Shaping The City: A New Vision For Columbia, Md.
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2012-10-18/shaping-city-new-vision-columbia-md
When James Rouse designed Columbia, Md., in the late 1960s, his groundbreaking plan envisioned an integrated community with open-plan schools, a central mall and interfaith worship centers. Nearly 50 years later, suburban-style planning is out of favor, and the growing city has a new vision: high-rise buildings and a walkable, urban center. We explore the hopes -- and fears -- of residents about what the changes will mean for Columbia’s unique character.
Guests
Roger Lewis
Architect; Columnist, "Shaping the City," Washington Post; and Professor Emeritus of Architecture, University of Maryland College Park
Alan Klein
Spokesperson, Coalition for Columbia’s Downtown
Phillips Engelke
Designer and branding consultant; Principal, Amazing Space; Chair of the Howard County Design Advisory Panel
Comments
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How does Columbia compare with or contrast against Greenbelt, Md.? Greenbelt -- I refer to Old Town Greenbelt -- was also a planned community albeit one from the 1930s and 1940s.
Thanks for the reply.
Unfortunately, I didn't hear the entire program about Columbia, but I did catch the caller from Long Reach, who complained about crime, incivility, and low-income housing. Dan Rodricks had a similar caller during his segment on Columbia a few weeks ago. One of the guests on today's show even referred to "urban problems" in Columbia.
I've lived in Columbia for nine years. I like it very much, especially the amenities, such as parks, restaurants, coffee shops, senior day care. However, I am sensitive to complaints about crime and low-income housing. "Crime," "urban," and "low-income housing" are usually code words for poor and black people.
The conversation would have been much more honest if the host had clarified what everyone was actually talking about.
I certainly agree with your sensitivity to those "code words", but I actually don't think that was the case on today's show. It seemed to me that the panelist was referring to the fact that, though Columbia is often referred to as a suburb, it is a fairly densely populated city and does experience issues that cities experience, including crime, albeit on a smaller scale. I think that if you had heard the start of the show, you would have heard a lengthy discussion about Columbia's history of racial and economic diversity being a major strength of the community.