While the Howard County Council considers a bill that would change the Guilford Garden apartments into condominiums, future potential residents may wonder about the location?s quality of life.
An analysis of school and crime data yields this conclusion: The area has its drawbacks, but it?s still the most affluent county in the state.
“All of our communities in Howard County are pretty attractive,” said Council Member Calvin Ball, D-District 2, who sponsored the bill.
“I would put our schools up against any schools in the nation.”
The area of Columbia that contains the proposed condominiums saw in 2005 five aggravated assaults, 18 burglaries, six disorderly conducts, 15 drug violations, three robberies, 149 thefts, 114 acts of vandalism, 24 vehicle thefts and fourweapons violations, but no reports of rapes or murders.
Those numbers are consistent with areas of Long Reach and Harper?s Choice in Columbia, but higher than the areas of Ellicott City and western Howard County.
Children in the apartment complex attend Guilford Elementary School, the Cradlerock School for middle school and Hammond High School, which cumulatively rank on the lower end of Howard County?s highly rated schools, but compare favorably to many schools in other counties.
Still, residents said they aren?t sure they would want to buy the apartments if they become condos.
“I have a problem with purchasing this little space,” said Susan Gilbert, a disabled homemaker and parent, who lives at Guilford Gardens on a fixed income.
“I would like to be a homeowner again, but I wouldn?t want to own this.”
Esther Drake, president of the board of Guilford Gardens, said the building has plumbing, mold and electrical problems that have remained thorns in the side of its residents.
