Sometime Saturday evening into Sunday morning, a window ledge on the fourth floor came loose and crashed down through the canopy onto the sidewalk. No one was hurt.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Locust is condemned
Sometime Saturday evening into Sunday morning, a window ledge on the fourth floor came loose and crashed down through the canopy onto the sidewalk. No one was hurt.
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29 comments:
So sad when they've made such an effort to renovate this place........funny when the chunk of building fell in Lancaster, that building wasn't condemned.......
So sad to hear this. They had excellent food and excellent service. You got your moneys worth too. Hope the problem gets fixed and they can reopen. Columbia needs it back!!!!
why is it condemned????
great food !!! boro, hurry up and let it reopen.....
This is tragic. They tried to make a "go" of it, and then this happened. Does "condemned" mean it's closed for good or only until the problems are fixed?
I drove past today and seen it was open.. So I'm assuming only until it's fixed.. I was shocked to see it condemned..
Here's another example of misplaced priorities within code enforcement in the boro. Columbia needs to be HELPING and ENCOURAGING new local businesses, not pushing them out of town. Meanwhile, as always, nothing is done about all the crumbling rental properties with their weeds and trash, etc. The rentals and slumlords are what need to be code enforcement's priority. Push the slumlords out of town and bring businesses into town. Apparently code enforcement has things backwards.
THE HOTEL LOCUST REOPENED LATE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AFTER A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER DID AN INSPECTION.
COULD THERE HAVE BEEN A BETTER WAY TO DO THIS? PROBABLY, BUT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE I'VE SEEN THIS IN OTHER AREAS, WHERE THERE WAS SAFETY FENCING PUT UP, BUT THE BUSINESS ALLOWED TO STAY OPEN.
LOCUST OWNER JESSE KLINE SPOKE TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT THE ISSUE LAST NIGHT AND WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE SITUATION, REPORTING TO THE COUNCIL THERE WERE OTHER INCIDENTS SIMILIAR TO WHAT HAPPENED AT THE LOCUST AND THE BUILDINGS WEREN'T CONDEMNED. COUNCIL SAID THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE PREVIOUS TWO INCIDENTS AND WOULD INVESITGATE.
I ASKED THE COUNCIL NOT TO MAKE THE OWNERS JUMP THROUGH HOOPS TO MAKE THE REPAIRS, AS SO OFTEN THE BOROUGH DOES.
They are good people and run a good business, here's hoping the Boro doesn't screw around with them. Not Jesse's fault that building wasn't maintained for 50 years.
Oh my, there are conflicts of interest on the Borough Council with small buiness owners on council do you really beieve they will vote for an establishment that would provide competition to their business?
DRB
If that's the case vote them off in the fall. You must be talking about Sears. Jim Smith is already established.That is why Barry Ford needs to be on this Council. The code officer is the one who shutdown this business not Council.
JN.....
Does it matter who is established and who is not? There is evidence of voting against eating establishments as they pose a threat to "established" business's. Jesse Kline spoke with borough council and was not happy with the situation. So what is your point JN?
It's is rumored an experienced code officer currently working in Lancaster will soon be on the Columbia Borough payroll, there will be a new sheriff in town for code enforcement.
DRB
Competition? Seriously? Have any of you conspiracy theorists ever considered the notion that competition is good for business? I welcome competition in my business because it allows me the opportunity to show that I am the better value and competition itself helps me out because, at the end of the day, just like in the restaurant business, no one want to go to a one horse town.
yacky yak, one speak with forked tongue, actions speak louder than words. Bring on the competition but let me have a say in who will be the competition. We have seen you in action, and to quote the Rock, "What's that I smell cooking"
JD
DRB,
Take your so called evidence to Council. The Code Enforcement officer did his job and yes the owner had the right to go in front of Council. Don't blow smoke up the rear end and throw out allegations without providing proof. This Council for the most part has down a very good job. They need to stay on top of Codes in this town before it destroys Columbia.
JN.....
Hey JN you seem to claim to be an authority on all happinengs in the borough. To quote you the code enforcement officer did his job and the council for the most part has done a good job. So what is your point, since you know so much or perhaps think you do, why do you spend so much time on this blog with worthless opinions, must have too much free time.
JD
JN sounds like a blow off, grow up, get a job, you have 2 much time on your hands.
