What are your idea's for Wilkes-Barre's Irem Temple?

[W-B proud]

Originally Posted by HistPresPlanStudent

I recently read in the Citizens Voice about the sheriffs sale of the Mosque. I interned at the Chamber in 2007 and spent a great deal of time with officials taking members of Arts YOUniverse around the historic structure, not to mention I also spent quite a great deal of my childhood there as my father was a Shriner. I've always had a fondness for not only this building, but for a majority of the structures in downtown W-B. Like Mr. Newman said, we don't need another F.M. Kirby Center. The facility, although very beautiful and ornate, doesn't function well as a theatre as that was not it's original purpose. I too think that a childrens museum/science center and Susquehanna Heritage museum would be perfect for this location. Maybe it could even be converted into a civic center for Kings, we know they're expanding closer to Market Street anyway. I just hope the building is saved for future generations to enjoy.

Amen to that, the last thing they should do is tear it down and leave a parking lot. They just don't build buildings like that anymore, and once it is gone, it is gone for good. How about a "real" mosque? We do have a growing muslim population in NEPA, why not make that the "mecca" for the entire muslim population of the entire Wilkes-Barre/Scranton region?

[PITTSTON2SARASOTA]

Originally Posted by HistPresPlanStudent

I recently read in the Citizens Voice about the sheriffs sale of the Mosque. I interned at the Chamber in 2007 and spent a great deal of time with officials taking members of Arts YOUniverse around the historic structure, not to mention I also spent quite a great deal of my childhood there as my father was a Shriner. I've always had a fondness for not only this building, but for a majority of the structures in downtown W-B. Like Mr. Newman said, we don't need another F.M. Kirby Center. The facility, although very beautiful and ornate, doesn't function well as a theatre as that was not it's original purpose. I too think that a childrens museum/science center and Susquehanna Heritage museum would be perfect for this location. Maybe it could even be converted into a civic center for Kings, we know they're expanding closer to Market Street anyway. I just hope the building is saved for future generations to enjoy.

I thought making it part of Kings was also a viable option.

[PITTSTON2SARASOTA]

Originally Posted by W-B proud

Amen to that, the last thing they should do is tear it down and leave a parking lot. They just don't build buildings like that anymore, and once it is gone, it is gone for good. How about a "real" mosque? We do have a growing muslim population in NEPA, why not make that the "mecca" for the entire muslim population of the entire Wilkes-Barre/Scranton region?

If the demographics support it...great idea too but some sort of public building...IMHO would serve the general public better...maybe another or a specialized library? The building must be preserved ; it's a jewel of the downtown.

[W-B My Kind of Town]

Originally Posted by Magritte25

Very good idea WBP! I love that idea....

I have often said that a grocery store was needed in downtown WB but never even thought of an urban marketplace.

And I agree that the West Side Market looks like the Armory.

What I could never seem to get a gasp on is before the modernization of town-Wilkes-Barre had a grocery store, a movie theater, and a performing arts center all right in town. In the years after the flood the ripped down Percy Browns(grocery store) to make way for a new movie theater, closed the movie theater on the square and turned it into the FM Kirby center, and completly abandoned the Irem Temple, because they kind of created their own structures, this is what I beleive eventually left to the fast downfall of town in the late 80s and 90s. I think the temple should be turned into multi purpose building, with a resteraunt on the top floor, beacause the veiw is beautiful, the stage floor could be turned into a multi functional space for business meetings, presentations, even like private shows, and concerts for groups. Finally I think the basement which has a gorgeous banquet hall(which far too many don't know about)should be turned into a banquet hall(like the Pittston convention center) for weddings, parties,etc. The city does not yet own the temple though because of their money troubles they have not yet paid the full amount of money(about 2 million) to the shriners, I forsee it will be 10+ years before anyting happens though>.