Columbia might be getting a new 33-unit apartment building in the downtown. Way downtown – at the corner of Locust Street and Bank Avenue.
Borough Council approved an application from Brian & Benjamin Myers Monday night for demolition at 128-132 Locust Street and 45 Bank Avenue to allow for new construction of a new four-story mixed-use apartment building at the site. The Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) initially green-lighted the project at its August 16 meeting by approving “Certificates of Appropriateness” for demolition and new construction.
The building will include ground-level retail spaces, enclosed parking, brick veneer and metal siding wall treatment, and storefront awnings and upper-level balconies, according to the submitted architectural plans and materials.
The issue must now go before the planning commission at its meeting next Monday.
This existing building at Locust Street and Bank Avenue is slated for demolition.
The building contains several units, at least one of which is currently occupied.
Mobile home on Bank Avenue to be moved, currently occupied
Aerial view of 128-132 Locust Street and 45 Bank Avenue
Old design and revised design
Bank Avenue
Locust Street side
Corner of Locust Street and Bank Avenue
Bank Avenue and rear of building
Columbia Spy 
It's a catch 22. Young Professionals will come if the rents cheaper than Lancaster city BUT than the cheap rent brings in lower income “professionals”. One or two bad people that are hard to evict will drove out the intended tenants, resulting in another high density low income apartment building.
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It's a joke – who would want to live along a trash route next to a train track with a public parking lot in the front yard and 200 low income apartments in the back yard ? Maybe old deaf and blind people with subsidized rents
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Nice point,, until your last sentence.
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Nothing against old deaf and blind people – as i'm getting to be one myself ! – and if they subsidize my rent I would probably be willing to live there so I can hear the trains.
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It's very sad that some posters write such hateful words about Columbia. Why the negativity? The apartment building with be an asset to the Borough. In lieu of picking apart the area where the building will be erected, think of the river views! The apartment building will beautify the area.
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look at the bright side – in 5 years after the tax abatement's are over – Columbia will get some increased property taxes – and hopefully the children that live there won't be an extra burden to the school district
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