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I was encouraged to read today in the Times-Leader that in addition to other businesses that have recently opened or will soon be opening in Downtown Wilkes-Barre the legendary Chicken Coop restaurant will also be relocating to the city's core from its current location nearer to the Wyoming Valley Mall.
Over the past several years the following improvements have happened in or near Downtown Wilkes-Barre:
River Commons
Intermodal Transportation Center
Barnes & Noble
Cinema 14/University Corners
Elevations Lofts
Empire Lofts (Under Construction)
Gateway Corners
Streetscape Enhancements
Surveillance Cameras
Additional Parking
Coal Street Park Overhaul
Innovation Center Business Incubator (with a second one under construction)
More is on the agenda as well. The mayor's wife also opened a gift store called The Bee Hive. A few new restaurants/pubs are coming to Downtown soon as well to complement existing fixtures like Katana, Cafe Toscana, Rodano's, Blue Chip Gourmet, Einstein Brothers, Bart & Urby's, and more. The Crimson Lion Hookah Lounge is doing well. The colleges continue to expand. There is quite a decent amount of weekend foot traffic after dark (and not just prositutues/drug dealers as in years past). It seems like Downtown Wilkes-Barre is really starting to make a promising comeback after decades of severe neglect attributed to urban sprawl in the Back Mountain, Mountain Top, and Greater Pittston.
More bright news is that between 2008 and 2009 Wilkes-Barre has only lost 1 resident, according to annual U.S. Census Bureau estimates. From my own demographics analysis Wilkes-Barre should be growing in population from 2010 to 2020 after losing population for every decade since 1940 if I'm not mistaken. Wilkes-Barre really just needs to continue to get its image for being a haven for crime under control, and I really foresee it taking off. The city's finances are healthy, the mayor and council have a positive rapport with one another and department heads, and the city's residents overall seem to be less critical of their city's governance than residents of Scranton are of their own city's officials.
What do others think? What would you like to see in Downtown Wilkes-Barre? Do you think these recent improvements are sustainable or are just a "flash in the pan?"
I also really enjoyed reading this letter to the editor about the city from a pair of suburbanites:
MAIL BAG  LETTERS FROM READERS | The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA (http://www.timesleader.com/opinion/letters/MAIL_BAG__ensp_LETTERS_FROM_READERS_12-24-2010.html?searchterm=leighton - broken link)
I too agree that the city and surrounding area's are on the rebound. It's been on a steady incline for a few years. I am downtown everyday and have never seen as much activity and foot traffic downtown. I think it will only increase as word spreads...that seems to be what is happening. The city and mayor NEED to try to invite tourism, increase festivals and events, and launch a campaign to rid the city of it's negative image, and spead the word that Wilkes-Barre is making a comeback and show off the positive strides that have been happening (just like this article has done). We need alot more of this, and it should be being done by the the city and mayor's office
I agree that the city is doing really well. Much better than I have ever expected. But there are some issues that need to be addressed.
1. The city does a craptastic job of making the public aware of events in the city.
2. The mayor and council members need to remember that Wilkes-Barre consists of a hell of a lot more than the Square and the surrounding 3 blocks on each side of it. It reminds me of Atlantic City - the main area where the casinos are located is beautiful but if you go beyond that bubble it looks like a totally different city. More police presence, more city workers cleaning up garbage, etc.
3. Absentee landlords are a huge issue for the city as well. I am not sure if we can do anything about this but it seems to me that the dearth of crime and violence in the city happens because of transients living in old houses divided into 654236 efficiencies owned by some anonymous person in another state.
4. The city should look into securing old buildings and turning them into museums. We should have a children's hands on museum (I think it should be located in the old Irem Temple building on South Franklin across from the Arts Youniverse) as well as a coal mining museum. The history of our city is vast and deep and interesting. We should capitalize on that in order to invite tourists here.
Coal Street Park: I was taking my kids there for awhile last summer. It was GREAT. Lots of stuff to do for them, shady areas and a fence that surrounding the play units so mom and dad didn't have to continuously chase the kids by a busy street. However, the city *really* dropped the ball when it came to ensuring that the park stayed nice. Only a few months after opening, the park has graffiti and the fence lock is broken. Garbage was strewn about several times when we visited. There were also much older teens hanging at the park creating an unwelcome atmosphere for younger children. These teens were yelling, cursing, and being generally nasty.
The second thing, Innovation Center Business Incubator: I'll admit that I have *no* clue what this whole "thing" is about. Can someone enlighten me?
Coal Street Park: I was taking my kids there for awhile last summer. It was GREAT. Lots of stuff to do for them, shady areas and a fence that surrounding the play units so mom and dad didn't have to continuously chase the kids by a busy street. However, the city *really* dropped the ball when it came to ensuring that the park stayed nice. Only a few months after opening, the park has graffiti and the fence lock is broken. Garbage was strewn about several times when we visited. There were also much older teens hanging at the park creating an unwelcome atmosphere for younger children. These teens were yelling, cursing, and being generally nasty.
