Pittston Mayor Resigns. (Philadelphia, Scranton, York: sales, lofts, houses)

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by PITTSTON2SARASOTA

Thankyou.

No problem! It's sad that this developer ravaged Dickson City's open space without a care in the world but is now scaling back downtown penthouse condos on the riverfront by more than 50% because of "funding."

[blip]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

Downtown takes giant step forward | News (http://www.timesleader.com/pittstondispatch/news/Downtown_takes_giant_step_forward_05-03-2009.html - broken link)

Neat project, where exactly is that? Hard to tell from the pics, but looks pretty nice, at least on the side with the balconies..

Would be nice if Pittston filled back in a bit. It's like swiss cheese.

[blip]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

No problem! It's sad that this developer ravaged Dickson City's open space without a care in the world but is now scaling back downtown penthouse condos on the riverfront by more than 50% because of "funding."

Well, perhaps on the bright side, would be better to have 4/5 stories filled than 4/10.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by blip

Neat project, where exactly is that? Hard to tell from the pics, but looks pretty nice, at least on the side with the balconies..

Would be nice if Pittston filled back in a bit. It's like swiss cheese.

I call Pittston the "Krispy Kreme Donut." The town proper is quickly becoming a big empty transparent void while the glazed confectionery goodness (subdivisions, big-box stores, fast-food restaurants, etc.) gets thicker annually around that "donut hole." It's sad, really, considering how BEAUTIFUL Pittston used to be when the people there honestly gave a damn instead of just buying SUVs and doing all of their working/shopping/playing out in the 'burbs. All you need to do is eat at Savo's Restaurant sometime and gaze awestruck at the huge mural on their interior dining room wall that shows how bustling Pittston "used" to be (ironically Savo's, too, moved from Main Street out to the 'burbs, so they're just hypocrites, but I digress).

This project WILL serve as a catalyst to bring people desiring modern living space (granite counters, high ceilings, impressive views, etc.) and convenience (walking distance to a grocery store, post office, deli, drug stores, parks, churches, etc.) into the city proper again after years of watching them flee to Highland Hills, Willow View, Butler Heights, Blueberry Hill Estates, Horizon Estates, Stauffer Heights, etc., etc., taking their valuable tax dollars with them. It is to be located along the entire stretch of the city's waterfront between Cooper's Seafood Restaurant and the Firefighters' Memorial Bridge (formerly Water Street Bridge). An existing Papa John's Pizza, beer store, and vacant state office building will be razed for the project, which will also have access to the adjacent Riverfront Park. The pricing, in the mid-$200k range, is VERY reasonable too, as I had been expecting more along the lines of $299,900 or so.

[PITTSTON2SARASOTA]

Originally Posted by blip

Well, perhaps on the bright side, would be better to have 4/5 stories filled than 4/10.

True but ten sories would have looked better and the views could command a higher price. I think the project is on the south side of the old "Water Street Bridge....I assume the glass side of the building will face the river and West Pittston. Scran-Barre can correct me if I am wrong here.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by PITTSTON2SARASOTA

True but ten sories would have looked better and the views could command a higher price. I think the project is on the south side of the old "Water Street Bridge....I assume the glass side of the building will face the river and West Pittston. Scran-Barre can correct me if I am wrong here.

You are 100% correct except that the Water Street Bridge is now renamed the Firefighters' Memorial Bridge in honor of two brave firefighters---one each from Pittston city and West Pittston borough---who were killed fighting a downtown blaze in the early-1990s. There is a statue of these two just north of the bridge on the east side of the river, near to the formal entrance of Riverfront Park. The glass side will front the river, providing optimum views of the cherry blossom trees and Victorian mini-mansions on the West Pittston waterfront and Campbell's Ledge, amongst other sites. I personally would have preferred a project that featured the retail space and living space in the SAME building instead of having a separate free-standing one-story building for retail/restaurant purposes that will give the project an aura of suburbia.

[blip]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

I personally would have preferred a project that featured the retail space and living space in the SAME building instead of having a separate free-standing one-story building for retail/restaurant purposes that will give the project an aura of suburbia.

I agree, but at least it looks like that retail building is right on the street, which should lessen the suburbanizing effect a lot.

[PITTSTON2SARASOTA]

Hopefully it will catalyze the downtown to fill in a bit...Has any city in the area ever tried forming a pedestrians rule area, like Chesnut st. in Philadelphia?Has Wilkes-Barre ever put in boat ramps for urban access to the river?

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by PITTSTON2SARASOTA

Hopefully it will catalyze the downtown to fill in a bit...Has any city in the area ever tried forming a pedestrians rule area, like Chesnut st. in Philadelphia?Has Wilkes-Barre ever put in boat ramps for urban access to the river?

I can't think of a pedestrian mall type of area anywhere in the region, but it COULD have been a great addition to Downtown Scranton back in the 1990s instead of investing in the enclosed Mall at Steamtown, which is now nearing "white elephant" status as long-term tenants move out and are replaced by dollar stores, massage parlors, services, etc. I would have LOVED to have seen the 300-500 blocks of Lackawanna Avenue shut down for vehicular traffic, with people still being allowed to drive up and down Adams Avenue (northbound only from near Chamberlain) and Washington Avenue (southbound only to the SouthSide Flats). Those three blocks would be paved over in brick with food vendors, benches, sculptures, flower gardens, and live performers while people sauntered in and out of various shops and restaurants along Lackawanna Avenue with loft-style living spaces in the upper floors, similar to what you see in Downtown Ithaca, New York.

[PITTSTON2SARASOTA]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

I can't think of a pedestrian mall type of area anywhere in the region, but it COULD have been a great addition to Downtown Scranton back in the 1990s instead of investing in the enclosed Mall at Steamtown, which is now nearing "white elephant" status as long-term tenants move out and are replaced by dollar stores, massage parlors, services, etc. I would have LOVED to have seen the 300-500 blocks of Lackawanna Avenue shut down for vehicular traffic, with people still being allowed to drive up and down Adams Avenue (northbound only from near Chamberlain) and Washington Avenue (southbound only to the SouthSide Flats). Those three blocks would be paved over in brick with food vendors, benches, sculptures, flower gardens, and live performers while people sauntered in and out of various shops and restaurants along Lackawanna Avenue with loft-style living spaces in the upper floors, similar to what you see in Downtown Ithaca, New York.

If I remember correctly Scranton used to have 2 large department stores(like Boscovs) downtown.....would have been a great few blocks to make pedestrian friendly. I am sure both stores are long gone.What a shame.