DRB
Alright now let's calm down. An earlier poster was right- to think that limiting competition and council were behind this is just nuts. First of all, council doesn't necessarily direct the codes office on this level, rather, the codes officer was following the codes- "condemned" has a variety of meanings and in this case, the building was essentially sealed off until safe entry was certified by an engineer. How many times has the Keystone faced similar circumstances?
Secondly, folks on this board are constantly harping about the need for better code enforcement, which we do need, but then get upset when codes are enforced. Keep in mind, we're not talking about weeds or peeling paint; we are talking about a piece of a building facade on our main street that could have very easily killed someone.
Perhaps you lack what I have....Common sense.
JN.......
Yes indeed, "They need to stay on top of Codes in this town before it destroys Columbia." Unfortunately, Hotel Locust and other local businesses trying to help Columbia grow should be NOWHERE NEAR the top of the list for code enforcement. I'll spell it out for everyone really slowly--S-L-U-M-L-O-R-D-S and R-E-N-T-A-L P-R-O-P-E-R-T-I-E-S are what are "destroying Columbia" and where code enforcement needs to be focusing their efforts. Not harassing local businesses and homeowners.
going to the Locust tonight to support the owners, first round is on me, see u there 5 PM.
DMR, Sr
as an owner of multiple properties in the 200 block of Locust Street I resent the remarks about slum lords, etc. by some of you on this blog. I get my check from the government on a regulary monthly basis and have tenants who spend their money in Columbia, if they move out it would further lowering revenue into the boroughs coffers as no per capita tax is collected.I meet regulary with code enforcement officer and meet all requirements. I would question if your properties are well maintained, etc. as are mine.
DD, Jr
I would question just how many of these fine residents actually pay there $15 per capita tax
to post at 9:21. i agree. that's what i've been saying, only thing is NO ONE listens....Columbia will be a ghost town in the next 5 years. no question about that. it's a shame the powers that be don't have a clue....the taxpaying homeowners are being harassed by code enforcement to scrape and paint properties.....believe me, if we could afford to, we'd have done it by now....we're trying to hold onto our property (with both of us WORKING-NOT welfare)but taxes are so high and there's no INCENTIVES to rid this boro of ALL these slumlords rentals and turn em back into single family dwellings.this is NOT BALTIMORE, PHILLY, ETC......Wake up before it's too late.
that's the first problem...$ 15 per capita tax. REALLY ????
as i've said before, the BOro MUST find a way to TAX EACHAND EVERY RENTER for taxes. WE pay for their kids to go to school. they collect welfare and contribute nothing. every single tenant should be taxed a set fee - for example $ 200 in the spring for municipal taxes and then $ 500 in the fall for school taxes. WOW - CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THAT WOULD DO - not only gewt rid of these deadbeats but the slumlords as well
Only thinking of yourself. I rent. I dont own! If i owned my property i would pay my fare share.
I agree there are slumlords and deadbeat renters but not all renters are like this I rent a single dwelling home in the boro, work for a living and if your that damn stupid to think the taxes aren't figured into my rent payment then you need to get yor head ofout of your ass. Quit blaming all Columbia's problems on renters and wake up just as many just because you own a home doesn't mean your not a low life ride around and look at some of the homes in town that are OWNED!!
uh - EXCUSE ME ????
I DON'T THINK SO......
the taxpaying homeowners are the ones who pay for all these section 8 and all renters children who go to all of our schools. they pay NO taxes. NONE. NADA. ZIP< ZILCH. WE are taxed to death and EACH AND EVERY ADULT RENTER SHOULD PAY A TAX TO FUND THEIR CHILDREN GOING TO SCHOOL. PERIOD.
I agree with the above writer. There are many property owners that have issues with their properties. We close down an alley because a building is condemend?Tear it down. Instead of just having block watch programs for crime have one for keeping your neighborhood up to code and clean. The reason Columbia struggles to get business to relocate and stay is not all code issues,it people who travel the streets in mobs. Who wants to walk downtown through a group of youths when you dont know wht their going to do. You can buld all you want but without a angressive code enforcement and a visible Police force (which we need more officers) it would be tough accomplish moving a town forward.
JN.......
i think it's be awesome to see code enofrcement present daily - try to educate these renters...inform them what they need to do and cite them if they don't....just passed some storm sewers full of leaves,debris from the rain. WHY can't everyone who lives next to one or another neighbor remove debris ??? it may stop your street from flooding. how hard is it ???? try a little sugar, it may go a long way
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