Unfortunately, that park is not in the greatest location....surrounded by projects known for problems.
Mulligan's Irish Pub will also be opening this Friday in Midtown Village. There are plans for expansion, too, once the adjacent Edward Jones Investments relocates to a vacant storefront next to Cafe Toscana on Public Square. It seems like the vacancy rate in Downtown Wilkes-Barre must now be lower than that of Downtown Scranton.
I personally know of two thriving Scranton businesses who are thinking of opening a Wilkes Barre branch. Makes me very very happy!
Care to share which two businesses, Sheena? While I'd be happy to see any entrepreneur from Scranton expand into Wilkes-Barre I'm hoping they are retailers instead of more bars/restaurants. It seems like the Diamond City is carving out a niche as being a nightlife hub, but it is still sorely under-retailed. You have Boscov's, Barnes & Noble, a few gift shops (i.e. Tilbury's Knob, The Bee Hive), Bartikowsky's Jeweler's, Marquis Art & Frame, and very little else for shopping. It would be nice to see Lavish come to Downtown Wilkes-Barre. Ditto GreenBeing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by W-B proud
I too agree that the city and surrounding area's are on the rebound. It's been on a steady incline for a few years. I am downtown everyday and have never seen as much activity and foot traffic downtown. I think it will only increase as word spreads...that seems to be what is happening. The city and mayor NEED to try to invite tourism, increase festivals and events, and launch a campaign to rid the city of it's negative image, and spead the word that Wilkes-Barre is making a comeback and show off the positive strides that have been happening (just like this article has done). We need alot more of this, and it should be being done by the the city and mayor's office
Wilkes-Barre is not getting nearly enough "hype". People hear "Wilkes-Barre" and immediately think of violence, drugs, ghetto thugs, etc. Yes, Wilkes-Barre has all that, but it also has much more to offer. I remember a couple of years ago while working at the Edwardsville Lowe's store a customer needed a specific mechanical part for a lawnmower that I couldn't order for him. I recommended Vac-Way, which is a small parts retailer just around the corner. As soon as I mentioned "Market Street" the gentleman thought I was talking about Wilkes-Barre and said "I haven't been in that hole for years and don't ever plan on it again." This guy was from Hunlock Township. People from the 'burbs still think Wilkes-Barre is this violent cess pool, and judging by the chronic negativity exhibited in the commentary of many Times-Leader articles the city's residents themselves aren't exactly serving as "goodwill ambassadors".
There used to be commercials for "My Downtown Wilkes-Barre". Whatever happened to them?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Magritte25
I agree that the city is doing really well. Much better than I have ever expected. But there are some issues that need to be addressed.
1. The city does a craptastic job of making the public aware of events in the city.
2. The mayor and council members need to remember that Wilkes-Barre consists of a hell of a lot more than the Square and the surrounding 3 blocks on each side of it. It reminds me of Atlantic City - the main area where the casinos are located is beautiful but if you go beyond that bubble it looks like a totally different city. More police presence, more city workers cleaning up garbage, etc.
3. Absentee landlords are a huge issue for the city as well. I am not sure if we can do anything about this but it seems to me that the dearth of crime and violence in the city happens because of transients living in old houses divided into 654236 efficiencies owned by some anonymous person in another state.
4. The city should look into securing old buildings and turning them into museums. We should have a children's hands on museum (I think it should be located in the old Irem Temple building on South Franklin across from the Arts Youniverse) as well as a coal mining museum. The history of our city is vast and deep and interesting. We should capitalize on that in order to invite tourists here.
1.) Agreed. I never knew Wilkes-Barre had half the events it did, and I only lived right up the road in Pittston Twp. (and was in the city frequently for school). While Scranton is a "distressed" city because it overspent for years Wilkes-Barre has been so penny-pinching that it has a sky-high bond rating and a balanced budget. Perhaps now would be a good time to spend just a wee bit on some good public relations compaigns?
2.) I'll disagree with you a bit here, Magritte. If you build an extremely vibrant, healthy, and attractive core, then the rest of the city will indeed also benefit. Property values will rise in adjacent neighborhoods as people want to live near the action. I think your neighborhood of The Heights is actually the one most poised to "take off" in the next 5 years. Coal Street is being widened, beautified, and extended to Downtown. Coal Street Park is continuing to be revamped and will have a "splash park" for next summer in lieu of a public pool (I still think a pool would have been nice). You will be a long walk, quick bus ride, or a short drive to either the heart of the city or to the Highland Park/Arena Hub shopping areas. Unfortunately this neighborhood has very tight lot sizes and limited on-street parking, which will be a turn-off for families, but it can still be popular with childless couples, singles, empty-nesters, retirees, etc.
