Could The Columbian Center Turn Into A Storage Facility?

For many people, the Columbian Center will be remembered fondly as the backdrop for birthdays and quinceañeras, charity events, car shows and other milestones.

Located at 335 Ritchie Highway in Severna Park, it’s also the former meeting space of the Knights of Columbus, or Holy Trinity Council 3413. The group empowers Catholic men to live their faith at home, in their parish, at work, and in their community through charitable projects.

The Knights have sold the property to Compson of Severna Park LLC. An extension of Compson Development, which has an office in Annapolis, Compson of Severna Park LLC paid $2.75 million for the building and land.

“Our membership was aging out, and there was a several-year hiatus with recruiting members,” said Knights of Columbus member Brad Zell, explaining the difficult decision to sell the building. “It needed a new roof and some TLC.”

Compson plans to build a four-story facility with 24 parking spaces. The developer has also filed for a special exception to allow the self-service storage facility in a C2 commercial office district.

That proposal is being met with apprehension from some Severna Park residents including Jessica and Andy Bratten, who started a GoFundMe campaign to garner support against the development.

“Allowing a public storage facility of this size next to a single-family-home neighborhood sets an unfortunate precedent for more tall, industrial-looking structures in residential areas, detracting from the character of our Severna Park community,” Jessica wrote in a GoFundMe message.

The residents hired an attorney and have Anne Arundel County Court of Appeals hearings set for July 23-24 and September 3 at 44 Calvert Street in Annapolis. Anyone is welcome to attend.

Zell said Compson was great to work with. “As part of the sale, they allowed us to honor all of the existing rental contracts and meeting commitments for more than six months,” he said. “They were super friendly and supportive of the Knights.”

As for the Knights, the group is now meeting on the St. John the Evangelist campus. Although membership has declined for the Knights, Zell hopes to see that change.

“We used to be more community focused and neighbor focused, and there was much more of a social (dynamic),” he said of society. “My parents, my wife’s parents, used to sit around a piano singing … and now everyone is into TV and video games. We need an influx of new energy and motivation.”