$131M In Funding Approved For New Cultural Center In Columbia

COLUMBIA, MD — The Howard County Council has finalized funding for a new cultural center in Downtown Columbia with a price tag of $131 million. The project has been in the works for more than a decade. The Howard County Council approved the $55 million in general obligation bonds necessary to move the project forward. There also is $65 million for the housing component in secured tax credits from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and other sources. An additional $10 million of TIF bonds will go toward the parking garage component of the project.

The new cultural center will be located at the current site of Toby’s Dinner Theater. The design includes a new 350-seat theater and commercial kitchen, two 300-seat blackbox theaters, a gallery, dance studios and various classrooms/performing arts rooms. Toby’s Dinner Theater will merge with the Columbia Center for the Theatrical Arts and rent the main theater, commercial kitchen, a dance studio and various classrooms. CCTA will also rent one of the blackbox theaters to serve as the new Children’s Theater in Howard County.

The county’s department of recreation and parks will use the additional blackbox theater, dance studio and classrooms to enhance county-sponsored programs in arts and culture. The Howard County Arts Council will curate the gallery space.

“We have worked for many years to get to this point and create a first-class art and culture center for Howard County that will spur people’s love of art and theater and will be accessible to all residents,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said. “The contributions that organizations like Columbia Center for the Theatrical Arts, Toby’s Dinner Theatre and recreation and parks have historically made to all residents of our community will continue in the new center. Additionally, it will be a vital component of the Downtown Columbia Plan and an important element in expanding affordable housing in the area.”

The new cultural center will be the first of five low-income housing tax credit developments, which is a component of the Downtown Columbia affordable housing plan as reflected in the Development Rights and Responsibilities Agreement passed by the County Council in 2016. This funding from the Howard County Council allows the construction of the new cultural center to begin this summer and be completed by the fall of 2024.

“Moving forward with this project means that families of all economic backgrounds have the opportunity to not only enjoy the Downtown Columbia area, but live there as well,” Councilwoman Christiana Rigby said. “I am looking forward to the day when our community can celebrate the arts and honor our collective humanity together at the new cultural center.”