Forty-two years ago, it was just 14,100 acres of farmland. Now, Columbia is an internationally recognized model of a successful master-planned community. Conveniently located in Howard County, Maryland, between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., Columbia offers a wide variety of living, business and recreational opportunities.
Home Currently home to almost 100,000 people, Columbia's full range of housing options are located in 10 distinct, self-contained villages. Each village is comprised of several neighborhoods, a shopping center and community and recreational facilities. The schools in Columbia are part of the Howard County Public School System, which is continually ranked as one of the top-performing school systems in the country. And, the Howard County Public Libraries have been named No. 1 in the nation by Hennen's American Public Library Ratings. In May, 2009, Forbes Magazine ranked Columbia 7th of 'America's Top 25 Towns to Live Well,' and in 2008, Columbia ranked 8th in Money Magazine's 'Best Places to Live in the Nation' survey.
Business For business opportunities, Columbia offers a choice of locations. Columbia Gateway is the region's premier master-planned corporate community offering quality office, flex and high-technology space in a campus setting. The 630-acre corporate park is exceptionally located just off I-95, only eight miles from Baltimore-Washington Airport and just minutes from Fort Meade and the National Security Agency. In Columbia's downtown, 1.6 million square feet of Class A office space is located just steps away from shopping, restaurants and entertainment venues.
Click here for more information about doing business in Columbia and Howard County, Maryland.
Amenities Columbia residents enjoy 5,300 acres of open space including parks, playgrounds, lakes and natural areas. In addition, there are more than 80 miles of pathways available for residents to jog, bike or walk. Other recreational opportunities include three fitness centers, two golf courses, 23 outdoor swimming pools, an indoor swim center, three tennis clubs and an assortment of facilities developed especially for the kids.
There is a wide selection of shopping choices at the more than 500 retail stores, including at The Mall in Columbia. Venues like the Town Center Lakefront, Symphony Woods and other locations throughout the community provide opportunities for social and cultural activities including to the Columbia Festival of the Arts, International Day, the Lakefront Summer Concert Series, a wine festival, an international equestrian event and a multitude of other activities. Also located in the heart of Columbia is the famed Merriweather Post Pavilion concert amphitheatre.
The Future Already the center of activity in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, Columbia is embarking on a new phase in its growth and development. General Growth Properties has partnered with the community and local government to create a plan for the redesign and rebuilding of its downtown area. For more information about the redevelopment plans for downtown Columbia, visit www.columbiatowncenter.info.
For information about development: Nancy A. Tucker (410) 992-6328
For land sales opportunities: Gabriel Chung (410) 992-6051
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