Bike Tour: Susquehanna River Towns Central to Industry & Underground RailroadRSVPA

Bicycle 22 miles, primarily on the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail, learning stories of African Americans and others active in thriving industry and the Underground Railroad during the 18th and 19th centuries. Fee charged, advance registration required.

MORE:

https://rsvpa.witf.org/event/bike-tour-susquehanna-river-towns-central-to-industry-underground-railroad/

Job fair welcomes both parents and students at Columbia High School | Local News | lancasteronline.com

Columbia Borough School District hosted a job fair, Thursday evening February 28, 2019. Over 150 people took advantage of the program and networked with over 30 different employers to learn about potential job oppritunities.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/job-fair-welcomes-both-parents-and-students-at-columbia-high/article_51d88d30-3bce-11e9-8cd4-7b9602c29918.html

Schools exhausting snow make-up days - Columbia has one left

"I have one day left," Columbia Borough School District Superintendent Tom Strickler said.

MORE:

https://www.abc27.com/news/local/lancaster/schools-exhausting-snow-make-up-days/1820876478

ULI/TAP to evaluate parcels at Hotel Locust/Hotel Columbia and vacant lot

The area being evaluated is anchored by the vacant Hotel Locust and Hotel Columbia buildings, which includes two adjacent underutilized parcels and a vacant lot next to a thriving antiques market. Columbia Borough leaders believe that a redevelopment effort at this location would serve as a catalyst for other redevelopment in the commercial core of this community.


Questions to be addressed by the TAP Panel:

1. What is the potential for infill mixed-use development that would both fulfill an identified market need and establish an anchor for the downtown commercial district?

2. What parking solutions are possible for a significant redevelopment project at this location in the center of the commercial district?

3. What partners and resources can the Borough leverage to make something happen at this site that has sat vacant and deteriorating?

MORE:

https://philadelphia.uli.org/news/now-recruiting-members-for-columbia-borough-tap/

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Columbia News, Views & Reviews previously reported HERE that the Lancaster County Land Bank (of which Columbia Borough is a member) in conjunction with the Columbia Economic Development Corporation was looking to acquire Hotel Locust/Hotel Columbia.

In addition, the relevant section of the minutes of the April 24, 2018 Lancaster County Land Bank Authority read as follows:

1) The Board approved a Resolution authorizing acquisition of 309-315 Locust Street, Columbia, subject to the terms of the Agreement with the Borough of Columbia and Columbia School District. Mr. Sternberg reviewed photos and details of the two properties, Hotel Locust and Hotel Columbia, in an onscreen presentation. 

Columbia Economic Development Company (CEDC) has requested the Land Bank Authority take ownership of the properties from CEDC for redevelopment, as they have been unsuccessful in their marketing efforts over past few years. 

Mr. Jim Eby, Board Chair, provided more insights on the buildings’ condition and potential. He noted that behind the facades, there did not seem to be any historic fabric of interest. He provided insights on the buildings adjacent to the two hotels. 

Finally, he said that in his opinion, it would be an appropriate project to pull into the Land Bank. He answered a question from Mr. Robinson regarding the nearby location of the earlier-mentioned building with the missing façade. 

The motion to approve was made by Mr. Robinson, second by Ms. Lyon Slaymaker, and unanimously carried. (A copy of said Resolution [Apr 18 #3] is attached hereto, 

and made a part hereof). 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of the Lancaster County Land Bank Authority that:

1. The Land Bank is hereby authorized to acquire 309-315 Locust Street, Columbia, PA;
2. Acquisition of this property will be contingent on Land Bank funding, and approval by the Borough of Columbia and the Columbia School District;
3. The Executive Director of the Land Bank is hereby authorized and directed to execute all documents on behalf of the Land Bank which may be necessary or desirable to further the intent of this Resolution.

A few months later, Columbia Borough Council voted not to approve the Land Bank deal.

TO BE CONTINUED

Recording, Roadbotics, and Ruffled Feathers at the February 26 Borough Council Meeting

In another step towards livestreaming, Borough Council recorded Tuesday's meeting via a cell phone mounted on a small tripod and operated by the borough manager from her seat at the conference table. The tripod proved to be a more stable option than the suction cup used at the previous meeting when the phone fell from its perch above a window ledge and crashed to the floor 15 minutes into the meeting.

Columbia Borough has enlisted the aid of Roadbotics , a company that assesses road conditions via cell phone and special software. Previously, the assessments were done manually. The borough will use Roadbotics in a one-time contract at a cost of $5,000. The data gathered will be loaded into a program of the borough's called CSDatum. A previous study was done manually about five years ago, and the borough has since based its road program on this data. Borough Manager Rebecca Denlinger said, "Now it's time for us to get a new set of data on how the streets are - the conditions of the roads - so that we can put in place a new road program."

Breakdown in decorum? An exchange between Jim McGinness and Councilman Cleon Berntheizel became a bit heated:

TO BE CONTINUED 

Columbia Life Network building sold, will be rebranded as IGNITE small business center

Pictured, left to right: Don Murphy (Cimarron Investments), Nelson Shertzer (new property owner), Adam Grim (Sparrow Websites Owner), and Justin Rule (Sparrow Websites Owner)

Longtime Lancaster County native, Nelson Shertzer, purchased the Columbia Life Network building, located at 336 Locust Street, with a vision to support Columbia Life Network’s longevity in the community and launch small business and entrepreneurs from downtown Columbia. The new building will be rebranded as the IGNITE Building this Spring.

On Wednesday, February 27, Cimarron Investments sold the property in downtown Columbia to now-owner, Nelson Shertzer. Shertzer’s purchase of the building comes in an effort to provide Columbia Life Network and its partner agencies in the space new opportunities to better serve the people of Columbia. The building will be managed by Columbia based web designer, Sparrow Websites, who will be the core tenant in the building as they expand their growing business.

The IGNITE Building will feature renovated offices and vacancies for new tenants and entrepreneurs and offer coworking spaces, shared conference rooms, and classroom space. Sparrow Websites is renovating the back end of the building to accommodate classroom areas for upcoming trainings and seminars on growing your small business online and digital branding.

New office spaces will be available for rent beginning April 1, 2019. If you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, or nonprofit advocate interested in joining this exciting new small business community, visit www.ignitecolumbia.com for availability and more information, or contact Sparrow Websites at 717-537-1311.

Follow along with rebranding efforts of the IGNITE Building and announcements on the upcoming local reveal of the new space at www.ignitecolumbia.com and follow #IgniteColumbia on social media.


[Source: Press Release]

2-Hour Delay - Friday, March 1, 2019

Columbia Borough SD

Hempfield SD

Lancaster Catholic HS

Our Lady of the Angels

Penn Manor SD