After three years sitting empty, the Columbia Market House will be re-opening next month.
The historic market, which dates back to 1869, will re-open on Saturday, May 29 featuring 19 local vendors and a full-service restaurant, Gypsy Kitchen. We re bringing life back to this building for the community, market manager Kelsey Miller said.
Miller, who doubles as the healthy communities program manager at CHI St. Joseph Children’s Health, will oversee daily operations at the market. CHI St. Joseph Children’s Health and the Columbia Borough have partnered together to breathe new life into the historic site.
Columbia Borough manager Mark Stivers said the market had been vacant since 2017. The current project began picking up steam in summer 2019 and now the grand opening will market the completion of the first phase of the near $3 million project, he said. The second phase will include additional parking for the market house and visitors to downtown Columbia, Stivers said.
The sale will now move to the state s Public Utility Commission (PUC) for final approval. A decision from the PUC is expected later this year or early 2022.
With the sale, PA-American will not increase rates for York residents for the first three years and will retain all of the current staff. In addition, a $20 million deposit will be given to the city to help balance the 2021 budget. PA-American Water has also announced it will contribute at least $50,000 to nonprofit organizations throughout the city. With this agreement, York’s future is bright – free from the debt and financial pain that have held us back for so long,” Mayor Michael Helfrich said in a statement. “This is a new day for York, one filled with an unwavering optimism as our residents and businesses can finally breathe a sigh of relief for the first time in decades.”
After months of debate, the city s wastewater treatment plant officially has a new owner.
On Tuesday, March 2, City Council members voted 4-1 in favor for the $235 million sale of York s wastewater treatment plant to Pennsylvania-American Water. In accordance with the purchasing agreement, $20 million of the sale will be allocated to help the city offset legacy costs and pay off sewer revenue bonds. Councilwoman Edquina Washington was the lone dissenting vote. Councilwoman Washington had previously voiced concerns over the sale. It is another step forward in a relatively complex process to transfer one of the city s largest assets, Mayor Michael Helfrich said.