One Thing to Change About Scranton (Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport: cul-de-sac, city hall, lofts)

[skijmpr]

If you could change one thing about Scranton to make it better, what would it be? I've easily got more than one idea, but I figured I'd share and let others chime in with their own. It doesn't necessarily need to be "practical," but it should be feasible in some manner that you can describe.

Here's mine: make a greenway trail system for bikers, runners, etc. and run it roughly from Nay Aug Park, down along that little stream that runs next to the Expressway, past the downtown and that little slice of South Side just beyond the Chamberlain Plant, hook back around following the Lackawanna River past Steamtown and the downtown again, and finally end at the Scranton High School. A proposed future extension would be to run the trail up past Nay Aug and connect up with the trail that runs around Lake Scranton. Now who doesn't think that would be a cool thing to have in Scranton?

The questions would be how to acquire the land, who would pay for it, and how many people would be expected to use it? Among other details, like lighting, benches, fountains, emergency call boxes, etc.

[ScranBarre]

I think if I could change just one thing about the city of Scranton it would be the social mindsets of the residents themselves. I have yet to venture into another city where the inhabitants overwhelmingly think the city's prime days are dead and gone forever, nitpick at every little shred of "hope" because it must have some sort of ties to political corruption, degrade their hometown in front of visitors, etc. I don't even live in the city but I'm inarguably amongst its largest cheerleaders. Why? I firmly believe that folks in Scranton don't realize just how GOOD they have it because they've been brainwashed by all of the negativity surrounding them into thinking that they're the "victims" of "massive corruption," which of course is not helped at all by Doherty Deceit, but I digress.

The Electric City won't get anywhere if 9/10 of the population has the "Scranton sucks" mentality. For God's sakes we even have people on this very forum (I won't mention any names) who WISH for projects to fail so that they can then say "told ya so" to me before further bashing the mayor and council. WHY?!! When I think of the upcoming Commonwealth Medical College, commuter rail to NYC, Connell Building, 500-block Lackawanna Avenue revitalization, "The Office," Wall Street West, Lofts at the Mill, etc., I don't for one second give credit to the mayor. I thank the residents of that fine city for making it possible, and I thank the developers for having faith in a city that most others put down for kicks.

With the westward sprawl from the Poconos on the city's doorstep I firmly believe Scranton is on the verge of something wonderful, which is why I hope to invest there within the next few years so I can restore a small older home with good bones and raise my family in a city on the move. It's a bloody shame that the other 30-somethings on this forum choose to be such incessant cynics. Scranton is certainly MUCH further along on the path to recovery than Hazleton, Carbondale, Pittston, Nanticoke, Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport....hell...ANY other "city" in NEPA. Nevertheless the people of Scranton whine ten times more than the others do. Why?

[NYRangers 2008]

There's more than one thing I'd like to change about Scranton. But I don't have the time or space to list it here.

[FightinPhils]

The one thing I would change is the political corruption. The network of cronies would be put out of business and a government that would work for the people would be in place. No need for me to list anything else I would change, because getting rid of the corrupt network would solve a lot of other problems in this town.

[NYRangers 2008]

Originally Posted by MrKrabs

The one thing I would change is the political corruption. The network of cronies would be put out of business and a government that would work for the people would be in place. No need for me to list anything else I would change, because getting rid of the corrupt network would solve a lot of other problems in this town.

I agree with you there. Way too much corruption in Scranton's government. The cronyism and pay to play mentality is dragging this city down BIG time. That would be the number one thing to change.

[weluvpa]

Amen to that!

[skijmpr]

Hmm, okay, let me refocus the question a little: If you could change one thing about Scranton "the city" and not Scranton "the government," what would it be? So put aside the talk about attitudes and corruption and focus on the place itself.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by skijmpr

Hmm, okay, let me refocus the question a little: If you could change one thing about Scranton "the city" and not Scranton "the government," what would it be? So put aside the talk about attitudes and corruption and focus on the place itself.

