Downtown Partnership Head Gives Our Town Update

Phillip Dodge, Executive Director of the Downtown Columbia Partnership (DTCP), concluded Vantage Point Arts & Culture Collective’s recent series of community programs with “Our Town Update,” a preview of upcoming development and arts and entertainment planned for Downtown Columbia.

Dodge also discussed the role of the DTCP in leading the promotion and advancing the growth of Downtown Columbia as a vibrant, economically robust and desirable place for employment, entertainment, living and learning. He cited the Partnership’s signature events, such as Discover Columbia 5K, Books in Bloom and Cocktail Crawls featuring area restaurants.

During the question and answer session, Dodge fielded several queries about public transportation, the desire to reduce single occupancy vehicles, 3 and 4-wheel bicycle additions to the BikeShare program, and the prospects of a “circulator” to shuttle to residents from one place to another within the Downtown Columbia area. One resident proposed adding bells to BikeShare vehicles to alert pedestrians.

The Arts & Culture Collective presented a series of programs at Residences at Vantage Point, as well as excursions to arts and cultural events taking place elsewhere in the community, to highlight Columbia as the “campus” for residents of the retirement community. Partnerships with local institutions made the series possible.

Residences at Vantage Pointwas founded in 1990 and is a nonprofit serving people age 60 and above. Managed by Life Care Services, the community includes a variety of residential living arrangements and provides assisted living, memory care and long-term health services for residents should they need them. Residences at Vantage Point is located at 5400 Vantage Point Road in Downtown Columbia.