The area between Washington and Baltimore is a fascinating mosaic of bustling planned communities and undeveloped farmland. Developers are hungry to keep building in Maryland's wealthiest county, but they may be stymied by local laws, or, in one case, a ban on new developments. How much do you know about construction, leasing and development in Howard County? Find out with this quiz!
1
Which of these neighborhoods is not part of Columbia, Howard Hughes’ master-planned community?
YOU'RE CORRECT!
Columbia is made up of many pleasantly named little areas, but Elm Valley is not one of them.
YOU'RE WRONG!
Columbia is made up of many pleasantly named little areas, but Elm Valley is not one of them.
2
The Howard County Courthouse is the first public-private partnership project of its kind outside of what U.S. state?
YOU'RE CORRECT!
California was one of the first states to adopt legislation allowing partnerships between local governments and developers, but others are following suit.
YOU'RE WRONG!
California was one of the first states to adopt legislation allowing partnerships between local governments and developers, but others are following suit.
3
The Merriweather District in Columbia is set to become the first U.S. town built around what technology?
YOU'RE CORRECT!
The Howard Hughes Corp. has imagined the Merriweather District as a community without driveways or street parking, where residents summon their cars with the click of a button.
YOU'RE WRONG!
The Howard Hughes Corp. has imagined the Merriweather District as a community without driveways or street parking, where residents summon their cars with the click of a button.
4
How many residential units are currently being held up by Ellicott City’s ban on new development?
YOU'RE CORRECT!
The moratorium has not halted projects that were already underway, but 600 housing units were in the permitting process and have now been halted.
YOU'RE WRONG!
The moratorium has not halted projects that were already underway, but 600 housing units were in the permitting process and have now been halted.
5
Fill in the blanks: Maple Lawn is a project from developer _____ in _____, Maryland
Greenebaum Enterprises, Fulton
St. John Properties, Laurel
YOU'RE CORRECT!
Maple Lawn, Greenebaum's $1B project in Fulton, Maryland, has over 1,400 units of housing, with a senior housing project and two hotels on the way.
YOU'RE WRONG!
Maple Lawn, Greenebaum's $1B project in Fulton, Maryland, has over 1,400 units of housing, with a senior housing project and two hotels on the way.
6
What have many residents argued was the main cause of the deadly Ellicott City floods in 2016 and 2018?
YOU'RE CORRECT!
Residents argued that rather than letting rain seep naturally into the ground, new developments' storm drains have funneled rainwater from a massive area into creeks that run through Ellicott City.
YOU'RE WRONG!
Residents argued that rather than letting rain seep naturally into the ground, new developments' storm drains have funneled rainwater from a massive area into creeks that run through Ellicott City.
