The Columbia EDC has bought the Hotel Locust and Hotel Columbia sites for $150,000. The nonprofit wants to find a developer who'll bring new life to the adjoining structures.
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http://m.lancasteronline.com/business/local_business/columbia-edc-targets-vacant-hotels-for-revitalization/article_cfa46b8a-5951-11e4-b16d-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm
12 comments:
AWESOME!!!!! I do believe if they rehabbed it as rooms for rent again, with ALL the antique shops and out of state shoppers....they would be very well!!!! Good luck!
This is really a great move for the EDC group, it's a slam dunk for the Town, to really appreciate the Historical value of this property just sit across the street sometime at the Bus station and look up, the Architecture is second to none, as is most of the Building's on Locust St, however and this is a big one, please do not go the direction of section 8 here, far to many slum lord's in this town turned great properties into low income housing. The Hotel Columbia could be a Landmark site for people to visit and enjoy a great dining experience, I was just a small child when I went there with my Parent's for dinner and it was a very exciting and beautiful place. I only hope this trend continues to grow and hopefully the word will get out what is going on in this great town. There are people in this Town that do not want Columbia to change, wake people on Council, we are no different then Lititz, Epharta, Mt Joy, they are all going thru a wonderful growth, it's not Rocket Science that Columbia is Landlocked, but we need to grow from within, what we have here Historically is more then most Boroughs and Municipalities could even think of. A Change is coming.
Where would they park if they stay there. In the police parking lot across the street.
Regarding "Where would they park if they stay there. In the police parking lot across the street.", typical naysayer. Must be a life-long Columbian...always poor mouthing the town they "love".
I own 3 section 8's and i can tell you now, people need to live no matter what amount of money they have. Its there to help people get back on their feet and be someone! I take great care in my property and the people that live there.
IF the Boro TRULY wants to revitalize downtown.....they would maybe make some agreement for parking....also maybe the Burning Bridge would rent some spaces or the "HOLE IN THE GROUND" across from Stovers could be paved!!!!!
wouldn't it be cool to have a "NICE restaurant" on the first floor & dining room? how about breakfast, soups, sandwiches, maybe specials!!!!!!!! can NOT wait. thank CEDC
THE problem is.....is that there are HUNDREDS TOOOOOO MANY RENTAL PROPERTIES IN THE BORO...............and we ALL know we are LANDLOCKED. the only answer for the extreme number of rental properties is this TAX ALL TENANTS/RENTERS SO THEY SHOULD HAVE TO PUT SOMETHING TOWARDS THE FREE EDUCATION ALL THEIR CHILDREN RECEIVE........all our elderly are still, yes still paying taxes and they are in their 70's, 80's and even 90's. now THAT is a sin.
You say naysayer, I say business plan. Do you not think a developer would have bought this for the price it was sold at. No you are of the same close minded thinking as our towns leaders. You probably think the tax base is ok too.
Regarding section 8 properties in Columbia, no doubt Section 8 is what brought Columbia to a standstill. Property owners who owned huge Victorian homes in and around the Columbia area were sold a bill of goods if they rented to low income families they were guaranteed their rent every month, this is no secret and I am sure there is much more to the whole story then what I am saying, whether you like it or not section 8 has brought an element into Columbia that is not good, by the same token people have a right to live anywhere they want to but the problem like Welfare every Generation hops on the free and cheap bandwagon. I total agree that people who pay rent regardless of their Status should contribute to the taxes in this town, I am approaching 70 and I am moving because property taxes are making me move, The Leaders of Columbia should be ashamed, this has been a major problem for years and will continue to be a problem for the Boomers of Columbia, lets get busy Mayor Lutz, you have a tiger by the tail and its gonna bite you eventually, there has to be a solution to this problem, stop playing Celebrity Mayor and get back to business..........
If you go back in time in this town and see who the BIG Land Lords were, you will be surprise to see how Rich these people got. Rich, by being on the School board or council!! This town was a pipe-line of money for these people!!
the tax base is NOT ok...and the hundreds and hundreds of rental properties are the main problem. sure the landlord pays taxes...but not as much as a taxpaying homeowner....and the renters ALL are getting a free ride. they play the system to the max. time to TAX ALL RENTERS so they pay towards their childrens education. its absolutely NO wonder why all the transients load the buses in Lancaster and come live in Columbia. They get away with it. Shut em down. Stop the buses from rolling into town with transients working the already broke system.
A few years ago there was an independent study done on Parking in the Downtown area, I was amazed to learn there are hundreds of Parking spaces in the alleyways behind Locust St on both sides, but due to signs and other reason's people will not park there because of possible repercussions from Landlords, I think the Borough
should do their own independent study on this and also somebody replied just this week that maybe Parking Garages could be placed at the open lot on 4th and Locust plus the hole across from Stover's News, of course it's going to cost money but in the long run would bring more people into Town. I am not opposed to Parking Meters, but from 2nd and Locust to 5th and Locust there are only a handful of Business's open on a Sat, why not offer free Parking on Saturday's?? Borough Council would be smart to hire a Marketing Specialist to come and help build a plan to save this Beautiful Town instead of sitting on their duff's trying to protect their money. Just think where Columbia would be if we would have merged with Hempfield years ago, oh but Council did not want anything to do with The Farmers School, well now look who is laughing now..........
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