JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY
Commercial realtor Kevin Wolfe addressed Columbia Borough Council Thursday night at the August 7 workshop and presented options for the former McGinness property.Data Center
Wolfe said a data center at the site is basically a no-go. According to Wolfe's assessment, the lack of available electrical power prohibits this type of development. He said that substations in the area surrounding Columbia are maxed out, and a power diagnosis from PPL would cost the borough about $185,000. "For the size of the site and the amount of power that's available, I just frankly don't think it's worth the borough's time and effort to spend the money to do the power study and go down that route," Wolfe explained.
He said that pursuing a data center would require extensive and costly power upgrades that would not justify an investment.
Industrial
The property's current zoning as "light business" poses restrictions for potential industrial uses. Wolfe noted that warehousing and distribution facilities would be "very hard to achieve on the site" due to both zoning limitations and access constraints.
Recreational
Recreational
One promising avenue is recreational development, however. Wolfe said that ongoing discussions with athletics clubs suggest that such organizations might be looking for land, but this option comes with financial trade-offs. While recreational facilities could provide some benefits, "they typically can pay the least amount of money that any other use can pay" in terms of generating tax revenue for the borough.
Retail
Perhaps the most financially attractive option is retail development, according to Wolfe. He said that multiple offers in the $2-3 million range have already been received for the property, with "big box grocery stores" and other retailers expressing interest in expanding into the area.
The retail sector presents both opportunities and challenges, Wolfe noted. While the site may have lower vehicle traffic counts and visibility compared to prime retail locations, it could succeed as a "destination retail" location rather than relying on impulse shoppers and high visibility.
"If it's there, it can be had for a reasonable number, I think there's likely some uses that you could use," Wolfe noted, suggesting that the right retail venture could thrive at the location.
Office Space
Office development also remains on the table. Wolfe said that success will require "some significant marketing" regardless of which direction the borough ultimately chooses.
Conclusion
Retail
Perhaps the most financially attractive option is retail development, according to Wolfe. He said that multiple offers in the $2-3 million range have already been received for the property, with "big box grocery stores" and other retailers expressing interest in expanding into the area.
The retail sector presents both opportunities and challenges, Wolfe noted. While the site may have lower vehicle traffic counts and visibility compared to prime retail locations, it could succeed as a "destination retail" location rather than relying on impulse shoppers and high visibility.
"If it's there, it can be had for a reasonable number, I think there's likely some uses that you could use," Wolfe noted, suggesting that the right retail venture could thrive at the location.
Office Space
Office development also remains on the table. Wolfe said that success will require "some significant marketing" regardless of which direction the borough ultimately chooses.
Conclusion
“There's a couple different avenues that I believe could be successful for this site,” Wolfe said. “I think the office, the retail and even the recreational avenue, whether it be a park, an athletic facility, a golf course, whatever it might be, all are going to require some significant marketing.”
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