Justin Carlson, vice president of the advocacy group Save Merriweather, said this week that a developer's plan to improve Merriweather Post Pavilion as part of a larger redevelopment of downtown Columbia is "on the right track."

Carlson, of King's Contrivance, was reacting to General Growth Properties Inc.'s unveiling April 28 of a 30-year plan to redevelop Town Center.

That plan includes an upgrade of Merriweather that foresees more covered seating, connecting the venue to the Columbia mall through a path leading through Symphony Woods, a new stage, and improved backstage facilities.

The plan also proposes to make Merriweather the anchor of a new arts district downtown.

In all, the plan shows that General Growth officials understand the importance of the outdoor music venue to downtown's future, he said.

"I welcome making Merriweather the anchor for the new development in Town Center," he added. "I think it makes a lot of sense."

Carlson co-founded Save Merriweather in 2003 when The Rouse Co., Columbia's original developer, announced a potential plan to close the outdoor music venue, he said.

General Growth bought Rouse and all of its assets, including Merriweather, in 2004.

Since its founding, the group has remained an advocate of keeping Merriweather viable for the community, he added.

While Carlson said he liked the idea of upgrading Merriweather, he added that General Growth officials had failed to provide details on how the renovation would be paid for.

"The devil is in the details," he said. "They didn't address how it would be funded."

E-mail Mike Santa Rita at msantarita@patuxent.com.

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