Work to Begin on Major Ellicott City Historic District Improvement

Work is scheduled to begin next week on a major project to improve parking, pedestrian connections and environmental sustainability in the Ellicott City Historic District, officials said.

Construction is expected to begin Tuesday, June 10, in Parking Lot E in Ellicott City, along Court Avenue behind the Ellicott Mills Brewing Company. The parking lot is being reconstructed to improve stormwater treatment and create a new pedestrian connection between the Howard County Circuit Courthouse and Main Street in Ellicott City.

The goal is that the courthouse parking area will provide additional parking spaces for residents, visitors, merchants and employees. The $1.5 million project is expected to be completed in September. 

“With significant public input, we have developed a plan for major improvements in one of Howard County’s signature communities, and we are now implementing it,” said County Executive Ken Ulman. “We are committing at least $4 million to capital projects to make our historic downtown friendlier to pedestrians and the environment, and to help merchants and residents.”

“The future of Ellicott City is bright,” said Howard County Council Vice-Chairperson Courtney Watson, who represents District 1, which includes the historic downtown. “From the fresh coat of paint from the ‘Main Street Matters’ contest to major capital improvements, we are working together to improve the community.”

The Lot E project will include revision of the current Court Avenue exit to become both an entrance and exit to the lot, and vehicles will no longer enter directly from Main Street. Water quality features including bioretention will be installed in the parking lot area, and considerable landscaping will be added.

Lot E will be closed to traffic and parking during the project. Traffic in the vicinity of Main Street and Court Avenue should not be affected during construction hours, which are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

County officials say Lot E work also coincides with reconstruction of a collapsed area on Mulligan’s Hill on Maryland Avenue, so a total of 59 parking spaces downtown will be temporarily unavailable during construction.

Visitors, residents and employees are encouraged to use parker.com and the Parker app to find available parking in the historic district. 

For questions or concerns about Capital Project D-1165, contact Lisa Brightwell, Public Works Customer Service, at 410-313-3440, or by e-mail to: publicworks@howardcountymd.gov.