Sherman Howell is intent on making downtown Columbia an affordable place to live.

"We need to explore ways to make housing affordable," Howell said. "We're not talking about housing projects. We're talking about affordable housing."

Howell is serving on a five-member advisory group convened by Columbia developer General Growth Properties Inc. that will study ways to include affordable housing in the company's 30-year master plan for the redevelopment of downtown Columbia.

Howell, a 34-year Columbia resident and a vice president of the African American Coalition of Howard County, said he was disappointed that General Growth's April 28 master plan presentation did not discuss residential development.

The developer's plan to build 5,500 housing units during a 30-year period is part of the second phase of the plan, according to Gregory Hamm, regional vice president and general manager for Columbia. The company plans to hold a meeting about residential development in the coming weeks.

Howell said he believes 30 to 40 percent of the planned housing should be affordable for teachers, police officers and other members of the workforce.

The plan needs a maximum allotment of 5,500 residential units in order for developers to generate the revenue from more pricey units necessary for the inclusion of affordable units, Howell said.

"I don't see any other way we can go without high density," he said, adding that the affordable units should be mixed in among those for the affluent.

Howell also supports General Growth's plan to improve the environment and create a walkable community by reducing the number of cars on the road, he said.

Overall, Howell said, he is encouraged that General Growth is committed to involving the community in creating the master plan -- a move he feels will lead to an "excellent" end product.

E-mail Andrei Blakely at ablakely@patuxent.com.

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