The Howard County Council has finalized funding for a transformative first-class New Cultural Center (NCC) in Downtown Columbia. This exciting project has been in development for more than a decade and will finally be realized, building upon the vision of Jim Rouse. The NCC will serve as the County’s new hub for arts and culture, including a new home for the iconic Toby’s Dinner Theatre, engaging arts programming, and affordable housing units.
“We have worked for many years to get to this point and create a first-class art and culture center for Howard County that will spur people’s love of art and theater and will be accessible to all residents,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “The contributions that organizations like Columbia Center for the Theatrical Arts (CCTA), Toby’s Dinner Theatre, and Recreation and Parks have historically made to all residents of our community will continue in the new center. Additionally, it will be a vital component of the Downtown Columbia Plan and an important element in expanding affordable housing in the area. Thank you to the many partners who have advocated for this project and helped get us over the finish line - including former County Executives Ulman and Kittleman who each carried this project through critical steps. We’re very grateful to Council Members Jones, Rigby, and Yungmann for their support and approval of this historic project. We can now focus on next steps to see the center come to life.”
The NCC will be the first of five low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) developments, which is a critical component of the Downtown Columbia affordable housing plan as reflected in the Development Rights and Responsibilities Agreement (DRRA) passed by the County Council in 2016. This funding from the Howard County Council allows the construction of the NCC to begin this Summer and be completed by the Fall of 2024.
“Moving forward with this project means that families of all economic backgrounds have the opportunity to not only enjoy the Downtown Columbia area, but live there as well,” said Councilwoman Christiana Rigby. “I am looking forward to the day when our community can celebrate the arts and honor our collective humanity together at the New Cultural Center.”
"I'm ecstatic that this project is finally coming to fruition! The New Cultural Center will provide a wealth of resources for residents and will offer much needed affordable housing – all that is well over due,” said Councilmember Opel Jones.
“This is a great day for the arts and workforce housing in Howard County,” said former Howard County Executive Ken Ulman. “The New Cultural Center builds on the foundation we laid ten years ago and is central to the future of Downtown Columbia. As James Rouse said, ‘cities must be fun,’ and this progress will not only spur economic development but is what our community expects and deserves. Thank you to County Executive Ball for seeing this project through.”
The NCC will be located on the current site of Toby’s Dinner Theater, which was also contemplated in the Downtown Columbia Plan. The design includes a new 350-seat theater and commercial kitchen, two 300-seat blackbox theaters, a gallery, dance studios, and various classrooms/performing arts rooms. Toby’s Dinner Theater will merge with the Columbia Center for the Theatrical Arts (CCTA) and rent the main theater, commercial kitchen, a dance studio and various classrooms. CCTA will also rent one of the blackbox theaters to serve as the new Children’s Theater in Howard County.
“I can’t believe it - I’m so excited,” said Toby Orenstein. “I want to thank everyone who worked so hard to make this possible. This theatre will be for everyone – for adults and kids, we won’t disappoint the people of Columbia.”
The County’s Department of Recreation & Parks (DRP) will use the additional blackbox theater, dance studio, and classrooms to enhance County-sponsored programs in arts and culture. The Howard County Arts Council will curate the gallery space.
"This location will allow the arts to be more easily accessible by Howard County residents and it will enable our department to better execute a broad and engaging Cultural Arts Plan,” said Raul Delerme, Director of Howard County Recreation & Parks. “Among the opportunities we envision are gallery exhibits, teaching arts classrooms, an area for arts lectures, visual and digital arts programs, and a space for varied dance classes. All of these will provide significant opportunities and benefits for our residents.”
A countywide arts and culture center in Downtown Columbia was envisioned by the community over 10 years ago and was ultimately incorporated into the Downtown Columbia Plan. The vision for the center evolved further in 2016 when it was included in the affordable housing plan for Downtown Columbia as one of the public amenities that would also provide mixed-income housing.
The Columbia Downtown Housing Corporation looks forward to the groundbreaking for NCC and Artists Flats this summer,” said Chair of the Columbia Downtown Housing Corporation Pat Sylvester. “We appreciate the tireless efforts of the many partners who brought us to this point, including our summer NCC workgroup members, the Housing Affordability Coalition and PATH. We remain committed to working with the county and all our partners to achieve the full vision of the Downtown Plan and creating a place all of us can call home.”
The total cost of the project, including the affordable housing component, is estimated at $131 million. The Howard County Council approved the $55 million in general obligation bonds necessary to move the project forward. There is also $65 million for the housing component in secured tax credits from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and other sources. And finally, an additional $10 million of TIF bonds for the parking garage component of the project.
“Now more than ever, Howard County needs high quality housing that is affordable to a broad range of residents so that individuals and families can build their lives from a stable base,” said Howard County Housing Commission Executive Director Peter Engel. “The COVID pandemic has hit low and moderate wage earners much harder than the rest of the population. Artists Flats will be our first big effort in downtown to create the equitable housing plan that is envisioned for Columbia. The Housing Commission is grateful to the County Executive and the Council for maintaining the vision for housing affordability and backing the Commission’s efforts to bring that vision to reality.”