and now you are backing off on that point. I understand the demographics of Columbia because I’ve worked in population health and social services for a long time.

DefibrillatorKink OP t1_iyrqyid wrote on December 3, 2022 at 5:30 PM

There are tons of kids in HoCo, they just spend their time indoors now. My little cousins usually don't go outside unless it's after school. Screentime is Funtime lol

emleh t1_iyrrdi1 wrote on December 3, 2022 at 5:33 PM

That’s probably true! My kids play indoors all the time. Kids make up about 25% of the population so I guess that’s significant.

vpi6 t1_iyrqmvv wrote on December 3, 2022 at 5:28 PM

Do you really think this place would more affordable if nothing more was built? Really?

> Additionally, the farms were sold by the landowners. That was their choice. This wasn’t some eminent domain kind of situation.

I used farmers as a proxy for anyone who lived here in the 60s. Don’t run away from the point. Why is your idealized Columbia ‘ruining’ the vibe and culture of their community ok while you complain about development “ruining” your community.

> You mentioned the same level of kids, which I refuted, and now you are backing off on that point.

Where? Where did you refute the number of kids in a neighborhood? You said there said there aren’t as much kids in your area. I said the distribution was to newer developments. And you said nah uh I refuted it. So where is the refutation?

Never mind the link between development and your perceived decline in “community character” is pretty nebulous.

Housing is continually blocked in Hoco by people like you who paint Rouse as a Jesus figure. Especially the apartments that would have housed lower income people. I’m over the cult of Rouse.

emleh t1_iyrqtsy wrote on December 3, 2022 at 5:29 PM

That’s fine. I’m not here to convince you or change your mind, just provide some insight.

emleh t1_iyrrujz wrote on December 3, 2022 at 5:37 PM

Also, newer developments aren’t Columbia. They are either out parcels or other parts of Howard County (think Clarksville & Elkridge). Columbia is just overpopulated at this point. Development has made that so. There isn’t enough infrastructure to support the population.

Appreciate your feedback, though.

emleh t1_iyrn0xs wrote on December 3, 2022 at 5:04 PM

At the end of the day, the bike lane project has been in the works for over a decade and is championed by the guy who runs Merriweather & bikes for fun. This wasn’t about transforming accessibility in Columbia.