Plan could end Tubman School project
Preservation of the Harriet Tubman School building — the county’s only allblack high school from 1949 through desegregation in the 1960s — as a cultural and educational center could be realized in a proposal before the County Council this month.
The council is considering a request by County Executive Allan H. Kittleman to shuffle $3.4 million to purchase an office building in Columbia for the school system, which has used the school for its maintenance and construction departments for more than 30 years.
The $5.2 million purchase of the building, owned by Howard MD Green LLC, would allow the school system to vacate the Tubman building so the county can begin to preserve it. The county also plans to use the building for storing police evidence and an office for the Fire Department’s quartermaster.
About $2.5 million of the transfer relies on funds from the future sale of the former Columbia Flier building in Columbia and the former Hurst’s Antique store, at the corner of U.S. 1 and Whiskey Bottom Road in North Laurel — a revenue source the county’s auditor noted was not guaranteed. No plans have been finalized for the two county-owned properties, though both have been authorized for sale for roughly two years.
In mid-February, the county rejected a proposal from DMS Development in Towson to buy the site in Columbia. The company offered a price significantly lower than the county’s purchase price of around $1.9 million in 2014, according to Holger Serrano, an assistant to the director of the county’s Department of Public Works.
The council is expected to vote on the measure April 3.
Long Reach Tennis Club construction under way The Columbia Association has begun construction on the Long Reach Tennis Club, with an expected spring 2018 opening, to replace the Owen Brown Tennis Bubble.
Five indoor courts are available at the Owen Brown location, Columbia Association officials said. They will be converted to outdoor courts.
The Long Reach Tennis Club will include six climate-controlled courts, new lighting technology and locker rooms, as well as on-site racket stringing service.
Officials said that once the new tennis club is open and the Owen Brown facility is converted, the association will have 39 total tennis courts, including 10 indoor courts — six at Long Reach Tennis Club and four at Columbia Athletic Club — and 29 outdoor courts — six at The Racquet Club at Hobbit’s Glen, 12 at Owen Brown Tennis Club and 11 at Wilde Lake Tennis Club.
For more information, go to ColumbiaAssociation.org/tennis.
— Andrew Michaels, Baltimore Sun Media Group Soup‘r Sundae at Wilde Lake benefits Grassroots The ninth annual Soup‘r Sundae fundraiser to support the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center will be from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at Wilde Lake High School in Columbia.
The event, hosted by Faith Community Partnership of Bethany United Methodist Church, Glen Mar United Methodist Church and Wilde Lake High School, features unlimited soups, bread and ice cream from local restaurants.
Families can also participate in a silent auction, music and entertainment. Admission is $20 for adults and $5 for children under 12, with tickets available at souprsundae.eventbrite.com or by contacting cathyvsmith@verizon.net.
Tickets can also be purchased at the door.
Process benefit Grassroots, a provider of emergency shelter and 24-hour crisis intervention services throughout Howard County. For information, go to grassrootscrisis.org, or call 410-531-6006.
— Andrew Michaels, Baltimore Sun Media Group Route 97, Burntwoods Road work to start Improvements to the intersection of Route 97 at Burntwoods Road will begin the week of April 3, according to the State Highway Administration. Improvements will include adding an acceleration lane for drivers turning right onto Route 97 from Burntwoods Road; widening Route 97 for a through lane and a new left turn lane to Burntwoods Road; and widening Burntwoods Road for a left and right turn lane for drivers getting onto Route 97.
Officials said the $3.6 million project should be completed by summer 2018.
— Andrew Michaels, Baltimore Sun Media Group
The council is considering a request by County Executive Allan H. Kittleman to shuffle $3.4 million to purchase an office building in Columbia for the school system, which has used the school for its maintenance and construction departments for more than 30 years.
The $5.2 million purchase of the building, owned by Howard MD Green LLC, would allow the school system to vacate the Tubman building so the county can begin to preserve it. The county also plans to use the building for storing police evidence and an office for the Fire Department’s quartermaster.
About $2.5 million of the transfer relies on funds from the future sale of the former Columbia Flier building in Columbia and the former Hurst’s Antique store, at the corner of U.S. 1 and Whiskey Bottom Road in North Laurel — a revenue source the county’s auditor noted was not guaranteed. No plans have been finalized for the two county-owned properties, though both have been authorized for sale for roughly two years.
In mid-February, the county rejected a proposal from DMS Development in Towson to buy the site in Columbia. The company offered a price significantly lower than the county’s purchase price of around $1.9 million in 2014, according to Holger Serrano, an assistant to the director of the county’s Department of Public Works.
The council is expected to vote on the measure April 3.
Long Reach Tennis Club construction under way The Columbia Association has begun construction on the Long Reach Tennis Club, with an expected spring 2018 opening, to replace the Owen Brown Tennis Bubble.
Five indoor courts are available at the Owen Brown location, Columbia Association officials said. They will be converted to outdoor courts.
The Long Reach Tennis Club will include six climate-controlled courts, new lighting technology and locker rooms, as well as on-site racket stringing service.
Officials said that once the new tennis club is open and the Owen Brown facility is converted, the association will have 39 total tennis courts, including 10 indoor courts — six at Long Reach Tennis Club and four at Columbia Athletic Club — and 29 outdoor courts — six at The Racquet Club at Hobbit’s Glen, 12 at Owen Brown Tennis Club and 11 at Wilde Lake Tennis Club.
For more information, go to ColumbiaAssociation.org/tennis.
— Andrew Michaels, Baltimore Sun Media Group Soup‘r Sundae at Wilde Lake benefits Grassroots The ninth annual Soup‘r Sundae fundraiser to support the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center will be from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at Wilde Lake High School in Columbia.
The event, hosted by Faith Community Partnership of Bethany United Methodist Church, Glen Mar United Methodist Church and Wilde Lake High School, features unlimited soups, bread and ice cream from local restaurants.
Families can also participate in a silent auction, music and entertainment. Admission is $20 for adults and $5 for children under 12, with tickets available at souprsundae.eventbrite.com or by contacting cathyvsmith@verizon.net.
Tickets can also be purchased at the door.
Process benefit Grassroots, a provider of emergency shelter and 24-hour crisis intervention services throughout Howard County. For information, go to grassrootscrisis.org, or call 410-531-6006.
— Andrew Michaels, Baltimore Sun Media Group Route 97, Burntwoods Road work to start Improvements to the intersection of Route 97 at Burntwoods Road will begin the week of April 3, according to the State Highway Administration. Improvements will include adding an acceleration lane for drivers turning right onto Route 97 from Burntwoods Road; widening Route 97 for a through lane and a new left turn lane to Burntwoods Road; and widening Burntwoods Road for a left and right turn lane for drivers getting onto Route 97.
Officials said the $3.6 million project should be completed by summer 2018.
— Andrew Michaels, Baltimore Sun Media Group
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