Howard County Arts Council seeks 10‑year nominal lease at historic courthouse; council questions space details

County administration asked the council Sept. 16 to approve a multiyear lease permitting the Howard County Arts Council to occupy approximately 22,940 rentable square feet at the Historic Circuit Courthouse (8360 Court Avenue) under a nominal lease.

Emily Iyaki, chief of the Bureau of Real Estate Management in the Department of General Services, presented Council Bill 64 and said the county would provide utilities and certain maintenance under the lease and sought multi‑year approval pursuant to the Howard County Charter. Colleen West, executive director of the Howard County Arts Council, testified in support of the lease and outlined the organization’s programming and operations at its current arts center on High Ridge Road, including a Black Box Theater, dance studio and visual‑arts studios. West said the courthouse offers more gallery and studio space, central proximity to Main Street, and opportunities to support artists and arts organizations.

Council members asked for specifics about the new space. Iyaki said the lease term would begin Dec. 1, 2025 and run 10 years, with a nominal rent (a dollar per year) and that the courthouse spaces include a black box theater with planned improvements, a dance studio with sprung floors and more studio and gallery space than the Arts Council currently has. West said the courthouse would not have hardwood floors but would have luxury vinyl plank and that the Black Box would include sprung floors, a tech booth and retractable seating. She said the Arts Council has raised a $300,000 Maryland State Arts Council capital grant for theater outfitting.

Council members sought clarity on whether the space footprint is the same or larger than the current site and whether the courthouse would be ready for occupancy Dec. 1. Administration staff said the square footage would be approximately the same and confirmed the Dec. 1 start date; the Arts Council said the courthouse would be shared with other tenants and a shared‑use committee would oversee building rules and scheduling. One council member asked whether a coffee or food vendor would be permitted; the administration said that possibility depends on future tenant mix and the roving Radish concession.

No council vote was taken at the hearing. Council members asked staff to provide exact square footage comparisons and to confirm readiness details in follow up materials.

Ending: The Arts Council and administration asked for approval of a 10‑year nominal lease to move arts programming into Ellicott City’s historic courthouse; council members asked for follow‑up on exact square footage, finish materials and shared‑use arrangements before final action.