Deja Vu all over again. Once again Mother Nature has shown us what happens when you reduce pervious surfaces with impervious surfaces in the area around Main Street Ellicott City. While I understand the desire to rebuild after a disaster I am not sure about the viability of Main Street when we continue to get heavy rain storms that now run off into a funnel that is Main Street.
This is not the first time that Main Street Ellicott City has had to change what defines it. Starting in the 1960s with the development of shopping centers along Route 40 stores that had been on Main Street were no longer viable. Furniture stores, appliance stores, clothing stores and a lumber store were no longer viable. Main Street converted over to novelty stores and restaurants. If we limit our options as following a retail business model then we may very well be in the same situation in a couple more years. I know that the forces to restore Main Street will look to some large expensive water diversion solution that will be limited in its effectiveness or cost an astronomical amount. Maybe this time we should recognize that Main Street as it now exists is no longer viable as a retail shopping area but would make a very good festival and recreation opportunity where the water sources are an asset and not a liability. We can fight Mother Nature or recognize the opportunities it gives us.
I laid out my thoughts post 2016 flood in this posting. I didn't realize how quickly we would be in the same situation and I am afraid this won't be the last time I re-post that blog post.
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