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The Howard County Council has approved legislation providing financing to buy land and work up a design for the proposed Central Branch.

COLUMBIA, MD — Plans for a new library in downtown Columbia will move ahead after the Howard County Council approved legislation that provides for the planning and design of the central branch.

The passage of CB69-2025 enables the county to begin using previously allocated, restricted state grant funding for the design of the new central library branch. Howard County Executive Calvin Ball now will start negotiations to purchase land at Columbia Lakefront for the new branch's site this spring.

The existing Central Library was designed in 1978 and opened in 1981. At approximately 50,000 square feet in size, the Central Library is no longer the largest library in the county and is undersized to meet the service demands and growing population, particularly as the flagship central branch of Howard County Library System, officials have stated.

The County Council also approved legislation that allows Howard County to obtain land in the Merriweather District to build affordable housing in accordance with the Downtown Columbia Development Rights and Responsibilities Agreement.

The Merriweather District site will provide more than 120 mixed-income housing units, of which half would be affordable. Once the new central library branch is built , the existing Central Library will be demolished and the site will be used for additional mixed-income housing units per the DRRA. The existing library site is expected to create approximately 200 mixed-income housing units, of which half would be affordable. Together, these two sites are expected to provide more than 320 mixed-income housing units.

“Today, Columbia stands out as one of America’s greatest success stories. Downtown Columbia continues to grow as a vibrant and inclusive community that reflects Jim Rouse’s original vision of a ‘garden for growing people,’” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball at a news conference. “Together, we are taking bold steps to make that vision a reality by ensuring that every child has access to a world-class education, every resident has the opportunity to thrive and every neighbor can find a place to call home. With new progress on affordable housing and a much-needed Central Branch at the Columbia Lakefront, we are building a downtown that embodies innovation, connection and opportunity for all.”

Jacqueline West-Spencer, board chair of the Howard County Housing Commission, said the inclusion of 900 affordable homes in the Columbia Downtown Housing Plan was a "major step forward" for the redevelopment of Columbia.

The creation of a Lakefront Library, which allows the Merriweather site to be fully dedicated to much-needed mixed-income housing, represents another significant milestone," West-Spencer said.

Christiana Rigby, County Council vice chair, said a new central library branch "renews Columbia’s legacy as a place where innovation and inclusion go hand in hand, while advancing long-awaited plans for new affordable housing in the Merriweather District.”

COLUMBIA, MD — If you’re planning to put up a live Christmas tree this year, it’s a good idea to scope out what will be available from Howard County area tree growers.

There are more than 16,000 Christmas tree farms in the United States, stretching over 292,050 acres, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Larger tree farms control about 75 percent of the supply, but if you’re interested in supporting a local business this holiday season, here are some places to chop or pick out a tree within driving distance of Columbia:

Recent data from the American Christmas Tree Association’s 2024 Consumer Report shows 99 percent of survey respondents intend to display at least one Christmas tree in their homes this year, and among them, 22 percent will opt for a live tree.

According to PickYourOwnChristmasTree, real trees will cost about $13 a foot, depending on the type of tree. At that cost, a typical 7-foot tree would cost about $90.

Years of extreme weather — drought conditions in some parts of the country and excess moisture in others — have affected Christmas tree farms.

This year, attention is focused on the Northeast, where tree farmers are struggling under severe drought conditions that are killing off young trees and could cause future shortages.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, about a fourth of the region was in severe to extreme drought, which hits young trees especially hard. It typically takes a tree seven or eight years to grow to the desirable height for decorating.

“Christmas tree farms in the Northeast have, unfortunately, been hit with drought conditions that will impact the crop for several years to come,” American Christmas Tree Association executive director Jami Warner told CNN.

“While consumers will be able to find their Christmas trees this season, some growers in the Northeast will not be able to harvest as many trees as they have in past non-drought years,” Warner said.