County Seeks Advice On GGP Bankruptcy

You get the feeling from reading the coverage of General Growth's bankruptcy and the implications that it might have on downtown development that county officials really, really, really want to approve something despite the uncertainty surrounding the developer's future.

Here's what HoCo Exec Ken Ulman told the Sun's ExploreHoward blog:

Ulman said he is still looking forward to working with General Growth on its development plans in the county.

“We need to move forward in a thoughtful, careful manner,” he said. “I hope there’s a plan approved by the County Council later this year. That plan, while it might not be exactly what General Growth proposed, would represent the county and community vision for Town Center. ... Whatever entity carries out that plan will still have to meet the vision.”

Council chairmanwoman Mary Kay Sigaty, who represents Town Center and west Columbia, also remains optimistic about the process, even as the County Council moves to retain bankruptcy experts.

Sigaty said she doesn’t expect the bankruptcy filing to have too great an impact on the county’s work on a plan to redevelop downtown Columbia, although it could impact the county’s dealings with General Growth.

“A plan is a good thing to have no matter what,” she said.