Get out and vote on April 30th
Learn More

CA offering free soil testing
Details

KidsKorner Spring Social this month
Learn More

What's happening at CA this month
Details

What’s happening at Columbia villages this month
Read more

The Columbia Town Center Bell Tower Dismantled at Lake Kittamaqundi

For nearly thirty-three years, the bell tower at Lake Kittamaqundi stood as a landmark to the vision that the city of Columbia was established for. The tower was originally built to house the carillon of bells gifted to Columbia by the Rouse Company (now General Growth Properties) on Columbia’s 10th anniversary. On June 15, 2010, the long standing bell tower was dismantled due to safety concerns.

Prior to the tower being dismantled, a structural survey was completed in April 2010 by Century Engineering, Inc. (CEI) to evaluate the structural stability of the tower and determine the bell tower’s overall condition. The safety condition of the bell tower was compared to the findings of an earlier survey by KCI Technologies in 2007, which resulted in an expenditure of $37,000 and extended the tower's life by three years. The most recent structural report, however, revealed additional safety concerns and CEI strongly suggested the tower be removed as soon as possible. Once the decision was finalized and the structural survey was completed, CA officials made plans to start the demolition process.

Becky Kepner, assistant contract administrator at CA, explains that the process of removing the tower went quite smoothly. “Contractors moved very quickly in getting the project accomplished,” she said. CA Open Space Management and Construction collaborated to complete the project at a cost of $19,000.

With Columbia's downtown redevelopment plans still being formulated, the future of another bell tower is unclear at this point. Once these plans are finalized, the construction of another Bell Tower at Lake Kittamaqundi will be considered.

Back to top