Long Reach Village Center Supporters Seek Bright Future, RFP Issued For Developer

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The county has issued a "request for proposal" to sell and redevelop the Long Reach Village Center located at 8775 Cloudleap Court in Columbia.

“We will work with the community throughout this process to ensure this site once again becomes a vibrant destination and epicenter in our county,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball.

Developed in the 1970s, the Long Reach Village Center was once a hub for residents serving a variety of neighborhood needs. The LRVC offered various civic spaces, which were developed to support commercial uses and provide focal points for social interaction. However, with growth of newer commercial centers nearby and changing market conditions, the LRVC began to experience disinvestment and high vacancy rates, Ball noted.

So the Howard County Council passed legislation in 2014 to create a 19.1-acre Urban Renewal Area to address the "blighted nature" of the Village Center. Between 2014 and 2015, the county purchased several properties, including the center, amounting to approximately 7.7 acres, for redevelopment purposes.

The LRVC has increased its occupancy from 15 percent in 2018 to 75 percent, its retail occupancy from 23 percent prior to 2019 to 90 percent, and its flex space from completely vacant to 70 percent occupied. Current tenants reflect a diverse mix of for-profit and non-profit entities offering a variety of resources to the broader community.

"By focusing on facade improvements and routine maintenance, the county has been able to maintain the integrity of the center and improve the aesthetic for tenants, residents and potential buyers. As the commercial real estate market stabilizes following the COVID-19 pandemic, the LRVC is well positioned for a successful sale and redevelopment effort," Ball said.

In February of 2020, Ball presented his vision for the LRVC, dubbed “Long Reach Rising.” This strategy envisions the center as a premier hub for the arts, STEM and entrepreneurism. Long Reach Rising builds upon the 2012 Long Reach Village Center Community Plan and the ReImagine Long Reach Village Center Plan completed in 2016.

“The Village Center for many years has been in desperate need of redevelopment – to be a place where residents can gather and relax, a destination in the neighborhood, a safe space – and this RFP will be the first step in realizing that dream,” said Reginald Avery, Columbia Association Board Member for the Village of Long Reach.

In 2022, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development renewed the designation of the Long Reach area as a Maryland Sustainable Community. This designation opens the possibility of grants and resources to increase the economic vitality and livability of the LRVC and the surrounding area.

"Long Reach is a dynamic community and we have been waiting a long time for this property to move forward. There is so much possibility and promise for an excellent redevelopment that supports and enhances our community," said Nina Basu, chair of the Long Reach Village Board.

The RFP can be found here.