Deeds Recorded - Columbia Borough - April 28, 2025

Snyder Mary E, Good Jodi Ann, Good Jodi A. conveyed 1100 Grinnell Ave. to Snyder Mary E, Good Jodi A. for $1.

Carol L. Marusak conveyed 365 S. Third St. to Red Canna LLC for $60,000.

Moore Ashley R, Moore Travis J. conveyed 34 N. Sixth St. to Hylton Abigail, Hylton David for $160,000.

Sheriff of Lancaster County Pa, Brown Robert G. conveyed 532 N. Third St. to New American Funding LLC for $190,400.

About Town - April 27, 2025

This week's photos of Columbia
Click on photos to see larger, sharper images.

York County sheriffs were at Plane & Manor Thursday morning. 

SEVEN sheriffs 

(At least one is on the K9 team, judging from his vest) . . .

and a Columbia Borough police officer (not shown).

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Painters were at the historic Wright's Ferry Mansion on Tuesday. 

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Firetrucks on Locust Street 

Police cars at 700 Franklin Street

Are we still doing this?

Sometimes it's better if you cook things, though.

Police activity on Locust 

Free loaner tools at Advance Auto Parts

Photo shoot on Front Street 

Fish's new sign at short 6th & Lancaster Avenue 

Police cars at the District Administration Center Saturday morning 

Yes, there really is a Wellsville.

It's in York County.

Here are several photos of the Columbia Animal Shelter...

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The banners are gone at Plane & Manor.

Dispose of your old flags at the Elks on the 400 block of Chestnut, or at the VFW at 4th & Manor.

Seen at the American Legion on Chestnut Street 

Some vivid evening clouds

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Ants are digging out the sand between bricks at the bridge plaza.

There are still many spaces available for commemorative bricks.

Coming soon

Oriental rugs are for sale on the first block of South 2nd.

The bug man was at Columbia Crossing this week.

Lit up bus shelter on South 4th

Quotations 

Help build a playlot at Janson Park. 

The hedgehogs are still there. 

Seen on the steps at United Methodist Church 

Doug's Tree Service squeezing out onto 4th Street 

Enjoyment at Columbia River Park 

Occasionally seen in Columbia 

Fire police and borough workers responded to the scene of a large limb on the roadway on South 9th Street Sunday morning. 

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Columbia Borough introduces free parking program for senior citizens

Columbia Borough Council has approved a new ordinance allowing limited free downtown parking for senior residents.

Council voted unanimously at Tuesday's council meeting to advertise the ordinance,  which establishes a Senior Citizen Parking Permit program that allows residents aged 65 and older to park for free for up to one hour during regular business hours within the Downtown Commercial Zoning District where parking meter zones have been established.

Eligible seniors must apply in person at the municipal building at 308 Locust Street and provide a valid driver's license and vehicle registration showing Columbia Borough residency. Only one permit will be issued per residential address.

The permits must be displayed on the passenger side lower corner of the windshield and are non-transferable between vehicles or individuals. Each permit will be valid for one year from issuance and must be renewed before expiration.

Key details of the program include:

- Free parking limited to one hour, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

- Vehicles exceeding the one-hour limit must pay standard parking rates

- Permits not valid during scheduled street sweeping operations

- Violations subject to fines as established in the borough fee schedule

The ordinance will take effect in accordance with Pennsylvania law. Columbia residents interested in obtaining a permit can visit the municipal building during regular business hours once the program is implemented.

For more information about the Senior Citizen Parking Permit program, residents are encouraged to contact the Columbia Borough office.

Columbia Borough Schedules Spring Clean-Up and Large Appliance Collection Day for Friday, April 25

Columbia Borough has scheduled its annual Spring Clean-Up Day along with a Large Appliance Collection for Friday, April 25, 2025, from 8 a.m. to noon.

Borough employees will team up with community volunteers to clean streets, sidewalks, and parks throughout Columbia. In case of inclement weather, the clean-up portion of the event will be rescheduled to Friday, May 2, 2025.

Residents interested in volunteering for the clean-up effort should contact Pam at armoldp@columbiapd.org or call 717-684-7735.

The Large Appliance Collection will occur simultaneously. Borough officials emphasize that all items must be tagged for collection. .

The Borough Office is located at 308 Locust Street, Columbia, PA 17512. For more information about either event, residents can call the office at (717) 684-2467.

The McGinness Innovation Park: How much will it cost?

At Tuesday's meeting, Columbia Borough Council voted to close on a $5.4 million loan aimed at developing the McGinness Innovation Park. The loan is paired with a $3.35 million grant. Both amounts, which total $8.75 million, are funded through a Business in Our Sites (BIOS) program administered by the Commonwealth Financing Authority, which provides funds to municipalities and other entities to prepare sites for development. In order to receive the grant, the borough was required to close on the loan.

Columbia Borough purchased the 58-acre McGinness property for $1.5 million on August 20, 2021.

Following is a breakdown of costs associated with the project:

The estimate to develop the tract as of summer 2022 was $12 million, according to BizNewsPA (7/20/22). Columbia initially paid $1.5 million to purchase the property. The total of those two figures is $13.5 million.

Along the way, the borough received a $1 million Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) grant from the state. Deduct that from the $13.5 million above to get $12.5 million.

As mentioned above, the borough was approved for a $3.35 million BIOS grant. So, deduct that from the $12.5 million to get $9.15 million. That's the total amount the borough will owe. The amount includes the $5.4 million loan that was approved, since it must be paid back, most likely with interest (see below).

These figures could vary somewhat, but unless the borough somehow secures yet another grant, $9.15 million is a good "ballpark" figure. Officials hope that leasing or selling parcels (or possibly the whole property) will generate revenue. If that can be done, the $9.15 million figure would certainly be mitigated - or, ideally, eliminated.

Over the past few years, the borough has already spent about half a million on testing and maintenance of the property, asbestos abatement and demolition of the former McGinness home, the purchase and demolition of 700 Franklin Street and other buildings, as well as the purchase of an additional tract along Plane Street- just to get the project started.

Regarding the $5.4 million loan, the borough has 5 years to pay it back. Columbia will need to reimburse the state about $158,000 for every acre sold (LNP 3/5/22). After five years, the state will amortize the loan over 15 years and charge 3% interest.

In sum, this project could be costly for a long time.