Long Reach Village Helps Maryland Surpass 100 Sustainable Communities Mark

COLUMBIA, MD —Long Reach was one of eight communities designated as a Sustainable Community last month by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, which reports there are now more than 100 such communities in the state. In fact, there are 103, state officials announced Monday.

The Sustainable Community program, founded in 2010, helps local governments revitalize targeted areas through planning, partnerships and funding.

Here is what the state had to say about Long Reach and its plans as a Sustainable Community:

Long Reach Village (Howard County)
"One of the earlier villages to emerge from Columbia's innovative mid-century master plan, Long Reach comprises a commercially-oriented village center and four residential neighborhoods.

"The village center area, which will be the primary target of Howard County's redevelopment efforts, includes retail space as well as the Columbia Association's Art Center and Stonehouse community center. Popular nearby recreational amenities, such as Blandair Park, Jackson Pond and a future indoor tennis facility, are complements to Long Reach's trail network, community gardens, and the high school's top-ranked environmental program.

"Revitalization strategies will promote new uses for the blighted village center, which is now largely county-owned, currently without an anchor store, and facing nearly 70 percent vacancy as recently as 2014. The county also plans to reduce impervious surfaces, employ better energy practices, improve its transit, bike and pedestrian networks, and develop more active public spaces. Homeowners in Long Reach would have access to programs for rehabilitation of older properties, and the county plans to investigate ways for the village to offer new housing units in response to the area's high demand."

In November, Long Reach was one of eight communities to receive the Sustainable Communities designation: Cecilton, Cheverly, Mardela Springs, New Market, Sharpsburg, Vienna and Williamsport were the others.

Photo courtesy of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.