The Long Reach Village Center is emerging from a dark period in its history, Howard County officials declared this week.

After the County Council officially declared the property blighted earlier this year, Howard County was able to purchase the Columbia shopping center on Cloudleap Court, according to a statement from the county government. It cost $5 million, the Columbia Flier reported.

As of Oct. 1, the transfer of ownership was complete, according to the county, which said that since then, it has undertaken painting, landscaping and maintenance projects at the village center. "The future of Long Reach begins today," Howard County Council Chair Calvin Ball said at an Oct. 13 event to relaunch the village center. "We have received tremendous feedback so far, and there is excitement about the plans we will develop to bring fresh energy to this village."

The relaunch event featured a ceremonial planting of shrubbery and music performed in a space created above a nonfunctional fountain, the county reported. Redevelopment plans will aim to create an arts community, bolster other village centers and increase property values in the area, a county spokesman previously told Patch.

To that end, Webb Management Services has been retained to assess the county's arts organizations and whether they might be interested in moving to the Long Reach Village Center, according to county government. The Columbia Art Center is based at Long Reach already.

The county has also contracted Paragon, a commercial property management firm, to oversee management of the village center. Retaining the two firms is costing the county $250,000, according to the Columbia Flier.