There’ve been so many comments bandied about at Websites and facebook pages about the problems in Columbia being created by “them” – “those” – and others.
One landlord with multiple properties in Columbia sent this in an email to Columbia news, views & reviews:
“Everyone wants to bash Columbia Landlords. Why not help them get good tenants?
Here is a link that shows all Evictions and cases that a person had. I use (the site) to screen possible tenants
http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/MDJ.aspx
I enter “Search Type” = “Participant Name” and then enter last and first name( with possible spelling changes) and then for County I put Lancaster and York in 2 different searches”
Columbia news, views & reviews regularly refers to the Website; several Columbia residents, including homeowners, are listed there, too.
We applaud the landlord for the due diligence process he’s using and suggesting.
Columbia news, views & reviews 
Why is it MY job to help a landlord prospect for tenants? I don’t want to hear that it would behoove me either. It is THEIR business and as a property owner and a for-profit business, it is THEIR obligation to screen and find decent tenants. Instead of negatively affecting my quality of life with trashy tenants!
Vera, we believe the landlord is not asking for anyone’s assistance, per se. We think the intent is to make other landlords aware of some tools that can help sort out tenants who might have baggage that might prove troublesome.
For a moment, please consider the 3rd and 4th blocks of Locust. Large buildings with some commercial and yes tenants. The owners of these properties invested in Columbia. Some live here. Bashing Landlords and creating policies against them does not help make a landlord want to own a property in Columbia. So, some decide to sell their properties. With the negative comments what landlord will want to buy them. So now they are sold at pennies on the dollar to another landlord who may or may not care about Columbia. This also promotes empty buildings which turn into eye sores. Please try to think of landlords as investors. Investors come to Columbia with money. Yes they want to make money on their money. in my opinion Columbia should WORK with investors and PARTNER with investors. The idea is to channel that money to improve Columbia. Create an attitude that 1) Improves Columbia and 2) Helps Investors make money on their money. This will be a WIN – WIN strategy.
We agree enthusiastically. Working, with a plan, toward improvement for everyone now and in future years. The pages of listings of sheriff’s sales in today’s daily newspaper (also here: http://sheriff.co.lancaster.pa.us/sheriff.salelisting/) show over a dozen borough properties listed.
In a related vein, while entertaining guests visiting from California last night for a special “small PA town” dining experience at Hinkle’s, the visitors marveled at the architecture and the history.They could not understand, though, why there is no “river walk” or river view dining. On a later trip to the other side, they raved about the view from John Wright’s.
Chris, you state that “in my opinion Columbia should WORK with investors and PARTNER with investors “, what exactly does that mean ? That is such a broad statement !! What exactly do you think “Columbia” should do to help investors ? , if you don’t mind me asking.
Bashing landlords is not a good way to partner together and it solves nothing.
Here are some ideas to partner together.
1) Business partner forums – Business forums could be held. Business owners and investors should set the agenda for these and not the Boro. Ideas could be presented to improve the business climate in Columbia. Maybe these could be held 4 times a year.
2) Columbia needs fewer residences and more businesses – Change some zoning of properties on busy streets (Lancaster Ave, 462 and 441) from residence to commercial. I could write a couple of pages on this but this would be a WIN – WIN
3) Encourage investors to change apartment buildings into commercial properties by lowering taxes for a certain number of years. Let me add some details here on the advantages of this. Let’s say we have some row homes (like the ones in the 5th block of N 3rd or the ones across from the new Little Caesars) and for the sake of this discussion say we have 5 row homes with owners that want to make the change. And let’s say each row home has one child attending Columbia schools that cost tax payer $15k per year for a total of $75k (15k X 5 row homes) and yet pay taxes of maybe $2,500 each for a total of $15k (2.5k X 5). This is a loss of $60k that other property owners in Columbia pay. Now let’s say that they are zoned commercial and property owners are encouraged with a tax rebate of 2k a year for 5 years if the property is changed from a residence to commercial with the understanding that it cannot revert. Owners may consider this a good opportunity to switch.
What does the property owner get?
1) Saves 2k a year or 10k over 5 years (almost no property tax!)
2) Get a better tenant with a commercial tenant than with a residence. Commercial tenants take care of properties.
3) The property will become more valuable as commercial than residence. Commercial property has always been more valuable.
What does Columbia get out of the deal?
1) We may think Columbia loses 50k (2k X 5 properties X 5 years) but actually Columbia wins free money each year by not having students go to the school. Instead of the 60k loss we have a 12.5k gain !($500 taxes X 5 commercial properties X 5 years) Okay, I understand that if we have 5 less students in school does not mean we save $75k a year (15k a student X 5 students) but we would save.
2) After the 5 years are up the property is worth more as commercial property which could at some point translate into higher taxes.
3) A better kept property with a business owner.
4) Jobs!!!!
I know someone will shoot holes in this but I know that if the boro and property owners got together the details could be worked out. Similar ideas could work for Multifamily properties changing to office buildings or at least commercial on the first floor.
Chris
I like these ideas Chris!
Good Stuff Chris !, When and where is the first ” Business Partner Forum ” ?