The General Growth Properties presentation on the Town Center master plan on July 9 was most impressive. It is clear that the plan has been very well thought-out, and that GGP is committed to thinking creatively in terms of redefining Town Center as the heart of a new Columbia that will endure as a leading-edge community of its size for future generations. However, there are three looming questions that still need to be addressed.

First, how does a million square feet of retail space, 5 million square feet of office space and 5,600 residential units get filled? I am most concerned about the retail and office space, especially since we have so many vacancies in our village centers, which are much smaller.

Second, how does the impact on connections to the neighboring villages, indeed all the villages, get addressed? Town Center can not become so transformed independent of transformation in the other villages. Certainly, infrastructure around Town Center will have to be expanded. But what of the other village centers?

Third, how will Columbia, through this development, become a global leader among cities of its size. This was not defined at the meeting. One thought: Let Town Center put more energy into the environment than it takes out. Make it carbon-positive.

The presentation on July 9, I know, was part of a much longer process. Nevertheless, these questions need to be addressed for the sake of the community.

Bill Woodcock

Oakland Mills

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