From Runways to Rollercoasters: Why McGinness Isn’t the Bermuda Triangle of Development
(November 10th, 2025) Columbia, Pa. If you read Joe Lintner’s latest piece on the McGinness Airfield, you’d think Columbia Borough had just purchased a cursed plot of land where developers vanish into thin air and zoning laws are written in invisible ink. Rick Breneman, bless his heart, told council he wasn’t painting a “doomsday picture” — right before he painted one so dark it made Edgar Allan Poe look like a motivational speaker.
Let’s set the record straight, with a little humor to keep us sane.
The Land of Endless Possibilities (Not Endless Delays)
Yes, developers like to take their sweet time — Breneman says 2–3 years of “due diligence”. Translation: they need time to Google “how to build a shopping center” and argue over whether the Starbucks goes on the left or the right. But let’s not forget: Columbia already secured $1 million in state grants, plus millions more in loans and support. That’s not “doomsday.” That’s “cha-ching.”
Zoning: The Plot Twist Nobody Asked For
Joe’s article makes zoning sound like a villain in a Marvel movie. In reality, Columbia rezoned the site for commercial and light industrial use, which is exactly what you want if you’re trying to attract jobs, tax revenue, and maybe a drone company or two. Housing was taken off the table, but hey — who wouldn’t prefer a tech park over another cul-de-sac named “Maple Something”?
Auction vs. EDC: The Showdown
Breneman warned that a public auction might leave the borough with buyers who “sit on the land”. Honestly, if someone wants to sit on 58 acres of former runway, let them. Maybe they’ll start a lawn chair festival. Meanwhile, the EDC’s plan is to market the site as McGinness Innovation Park, complete with recreational trails and commercial space. That’s not a fire sale — that’s a future.
Over-55 Housing: Because Grandma Deserves a Runway
One of Breneman’s “outside-the-box” ideas was over-55 housing. Imagine retirees doing tai chi on the old runway while drones buzz overhead. It’s not the worst idea, but Columbia already has bigger ambitions: STEM industries, advanced manufacturing, and a business park. Sorry, Grandma — you’ll have to settle for bingo night elsewhere.
The Punchline
Joe’s article makes McGinness sound like a money pit. In reality, it’s Columbia’s largest undeveloped tract of land, bought for $1.5 million, now backed by millions in grants, and already moving through remediation. It’s not a “tricky thing to navigate.” It’s a runway to the future — literally.
So next time someone says McGinness is doomed, remind them: this isn’t the Bermuda Triangle. It’s Columbia’s field of dreams. And unlike Breneman’s gloomy forecast, the only thing disappearing here will be the old turf runways.
