Columbia Borough to consider purchase of properties for $1,350,000

An abandoned factory sits on one of the properties the borough is considering purchasing. The factory sustained a fire on April 5, 2023.

Columbia Borough officials are considering purchasing three properties for $1,350,000 for the purpose of relocating the borough's public works facility. The properties comprise 9.4 acres near 11th Street and Ridge Avenue.

Public documents show that RBLD Properties LLC purchased the properties for $1,000,000 from the Columbia Reduction Company in 2019. An abandoned factory, which sustained a fire on April 5 of this year, sits on one of the properties. Columbia Spy reported on the fire HERE.

Officials claim there will be no fiscal impact on the borough since funds for the purchase will initially come from the borough's Wells Fargo money market account that will be reimbursed through sale of the following properties:

* The wastewater treatment plant at 440 South Front Street (currently leased by JG Environmental)
* 137 Front Street (the former Columbia #1 firehouse, currently leased by KT Graham)
* 26 acres of the borough's Blue Lane property
* The residual Ridge Ave properties

The Backstory
In 2021, Borough Council began the process of selling the former wastewater treatment plant at 440 South Front Street to JG Environmental. To complete the sale, however, the public works facility needed to be moved from there to a new location.

Officials investigated the feasibility of relocating to borough-owned property on Blue Lane but found it would be cost-prohibitive and would result in public works being located on the southern end of the borough.

Officials subsequently approached the owner of 1100, 1110, and 1120 Ridge Avenue to ask about purchasing those properties and negotiated a purchase price of $1,350,000. Since the full acreage is not needed for the public works facility, officials plan to sell excess land to offset the costs of purchase and site development.

At its May 23 meeting, Borough Council will consider authorizing the borough manager and solicitor to execute an agreement of sale to purchase the properties.

[Some of the information in this article is contained in the current borough council meeting packet.]