Columbia Mayor Leo Lutz announced Oct. 8th that the "Little Prince Silk Mill" site on north 3rd Street has been sold to a Harrisburg-based developer who will attempt to build a "destination business" at the dilapidated site. The very large building, near to route 30 and clearly visible from major byways, was purchased by Columbia Borough for $825,000 in 2005 with the hopes of reselling it to a hotel chain. It's a real mess, with crumbling walls and falling bricks - the property is surrounded by a chain link fence to protect passerby.
Columbia borough officials were pleased with the sale, which allows them to right to approve what is eventually placed at the site. Councilpeople commented that the project would bring many new jobs to the town, which sits astride the Susquehanna River and the Route 30 entry into west Lancaster County.
As someone who drives by the silk mill property reguarly, I can say that that place is definitely hopeless as it stands today. This would be a case of intelligent redevelopment that could only be a plus for Columbia. From a real estate perspective, home values would certainly be helped if the new project turns out to be attractive and bustling.
More as things "develop"...
