Oakland Mills Redevelopment

Photo From Oakland Mills Website
Lets face it, Columbia is 41 years old and some its buildings and developments are outdated, blighted, and just simple maintenance won't even begin to do the trick. It's time to think redevelopment on a large scale and not just Downtown but in the Villages and not just their Village Centers either it's for residential redevelopment and almost all of Columbia's Villages will see it.

Photo From Google
Earth everything in black will be redeveloped

First lets start off with Oakland Mills. The high density housing stock only serves a poor population and doesn't take advantage of the views of Downtown and the lake front. Autumn Crest, Grand Pointe, Stevens Forest Apartments,Verona at Oakland Mills (formerly Dorsey's Forge) Shadow Oaks Condos, Cinnamon Tree Quads (both in Talbott Springs in Stevens Forest will hit the wrecking ball in my plan. This sounds drastic and it is but I think the housing market both rental and home ownership has gone stagnant in East Columbia especially in Oakland Mills and in order to pump new blood into Oakland Mills significant change must occur. Also preconceived notions of Oakland Mills will be erased with the introduction of brand new homes. The income breakdown will be as follows with the exception of Stevens Forest Apartments. Spread out in the redeveloped area will be 60% market rate home ownership, 25% market rate rental, 5% subsidized home ownership and 10% section 8 (a requirement of Rouse's that I'm adhering to.) Stevens Forest Apartments will be 100% subsidized home ownership for those 55 and "better."
The site that Autumn Crest currently sits on would be turned 4 story elevator apartments and condos and renamed "Kittamaqundi Overlook." The For Sale/Rent Ratio will be 60% Market Rate for Sale, 25% Market Rate for Rent, and 15% Affordable Rentals.
The site that is Grand Pointe will be turned into mid and high rise elevator apartments and condos and renamed "Oakland Mills Estates." Which will be 55% Market Rate Home Ownership, 35% Market Rate Rentals, and 10% Below Market Rate Home Ownership.Stevens Forest Apartments will be low rises handicapped accessible condos priced below market value for seniors. It will be renamed "The Residences at Stevens Forest." They will be 100% Home Ownership for Seniors with prices starting below $100,000.
The Verona will be low rise elevator apartments and condos, residents will have keys to get in and out of the buildings as well as their individual home. The new development will be named "The Crescent at Talbott Springs." It will feature 45% Market Rate Home Ownership 30% Market Rate Rentals, and 25% Below Market Home Ownership.
Shadow Oaks will be the same set up as the former Verona/Dorseys Forge but it will have a different facade. It will be renamed "Oakland Mills Towne Centre." and will have 50% Market Rate Home Ownership, 45% Market Rate Rentals and 5% Below Market Rate Rentals.The Cinnamon Tree Quads will retain their name but will be redeveloped as Duplexes so they will have more windows and back yards. They will also be larger in size. They will be 100% Market Rate Home Ownership.

Photo From Google Earth

A number of posts ago I said that Blandiar should be developed as Single Family Homes rather than a park. I still hold this position and if this takes place Talbott Springs Elementary should be replaced with a brand new school with a capacity of 688 since the entire Blandair development will be districted here. Oakland Mills Middle should also be replaced if Blandair becomes a development. The new school will have a capacity of 662. Blandair development or not Stevens Forest Elementary needs to undergo major exterior facade improvements, it's just plain ugly.

Well this is my Oakland Mills redevelopment plan. Stay tuned for future redevelopment plans for other villages because they will pop up.