Land Bank to use $500,000 to build rental units on South 5th Street

Fire-damaged homes at 154 and 156 South 5th Street will be demolished to make room for new rental units.

[Columbia Spy photo]

The Lancaster County Land Bank Authority will use $500,000 toward building four new affordable rental units on the site of two fire-damaged, blighted buildings at 154 and 156 South 5th Street. The buildings were damaged in a July 22, 2022 fire.

The Authority will share in $2.2 million for Lancaster County from the state’s Housing Trust Fund.

The Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund uses Marcellus Shale Impact Fees and state realty tax revenue to help fund the creation and support of affordable housing across the state.

Recipients must use a portion of the funding to assist households earning less than 50% of the county’s median area income of $74,000.

In January, the Land Bank issued a Request for Bids for demolition of the properties, as Columbia Spy reported HERE.

Columbia Borough Council voted unanimously to approve the demolition application at its May 9, 2023 meeting. Demolition is set to begin at the end of this month. 

[Sources: LNP, Columbia Spy]

Columbia Fire Chief Scott Ryno says goal of grant is to prolong firefighting system

"The goal of that is to prolong the volunteer firefighting system as long as we can," Scott Ryno, Contracted Grant Administrator for Capitol Region Council of Governments, said.

According to Ryno, 21 fire companies across the region are taking part in the grant, with the end-goal being to eliminate the need for most, if not all, paid [volunteer] firefighter positions.

MORE HERE

CCAT meeting Wednesday, June 14

The Columbia Cat Action Team will meet Wednesday, June 14, at Borough Hall, 308 Locust Street. The public is invited. 

 

Agenda - Columbia Borough Council Meeting - June 13, 2023

 

The meeting packet is HERE

3 Lancaster County lawmakers opposed bipartisan railroad safety bill

State Reps. David Zimmerman, Keith Greiner and Tom Jones were among 62 votes against House Bill 1028, which was inspired by the Norfolk Southern train derailment that dumped more than one million pounds of hazardous chemicals into the environment in an Ohio community located less than one mile from the Pennsylvania border. The spilled materials caused concerns over water, soil and air quality in nearby areas, including Beaver County.

Greiner and Jones both agreed that the railroad companies should be left to regulate itself.

State Rep. Ismail Smith Wade-El, D-Lancaster City, voted for the bill and said the state cannot rely on the industry to restrict itself.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/politics/3-lancaster-county-lawmakers-opposed-bipartisan-railroad-safety-bill/article_d59dae12-0879-11ee-ab0e-37a2b8ad64f2.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

Are you ready to be a Pet Parent? - Wednesday, June 14, at the Columbia Animal Shelter

 

Deeds Recorded - Columbia Borough - June 12, 2023

 

John M. Misel conveyed 612 Franklin St. to Lancaster County Land Bank Authority for $84,800.

Hugh C. Agee Jr. and Sandra L. Agee conveyed property on Maple Street to Keith Evangelisti and Genesis Evangelisti for $1.

Sheriff of Lancaster County PA, Richard Booth, Catherine Booth and Richard A. Booth conveyed property on a public road to Valley View Capital LLC for $192,000.

Joyce M. Jones conveyed 57 S. Sixth St. to Jesse M. Rabinowitz and Heidi A. Brubaker for $225,000.

Columbia & Reading Railway Co., 400 Avenue X LLC and Michael McKonly conveyed 360 S. Fourth St. to 400 Avenue X LLC for $350,000.

Barry Thomas Adams and Stacy Marie Adams conveyed property on a public road to Alexander Stewart for $215,000.

Lee K. Splain conveyed 600 Manor St. to Samy Ghaly for $140,000.