People will invest in a city they see is investing in itself. Here in Pittsburgh I live on the third-floor of a three-story home. I have four front-facing windows, and each of the two floors below me also has four front-facing windows. I put lit Christmas decorations in my windows, and the downstairs residents (my landlady and her boyfriend) followed suit. Soon thereafter people across the street and on the street behind us also decorated in similar fashion. Nobody wants to have the "ugly duckling" home of the block. If your next-door neighbor suddenly turns his/her home into a mini-McMansion, then I'm sure you and your better half, Magritte, will follow suit with some front-yard landscaping, maybe a fresh power-washing of your siding, etc. to "keep up". I'm an idealist. If Wilkes-Barre has a well-polished Downtown, then I foresee surrounding neighborhoods being beneficiaries. A "trendy" Downtown will lead to a small uptick in the cost-of-living (i.e. "gentrification"), which might cause the "roaches" to scatter to places like Edwardsville, Plymouth, Hanover Township, etc. (and that's already begun). I can safely say as a "yuppie" myself (not by choice, but I do fit the mold) I would NOT want to live in ANY community that didn't have a vibrant Downtown. Most of my peers feel the same way.
3.) NEPA has an epidemic with people from NY/NJ buying up single-family homes to settle estates at bargain-basement pricing, making minimal improvements, subdividing the homes into apartments (especially Section 8), and then just sitting back and letting the cash roll in each month, not caring who lives in their units. I really don't know what can be done here, though. Legally you can't "force" the owner of a multi-unit property to live within a certain distance of their investment property nor can you force them to have a property manager (at least not with how the law stands today). Perhaps the city could research if it would be possible to implement a new ordinance mandating that out-of-town landlords MUST designate a property manager and/or conduct regular random inspections of their properties in which they'd have to complete a city-created checklist? I really don't know the answer to this one, but as long as you can get nice homes here for under $100,000, then you're going to have those "slumlords" laughing all the way to the bank.
4.) This is a major issue for me as well. I grew up on the outskirts of Pittston, which is the poster child of what NOT to do in terms of "revitalization". Tomato Town has torn down so much of its history that it now has a hideous gap-toothed Downtown. I feel so depressed whenever I venture down there. I feel like playing "They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot" really loudly from my Mazda as I cruise through Pittston. When I was a teenager I even had a short-lived website as I envisioned starting a non-profit group "Pittston 2020" to work towards revitalization. Now if and when I return to NEPA Wilkes-Barre would be my target because Pittston is just too far gone from so many years of idiotic leadership. They continue to tear down history for large surface parking lots to house the vehicles of suburbanites---moronic.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Magritte25
Ooops two more things:
Coal Street Park: I was taking my kids there for awhile last summer. It was GREAT. Lots of stuff to do for them, shady areas and a fence that surrounding the play units so mom and dad didn't have to continuously chase the kids by a busy street. However, the city *really* dropped the ball when it came to ensuring that the park stayed nice. Only a few months after opening, the park has graffiti and the fence lock is broken. Garbage was strewn about several times when we visited. There were also much older teens hanging at the park creating an unwelcome atmosphere for younger children. These teens were yelling, cursing, and being generally nasty.
The second thing, Innovation Center Business Incubator: I'll admit that I have *no* clue what this whole "thing" is about. Can someone enlighten me?
1.) In regards to Coal Street Park I'll defer to Go Phillies' statement below about the "interesting" characters who live nearby.
2.) The old Blum Brothers building near the Barnes & Noble was torn down, and in its place a second business incubator is being built. An "incubator" is a building where all the tenants share in the costs of utilities and other joint professional services and are given subsidies to help get their fresh business ventures off the ground. I believe Solid Cactus and Pepperjam both had their start in the current business incubator, and I know of a few King's alumni who have business ideas for the city who hope to look into space at the new incubator. My plan for a business? I am now working hard to learn the ins and outs at Pittsburgh's first Edible Arrangements franchise so I can open one in Downtown Wilkes-Barre in a few years. I'm not even sure if the one in Scranton delivers to the Wilkes-Barre area, but if they do they must be overwhelmed with business. I also want to open up my own political consulting firm Downtown and buy a Downtown loft (IF they get on the ball and build more to meet the growing demand).
Quote:
Originally Posted by go phillies
Unfortunately, that park is not in the greatest location....surrounded by projects known for problems.
Reston - I don't want to rain on your parade, but, your "Pie in the Sky" views and grandious plans sound like a "Certain One" that convinced millions of doe-eyed gullible people to vote for him back in 2008.
The problem with your Utopian views is that it slams head-first into the Wall of Reality.
I won't nitpick each point you outlined, but your criticism of Pittston's failure to save and restore old, dilapidated fire hazards along Main Street and instead construct parking lots is absolutely laughable - if one realistically factors in such things as private property rights and the realities of economics. (The tearing down, burning down, and opening up parking space) has been going on since the American Theatre went up in flames - back in the day when you were not even hatched yet.
If you would take a good look, you might notice that every parking lot on/near Main Street Pittston is privately owned and operated to provide PARKING for business customers. The days of busloads of people being dropped off in front of JC Penney are long gone, just like the Norman Rockwell print that was set aflame under the Water Street bridge as a bunch of Coxton Yard Wino/Hobo transplants tried to stay warm on a cold winter's night.
Sometimes I wonder if you utilize a teleprompter when typing posts.
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