Well, I've said it countless times before and I'll say it again---downtown living options. Developers are grossly underestimating the number of folks who would like to trade their suburban cul-de-sacs and gas-guzzling SUVs for the convenience of living within walking distance of urban amenities. Not only would I fancy a reasonably-priced downtown loft, but so would at least two others who posted on here in the past and had no success in securing a downtown unit, as well as a number of my friends. City residents take their downtown for granted, but we suburbanites hate having a fast food place or a gas station as our "downtown," and we'd LOVE to live near a traditional walkable downtown area again. Alas though there is NOWHERE to live downtown. Why?

Scranton could very easily transform itself from being a 9-5 city to a 24/7 city again if enough people move downtown. This will create more foot traffic that will help to spur economic growth. This economic growth downtown will help to solidify the city's image as an "up-and-comer," and the singles, young professional unmarried couples, empty-nesters, artists, gays/lebians, etc. who typically flood into downtowns would turn into young traditional and/or blended families gentrifying adjacent neighborhoods like the Lower Hill, Upper South Side, Pinebrook, and Hyde Park. Just look at how popular the Lofts at the Mill have been, and they're way up in Petersburg, nowhere remotely near Center City.

I hope to move to the city within several years. My first choice would be downtown, but since I know that's unlikely I've instead shifted my focus towards the Lower Hill. From here I'd be within a reasonable walk of the following:

• Mall at Steamtown
• Marquee Cinema
• University of Scranton
• Lackawanna College
• Scranton Cultural Center
• Nay Aug Park
• Everhart Museum
• Albright Library
• Shops, Restaurants, Pubs
• City Hall, Courthouse, Other Civic Structures
• Houses of Worship
• Proposed Intermodal Transportation Center
• Downtown Events (La Festa Italiana, "The Office" Convention, Steamtown Marathon, Parades, etc.)
• Schools, Playgrounds, etc.

Where I live now in the yuppie suburban hell they call Pittston Township there aren't even any shoulders along the roads, let alone sidewalks or shade trees. When you look up "sprawl" in the dictionary you find a picture of my municipality. I just got back in from a run today, and it was a hair-raising experience as I came within inches of vehicles on many stretches along the 315 and other arteries. Forget about trying to ride a bike. I don't want to raise my own future adopted children in such an awful environment as the suburbs, which is why I can't for the life of me understand why everyone in Scranton does nothing but bash it into the ground. You should be GRATEFUL that you have things that most other local communities don't have, like sidewalks, shade trees, curbs, street lights, parks/playgrounds, block parties, corner stores, etc. instead of b*tching incessantly about what you do NOT have. I'd kill to have even a freakin' SHOULDER along the roads so I wouldn't have to cringe as soccer moms in SUVs swerved around me. There's always worse places, Scrantonians. Stop playing the roles of the victims all the time.

[weluvpa]

Unfortunately they are one in the same right now. In order to change the city you need to change the government. You would be surprised how many good changes can happen for Scranton without a mountain of debt on its back and a government that is driving it in to the ground and fast.

Everything else is just pipe dreams. Honestly. I wouldn't change anything about the city(physically).

[weluvpa]

Originally Posted by SWB

Scranton could very easily transform itself from being a 9-5 city to a 24/7 city again if enough people move downtown.

Scranton is never going to be a 24/7 city, ever. It hasn't been that in over a hundred years and its not going to be anytime soon. Thats the reality of 2008. 24/7 cities like NYC are not Scranton in any stretch of the imagination and if you really feel that you need to have a 24/7 life style you will never see it in your lifetime in this city.

Not that many people want to live in the downtown of a city that is only 4 blocks square, thats not urban living, just a facade of urban living. There is nothing in the downtown to do but eat or drink, everything else on that list might seem great to those that don't live here but you can only goto the Everheart so many times and the Cultural Center does not have a event every night all year long. How many times can you goto the movies? You could do the tour de Scranton in a month and after that it loses its appeal and becomes the city that it is in reality. QUIET and 9-5.

You want to change something in the city? Something physical and tangible, hmmmmmm. A downtown walking outdoor mall like Pearl st in Boulder, CO or the waterfront in Wilmington NC come to mind.