Thanks for posting that link. We actually received a large-scale copy of those maps about a year ago in the Times-Leader, but I think my parents threw it away. It's nearly impossible to read the text on that online map, but I can definitely recognize some of the more prominent features on it.
1.) Innovation Center: A business incubator along South Main Street, next-door to Boscov's. It houses the Barnes & Noble/Starbucks complex on the first-floor with a few high-tech start-ups on the upper floors, including the Joint Urban Studies Center.
2.) PA Department of Labor & Industry Building: This complex caused quite a stir because it was an example of "reverse-sprawl," something you nearly
never see happening in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The complex was formerly housed in a suburban setting out in Wilkes-Barre Township, but it relocated its employees to this new building along South Washington Street in the downtown in part to help further its renaissnce.
3.) Alumni Hall: King's College, my school, renovated the former run-down "Margaritaville" structure across the street from campus and transformed it into student housing and a basement fitness center (which will soon be housed in the soon-to-be renovated Scandlon Gymnasium just to the lower-left of Alumni Hall, which was recently-announced and is not yet featured on this map).
4.) Monarch Court Pedestrian Mall: Also on the campus of King's College, a one-block stretch of North Franklin Street was turned into a cul-de-sac a few years back to help unite the campus, which used to sprawl across several busy roadways. There were often near-misses between motorists and students, especially when classes were changing and the area got congested with pedestrian traffic. The court is now gorgeously-landscaped and is home to the annual campus Christmas tree.
5.) Moreau Court: Several years ago, housing for the Holy Cross priests who serve our campus was constructed along North Street, across the street from the Virgin Mary Grotto. The complex consists of modern two-story townhomes in earthy tones with plenty of parking and was built, in part, to help free up more space in on-campus housing to help accomodate the college's rapidly-growing enrollments.
6.) Children's Service Center: I'm not familiar with this project, but I'd assume that the CSC renovated some older buildings to house its new facility.
7.) Public Square Fountain: After years of neglect, Public Square is humming with activity again. The park-like setting in midtown is once again accentuated by the restoration of the old fountain in the middle of the square, which operates seasonally.
8.) Removal of Downtown Canopies: In the post-flood era of the
mid-1970s, a local engineering firm made the aesthetically-unappealing pitch for a "Jetson"-style streetscape system including bulky streetlights and a glass canopy system. The old streetlights began crashing to the ground several years ago due to their deterioration, and the canopy was so dingy that even professional cleaning couldn't make it shine. As such, the downtown canopy system was dismantled (enhancing visibility of downtown storefronts), and the old streetlights were replaced with attractive new, Victorian-era ones.
9.) Along South Franklin Street in the historic district lies the magnificent Stegmaier Mansion, which now houses ArtsYOUniverse, a community effort to promote the arts in the city.
10.) "Northampton & Main" Project: In the summer of 2006, the city's first movie theater opened its doors along East Northampton Street. In the block surrounding the theater, new retail and living space is now available and is currently being marketed as part of the "Diamond City Entertainment District," which now also includes Campus Square Billiards, Bart & Urby's Bistro, Barnes & Noble, Club Mardi Gras, Starbucks, and FUSE Martini Club, along with upcoming Quizno's Subs and Jannuzzi's Pizza along with existing tenants such as Katana Hibachi, F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, Boscov's Department Store, and Subway.
11.) New streetlight system (Refer to #8)
12. & 13.) Wilkes University made the leap to try to incorporate its campus onto South Main Street a couple of years ago with a new university center that now houses an Einstein Bros. Bagel Cafe and other campus-friendly amenities.
14.) CityVest Renovations: CityVest, the same local non-profit group that is restoring the Hotel Sterling, has also been busy restoring homes along South Franklin Street into liveable dwellings.
15.) River Commons: Currently well underway is the revamping of the city's waterfront. Plans include two new large portals in the levee wall (one at the end of Northampton Street and one near the end of Union Street), that will permit downtown residents, students, office workers, etc. to wander to the riverfront for recreation. Also included are plans for an amphitheater, artificial lake, landscaping, and the "calming" of River Street by narrowing the roadway with a center tree lawn to make the speed-prone commuter belt less hazardous for pedestrians who may want to cross River Street to access the site.
16.) Hotel Sterling: CityVest has already just about fully razed the old, hulking rear tower of the Hotel Sterling, and the historic corner edifice is being lovingly-restored into about 60 upscale condominiums, class-A office space on the second floor, and ground-level retail space. I'm unsure about its plans for the site of the former tower (I'd imagine some sort of parking garage would be needed here, even though the artists' rendering shows what looks to be a hotel).
17.) The existing parking garage along South Washington Street is supposed to be renovated and expanded (although I think this project may be dead).
18.) First National Bank Building: This building along Public Square has been rumored for a number of projects, including an upscale downtown restaurant.
19.) Museum of the Susquehanna: This is actually news to me too! There's currently a small office building next-door to the Hotel Sterling along North River Street. I'm guessing the tenants will be relocated through eminent domain to make way for this new museum?
20.) Irem Temple: This beautiful religious building along North Franklin Street is supposed to be renovated and somewhat transformed into an educational center.
21.) North Main & East North: This pair of blighted industrial buildings has long drawn the ire of King's College officials, as the northern gateway to campus is marred by their presence. I spoke with campus president Fr. O'Hara last year while in Manhattan, and he mentioned the possibility of a conversion to loft housing for faculty members (most of whom live right across the river in Kingston due to the current "in-town" housing shortage crisis in Downtown Wilkes-Barre).
22.) Coal Street Realignment: Coal Street, the city's eastern gateway from I-81, currently stops abruptly at Wilkes-Barre Boulevard before it can enter the downtown area. Plans call for the realigning of the roadway to make it intersect with Union Street, making it easier for out-of-towners to reach downtown.
23.) Wilkes-Barre Broadband Communications & Tech Center: Currently an abandoned warehouse along the SE corner of North Washington Street & Bennett Street, this parcel will soon be transformed into a sleek, modern building.
24.) Wilkes University is continuing to expand and improve its campus. It wants to have a law school built downtown by 2009.
25.) Murray Complex (See Siniawa project details with photos above)
26.) Coal Street Park: Located near several housing projects in a rougher part of Wilkes-Barre, Coal Street Park is expected to be revamped once the realignment of Coal Street has been completed.
27.) Kirby Park: Improvements in this wonderful city asset are ongoing.
28.) Market Street Square: Plans call for a new visitors' center, as well as an intermodal transportation center, which will someday offer commuter rail access to NYC.
29.) Barnes & Noble: Already mentioned.