Friday's Is This What We Want

It's back to the grind with the Friday edition of Is This What We Want. This is the former chip factory at Second and Locust streets. Might have been something else back in the day as well. It's owned by Strube Inc. and I think it was about a year ago or longer, subject to an investigation by the Federal and Stae Government for DEP clean-up issues. It's on the main street and some of the windows are boarded up or falling off. Since this property is probably somewhere, if at all, in the legal system, perhaps nothing could be done with it. Still worth pointing out though.

The late edition of Is This What We Want

Discovered this one thanks to an alert reader at Front and Bridge streets at one time where the Susquehanna Towers were to be constructed on the site of a former foundry in Columbia. Now, these wood pallets are stacked throughout the property, some higher than the fence. Can you say fire trap? Oh by the way, there's a theme here -- the property owner was at one time considered Columbia's savior.

First Tuesday post of Is This What We Want?

Since I didn't do it yesterday and needless to say there are many, many violations, here is one of Is This What WeWant in Town? This is a tree growing out of the roof of a property in the 400 block of Locust Street.

Sunday's Is This What We Want?

These are two properties in the first block of South Fourth Streeet, which are vacant and nothing being done with then. One was Columbia's only vaccum cleaner repair store and the other was a law office.

More of is this we want in our town?

The Scoop Mobile "mobile newsroom" was out and about today taking pictures of various problem areas. Also had a big discussion about other areas of town, who need to be visited by Code Enforcement. The suggestion was to print the phone number of the Code Enforcement Office here (684-2467, ext. 215) and contact them with complaints and continue to contact them until something is done or go to borough council after a couple of calls. One of the big problems, which is all over town, are weeds growing up through curbs and sidewalks and how unsightly it is. This picture is from downtown, where it is particularly bad in some areas. It doesn't look nicewith the car show and craft show coming up, which will bring thousands of people to our town. The other picture is of another downtown property where someone forgot to remove their beer bottle and 12-pack on Locust Streeet. The third picture is one in the eastern end of town, where the grass hasn't been mowed in a number of weeks and is more thn three foot tall. Also received word of a property near Front Street that has black mold growing in the basement and the landlord isn;t doing anything. If you know of problem areas, problem properties, let the "mobile newsroom" know or send us a picture and we will post it in an attempt to clean up our town.