To Save Ellicott City, Tear Down Buildings: Officials

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — Howard County officials on Thursday announced a five-year plan to prevent floods in this historic town that calls for tearing down 10 buildings along Main Street, according to a media report. The multimillion-dollar plan outlines the creation of a wider, deeper channel for the Tiber River, which has twice overflowed its banks in the last two years, causing devastating floods, the Baltimore Sun reported.

The announcement came nearly three months after the latest flash flood swept through the downtown area. A National Guardsman died in the May 27 deluge when he was swept away by floodwaters.

A previous flood in July 2016 also swept through Main Street, wrecking homes and businesses.

Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman said the county would acquire and remove 10 buildings in the town's historic district, at the lower end of Main Street, the Sun reported. A community open space would be created in their place.

"This plan is driven by the science and engineering documented in the extensive studies and modeling the County performed after the 2016 flood and adapted to the experience in the most recent flood," the Howard County Facebook page said.

The county executive and County Councilman Jon Weinstein announced the five-year plan at the Baltimore & Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum Plaza, on Main Street at Maryland Avenue.

(For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. And like Patch on Facebook!)

The five-year flood abatement plan, expected to cost between $40 million and $50 million, would be funded by Howard County, the state government and federal sources, the Sun reported.

Work on the five-year plan will begin in December or January, when the Howard County Council allocates funds, said Weinstein, who represents Ellicott City.

SEE ALSO:

• Ellicott City Businesses Begin Reopening On Main Street
  
• Ellicott City Flood: 'Devastated, Heartbroken' By Roaring Waters

Here's a look at images the county released about the plan, showing a bridge in England where similar flooding problems were battled, and how authorities there reportedly solved the issue.

Facebook commenter Lisa Orenstein responded, "Basically you are creating a concrete open area? I fear you are creating a desert. What is the draw of that open space? Especially after a large portion of the Main Street will disappear? In that town it appears the major river is running parallel and directly adjacent to the open space. That does not seem to be an apples to apples scenario."

Image: Downton Ellicott City (Elizabeth Janney/Patch)