Beware The Rouse Project - Part 2
Hiruy Hadgu
Part 1 of this post described the political leaders who are involved in the takeover of the Columbia Association. Part 2 starts with the campaign contributors who stand to gain significantly from this takeover.
Two of the members of the steering committee have a direct link to the Merriweather Post Pavilion: Brad Canfield and Jean Parker. The aforementioned bipartisan group of politicians are beneficiaries of their generosity. Historical campaign contributions of Mr. Brad Canfield and Ms. Jean Parker via Merriweather Post Pavilion shows that they have collectively contributed $45, 150.
What do they have to gain from having these politicians in their pocket?
To answer this question, the reader needs to be familiar with a few organizations and more names.
It’s My Amphitheater (IMA)
It’s My Amphitheater (IMA) operates Merriweather Post Pavilion and is owned by Brad Canfield. Mr. Canfield, who also owns the entity that runs the Symphony of Lights, has contributed significant to politicians over the years stands to benefit from the Columbia Association takeover.
Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission (DCACC)
Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission (DCACC) was established in 2013 as a 501(c)3. Before it declared bankruptcy and sold its stake to Howard Hughes Corporation, County Executive Ken Ulman worked with General Growth Properties (GGP) to arrange a massive economic giveaway program in exchange for so-called “community enhancements.”
One of these community enhancements was to transfer ownership of Merriweather Post Pavilion to DCACC, which would also receive county grant funds to renovate MPP. The main beneficiary of this transaction were of course the developer Howard Hughes Corporation, the owner of MPP before it was given to DCACC and of course IMA.
The following is from CB58-2009, establishing the community enhancements.
Some of the public fund contributions maybe found in its form 990, with an excerpt show here.
DCACC helps facilitate government resources to benefit IMA, the operator of MPP, in more ways than one. Here’s a story of how the Howard County Police Department did not bill the Merriweather Post Pavilion for overtime shifts officers worked to provide security at events. Between 2013 and 2016, the county audit found that the department spent $3.8 million in unreimbursed overtime.
Inner Arbor Trust (IAT)
The Inner Arbor Trust (IAT) was also established in 2013 as another 501(c)3. County Executive Ken Ulman also played a role in forming this organization.
In February 2013, the president of the Columbia Association Phil Nelson prepared a memo of recommendations that outlined the plan to create IAT.
It would receive public money through county and state grants to facilitate the transformation of Symphony Woods to a park.
In his memo, Mr. Nelson states that county government wants to establish the Trust. County government was code for Ken Ulman. Ostensibly, the main purpose of this funding was to finance the boondoggle Chrysalis structure. This was just a portion of the so-called McCall plan as described in Phil Nelson’s memo. In the memo, Mr. Nelson also described a straw-poll that was held in October 2012.
There appears to be no meeting minutes for this straw-poll. Some of the names on the CA Board of Directors will be familiar. In fact, one of the members Ms. Regina Clay is on the Steering Committee of The Rouse Project.
Another notable item for the memo references the so-called “McCall Plan.” Mr. Michael McCall would become the first president of the IAT. It can be seen from the IAT’s form 990 filings that Mr. McCall received $1,026,175 in direct compensation and payment to his firm Strategic Leisure Inc. The report also shows that IMA received $254,569 in 2017 and 2018 as an independent contractor.
Here, County Executive Alan Kittleman, who is on the steering committee of The Rouse Project, notifies Mr. McCall of his latest windfall.
At the time there were two competing plans. One was the “McCall Plan” while the other was the “Paumier Plan.” The estimated cost of “Paumier Plan” was $5 million. The cost just to build one structure of the “McCall Plan”, the Chrysalis, was $6.4 million.
The following clip from a documentary by the Howard County Citizens Association shows how the boondoggle option was picked over lower-cost option.
Merriweather Post Business Trust (MPBT)
Merriweather Post Business Trust (MPBT) is a holding company owned by Howard Hughes Corporation. The transfer of ownership of Merriweather Post Pavilion from HHC to DCACC was facilitated through this trust. As an aside, MPBT also owned and transferred the Trademark License for “Merriweather Post” to DCACC.
As an aside, a blog with the same name emerged in 2019 fencing “independent”, “organic” and “researched” stories to the public that actually appear to be a PR operation for the Downtown Columbia Plan. The Blogger would not answer whether he received express or implied permission from DCACC to use the name.
Columbia Association (CA)
Columbia Association (CA) played a pivotal role in the creation of the Inner Arbor Trust. The Association’s Board of Directors who voted for the creation of this trust are shown here.
Notable names are of course Ms. Regina Clay who worked for County Executive Ken Ulman, and is a member of The Rouse Project’s steering committee. Mr. Tom Coale is a lobbyist for some of the wealthy developers in Howard County and serves their interests in various capacity including through the podcast “Elevate Maryland.”
The current DCACC board chair, Ms. Deborah Ellighaus was one of the charter board members of the IAT.
Another board member of the 2021 DCACC, Ms. Candace Dodson-Reed co-hosts a podcast with developer attorney and 2013 CA Board member Tom Coale. She also worked in the Ken Ulman administration.
Next, Mr. Louis Ulman is of course Mr. Ken Ulman’s father.
Last, but not least, the Executive Director Mr. Ian Kennedy also worked for Mr. Ken Ulman as his Chief of Staff.
The 2013 charter board of the IAT comprised of Mr. Ed Coleman who currently serves as a member of the Planning Board. A county body that serves as a rubber stamp to any and all development.
It also includes Mr. Phil Nelson, who helped shepherd the creation of the IAT as CA Board President and of course Mr. Michael McCall, who earned a nearly $1.03 million windfall over four years courtesy of taxpayer dollars.
Or would it be courtesy of County Executive Ken Ulman, Delegate Courtney Watson, who served in the County Council from 2006 to 2014, County Executive Calvin Ball, who served as Councilmember from 2006 to 2018, and State Senator Guy Guzzone who would facilitate the requisite state bond bill in the State Legislature.
Howard Hughes Corporation (HHC)
Howard Hughes Corporation (HHC) is of course the glue that holds all of this deal together. It is the beneficiary of hundreds of millions corporate subsidy through direct cash payments via tax increment financing (TIF), zoning and land-use laws, and density bonus. The last time this group of people got together, the disastrous Downtown Columbia Plan was implemented.
These are the entities and individuals who stand to gain from the takeover of Columbia Association. In part 3, the agreements that helped facilitate appropriation of taxpayer dollars for private gain are described.