Ball pledges ‘safe, sound’ approach
that left one person dead and devastated the district — for the second time in 22 months — Sung closed her store while she cleaned up mud, water damage and mold.
“I also hope they can keep this street the same but I don’t know what the solution is for a flood,” she said.
At the press conference, Ball discussed other elements not specifically related to infrastructure — such as business retention, marketing and preservation. He said he wanted to “retain as much of Old Ellicott City’s charm and history as possible” and assist Main Street businesses with promotion and tourism. He said had directed the county’s Economic Development Authority to support a full-time ombudsman for Main Street business, and he also wanted to explore creating a Community Development Corporation for Ellicott City that “incorporates all of Ellicott City’s diverse stakeholders.” He said he would form a committee to examine the feasibility of a CDC in the new year.
In his comments, Ball called Ellicott City “one of Howard County’s most important economic resources,” and noted that “the leaders of this county have been aware of the challenges that the geography, topography, and infrastructure of Ellicott City have posed for decades.”
Liz Walsh, a Democrat who represents Ellicott City on the County Council, noted that Ball rolled out a plan less than a month into his administration, and said that indicates he is “clearly laser focused” on making Ellicott City safer.
But her predecessor, Jon Weinstein, a Democrat who lost in his 2018 reelection bid, said not taking action to remove certain buildings “is leaving the same problem open.”
“There’s nothing in the plan,” Weinstein said of Ball’s announcement. “From what I listened to in the press conference, it was comments [of things] that were already in progress, things to continue going forward.”
Former county executive Allan Kittleman, a Republican, had advocated acquisition of a number buildings in the historic district for demolition, citing studies that followed both the 2016 and 2018 floods, and that recommended that approach. Ball said his administration “intends to honor the offers” that have been made to building owners along Main Street and continue negotiations to buy the buildings, but said each will be assessed to determine structural integrity.
“I also hope they can keep this street the same but I don’t know what the solution is for a flood,” she said.
At the press conference, Ball discussed other elements not specifically related to infrastructure — such as business retention, marketing and preservation. He said he wanted to “retain as much of Old Ellicott City’s charm and history as possible” and assist Main Street businesses with promotion and tourism. He said had directed the county’s Economic Development Authority to support a full-time ombudsman for Main Street business, and he also wanted to explore creating a Community Development Corporation for Ellicott City that “incorporates all of Ellicott City’s diverse stakeholders.” He said he would form a committee to examine the feasibility of a CDC in the new year.
In his comments, Ball called Ellicott City “one of Howard County’s most important economic resources,” and noted that “the leaders of this county have been aware of the challenges that the geography, topography, and infrastructure of Ellicott City have posed for decades.”
Liz Walsh, a Democrat who represents Ellicott City on the County Council, noted that Ball rolled out a plan less than a month into his administration, and said that indicates he is “clearly laser focused” on making Ellicott City safer.
But her predecessor, Jon Weinstein, a Democrat who lost in his 2018 reelection bid, said not taking action to remove certain buildings “is leaving the same problem open.”
“There’s nothing in the plan,” Weinstein said of Ball’s announcement. “From what I listened to in the press conference, it was comments [of things] that were already in progress, things to continue going forward.”
Former county executive Allan Kittleman, a Republican, had advocated acquisition of a number buildings in the historic district for demolition, citing studies that followed both the 2016 and 2018 floods, and that recommended that approach. Ball said his administration “intends to honor the offers” that have been made to building owners along Main Street and continue negotiations to buy the buildings, but said each will be assessed to determine structural integrity.
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