Cultural and Civic Amenities

We support various types of interior and exterior spaces dedicated to the arts, humanities, recreation, and intellectual pursuits. Among those suggested by community members are museums and galleries, performing arts spaces, and multipurpose community centers. These should be intermixed with residences, offices, and shops throughout Downtown.

We support requiring that a minimum of 20 percent of the lot area of each individual parcel be devoted to public open space. We view green open space as an important civic amenity.

We note that developers customarily pay infrastructure costs associated with development. In highly attractive areas, developers are typically eager to provide additional amenities in return for highly profitable development rights. Completion of Columbia’s Downtown will require a change in the zoning pattern that will, if granted, increase the value of undeveloped Downtown property by up to $1 billion. Jim Rouse voluntarily ensured that a substantial amount of land would be devoted to open space and other amenities. We believe that developers, if they are unwilling to do this voluntarily, should be required to contribute a substantial share of their windfall to the amenities needed for a truly vital Downtown.