Council debates McGinnis property sale: sealed RFP to control development or public auction for speed

Columbia Borough Council spent a major portion of its Oct. 7 workshop debating how best to dispose of the borough-owned McGinnis property, with members split between an RFP/sealed-bid process aimed at shaping long-term development and a faster public-auction option.

Heather, borough staff, outlined an RFP timeline that would give the borough time to set development conditions and evaluate proposals. Under the RFP option staff presented, the process would include drafting an RFP (about 30–45 days), a public distribution and 30–75 day response window, and an evaluation period; proponents said that schedule could produce qualified offers by late winter and allow the borough to require development commitments in the sale agreement.

Councilmember Todd and others argued for an expedited public auction to sell the property faster and noted auction formats can draw competitive bids. “If it’s a hot commodity, then why do we have to wait 4½ months?” Todd asked, urging speed. Opponents warned an auction could produce a lower sale price and remove borough control over future development commitments. “To throw it on an auction block to get rid of it as quickly as possible is unreasonable,” one council member said, noting years of prior planning and investments in the site.

Staff and the borough’s economic development contacts (EDC) described a hybrid path: run a sealed RFP first while using EDC networks to alert commercial realtors, and, if bids are unsatisfactory, pursue a different sale channel. Council asked for additional information on commercial-auction practices, comparable disposition outcomes and a briefing from the McGinnis project manager, Rick Brennaman.

There was no vote. Council directed staff to solicit cost and timeline estimates for an RFP and to arrange a presentation from developer/project manager Rick Brennaman and (separately) a commercial-auction specialist before the next regular meeting.