Year: 2017

Another threatened Columbia property

FROM A RECENT LNP ARTICLE:

The Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County has released its list of the area’s 10 most-threatened historic properties. 

Where: William Patton House, 31 S. Second St., Columbia.

An 1864 Gothic Italianate brick building, the 2 1/2-story home has an elaborate portico; an Italianate pair-bracketed raking cornice; and a bold decoration within a rectangular transom and sidelights. The building, formerly adapted for use as a convalescent home, has signs of obvious neglect.

MORE PROPERTIES HERE:

http://lancasteronline.com/features/home_garden/historic-preservation-trust-these-are-lancaster-county-s-most-endangered/article_2d050fa6-4b9d-11e7-ba10-4b95d16248a7.html

Controversial Columbia property now for sale

A Columbia property that was the subject of controversy a few years ago is now up for sale. 631 South 13th Street, owned by Vincent Fiorella, was in the news in 2014 when construction on a pole barn on the property was halted more than halfway towards completion. Columbia’s zoning enforcement officer issued a stop work order for the project, after approving it months earlier.

According to Fiorella, he learned in mid-September of 2014 – when the building was 85% complete – that the permit was about to be revoked. He said zoning enforcement officer Jeffrey Helm informed him that he [Helm] had made a mistake, and the structure was not in compliance. Fiorella said he subsequently received a letter of September 25, ordering him to stop work. He then received another letter, dated September 26, informing him that the permit was being revoked, because the structure exceeded the 1,000-square-foot limit imposed by borough ordinance.

At its December 3 meeting, the Zoning Hearing Board rendered a decision essentially upholding the revocation of the permit.

The property sits in a residential neighborhood. As shown above, its current listing on realtor.com states:

“Ideal property and location for car collectors,constr. contractors, and private inside storage with four large 10’x8’doors and one large 10’x12′ overhead steel garage doors.”

The backstory is HERE.

School districts reaching a 'tipping point' on being able to deliver quality education

In the 332 school districts that responded to the survey, budgetary challenges are causing seven in 10 districts to look at property tax increases for next year. In many cases, that is accompanied by furloughs, program cuts, delayed textbook purchases, postponed maintenance projects, and dipping into reserve accounts.
MORE:

http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/06/school_districts_reaching_a_ti.html

About Town

Many pics about town over the last few weeks . . .
 Thumbs up from Columbia’s “Rock”
(At Columbia Crossing)

 Daytime moon
(Overhead)

 Even the Grinch says, “Support your local EMS services.”
(At Tacos to Go)

 Patriotic revelers on Memorial weekend
(5th & Chestnut)

Above the fray

 Shrine of the dog gods
(Mifflin Mansion on Walnut)

 More sticker shock
(Off Ironville Pike)

 Big Blue
(Little’s Beverage)
***

Boy Scouts (Troop 35) fix bricks at the DAC:

***
 Boat race!

With angelic glow, what appears to be a heavenly emissary . . .
is just an immature cardinal (female).

 And here’s an immature male.
New use for an old contraption
(Bootleg Antiques)
Read and heed.
You must carry a bag with you when walking your dog.
For cleanup.
Borough ordinance.
No kidding.

 Sound advice
 There’s something happening here. What it is ain’t exactly clear.

 Deadhead

 Whoa – low!
(Over Laurel Hill)

 Connivers conniving atop Columbia United Methodist Church

 Foggy morning

Side by side

But not eye to eye

 X marks the spot.

 Three in a row

 Wired

 Redhead

 300 block of Avenue G – Enough said.

 Power nap

Polarized

 In training
***
The honeybees are making a tentative return . . . 
(Columbia River Park)

 The mantises are still with us.
***
 Which way again?

 Mummified cat – shellacked and mounted
(Tollbooth Antiques)
 Tax protester.
Columbia’s new millage rate

This sparrow looks like he just saw the sign above.

 Parochial school sign on public school property

 Spanish – English – Arabic
(Near Sixth & Cherry)

 Moon-tipped finial
(500 Chestnut)

Here’s something good in Avenue G.

 Walkways crossing Columbia Crossing

 There’s that hearse again.
(North Second)

 Who needs AC when you have an open-air ride?
((Avenue F, near Fourth Street)

 Laptop in the sewer. Can Jesse the Computer Guy fix it?

 Down ‘n’ dirty

 Like the sign says . . . 

Yard sale on the 300 block of Locust
***

Mighty oaks being executed on the 800 block of Chestnut . . .

***
Work continues on the self-storage facility along Front Street . . . 

Joint Feasibility Meeting to be held June 14

A Joint Feasibility Study group, consisting of representatives from Columbia Borough and Columbia Borough School District, will meet in the Council meeting room, 308 Locust Street, on June 14th at 5:00 p.m. to consider whether there is sufficient interest to pursue a study concerning the possible consolidation of  School District, Borough administration offices and the Borough Police Department at the School District Administration Office, 200 N 5th St, Columbia.