Wilkes-Barre is definatly becoming a "college town" (Pittsburgh: condo, house)

[go phillies]

I don't know if I would go as far as to call Wilkes-Barre a college town...in a college town, the whole town pretty much revolves around the school...see State College. Everything in the Wilkes-Barre area does not revolve around Kings and Wilkes. The schools are too small to really turn a town into a college town. If Wilkes-Barre was a small town, then small schools could probably dominate the town, like in Bloomsburg or East Stroudsburg.

[W-B proud]

Originally Posted by go phillies

I don't know if I would go as far as to call Wilkes-Barre a college town...in a college town, the whole town pretty much revolves around the school...see State College. Everything in the Wilkes-Barre area does not revolve around Kings and Wilkes. The schools are too small to really turn a town into a college town. If Wilkes-Barre was a small town, then small schools could probably dominate the town, like in Bloomsburg or East Stroudsburg.

Not the entire city, but the downtown area itself IS starting to resemble a college town during college season. Not to the extent of State College, but you can definately see much more of a college imprint on the city then in years past. I like it, it gives the city a young, vibrant feel. Like I said, I'll take drunken college kids over, hookers, pimps, and drug dealers anytime.

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by W-B proud

Not the entire city, but the downtown area itself IS starting to resemble a college town during college season. Not to the extent of State College, but you can definately see much more of a college imprint on the city then in years past. I like it, it gives the city a young, vibrant feel. Like I said, I'll take drunken college kids over, hookers, pimps, and drug dealers anytime.

I agree...and yes I have seen more of a college "vibe" the past couple of years...it seems the city is finally trying to capitalize on the fact that the downtown has a college on each end. It also doesn't hurt that both colleges, especially Wilkes, have been expanding closer and closer to the center of the city.

[wbnurseguy]

it's nice to hear all the positive comments about Wilkes-Barre. When I moved here nine years ago i was shocked how bad the downtown area was with two schools. I agree, with the size of the 2 schools the whole city won't feel like a college town but the downtown area has definintely improved. I get annoyed when people complain about Leighton not fixing up the neighborhoods but in reality how much can a city actually do to fix up someone's home?? they can fix up the parks (which they are doing), crack down on slumlords and tear down vacant properties (which they have done) an pave roads ( which they do need to do more of). But it's up to a homeowner to fix up their house, no one is going to give you a free handout to fix up your house (well not always ie. tv shows). i think when people take pride in their city it shows in their property too. Wilkes-barre is not perfect but has come a long way, hey at least it's not Flint, Mich. Camden, NJ, or the third ward in New Orleans!

[W-B proud]

Originally Posted by wbnurseguy

it's nice to hear all the positive comments about Wilkes-Barre. When I moved here nine years ago i was shocked how bad the downtown area was with two schools. I agree, with the size of the 2 schools the whole city won't feel like a college town but the downtown area has definintely improved. I get annoyed when people complain about Leighton not fixing up the neighborhoods but in reality how much can a city actually do to fix up someone's home?? they can fix up the parks (which they are doing), crack down on slumlords and tear down vacant properties (which they have done) an pave roads ( which they do need to do more of). But it's up to a homeowner to fix up their house, no one is going to give you a free handout to fix up your house (well not always ie. tv shows). i think when people take pride in their city it shows in their property too. Wilkes-barre is not perfect but has come a long way, hey at least it's not Flint, Mich. Camden, NJ, or the third ward in New Orleans!

I agree with you, and I have seen neighborhood improvements too. They rebuilt all the bridges in South W-B, they are completely overhauling Coal st Park in the Heights, they donated a building for a new library in the Parsons section, I see the street sweeper's out much more then I used too ect. The pot hole situation still sucks though. You are right that the individual home owners must do there part. I live next door to an abandoned apartment building, the landlord is from Lancaster. I routinely mow my lawn and the lawn of the abandoned apartment building, because if I didn't, the grass would be three feet high by now. I don't have to do it, and I could call the city and whine and complain about it, but I choose to do it to do my part to keep the neighborhood looking decent. There is only so much the city can do, the rest is up to you.

[ScranBarre]

I really don't understand the Leighton-bashers either. Wilkes-Barre has made more progress and headway in terms of economic redevelopment over the past several years than over the period of time from when I was born in 1986 on up to the end of the McGroarty regime. I'm not saying he's an "awesome" mayor, but compared to Scranton's oft-maligned and overspending Mayor Doherty people in Wilkes-Barre really need to realize how good they have it in comparison.

I noticed a MASSIVE change, especially in attitude, from when I enrolled at King's College in 2005 to when I graduated this year. When I first started at King's many thought Wilkes-Barre was just a "dump." Now, many of my peers are enjoying the new movie theater, Barnes & Noble, restaurants, bars, etc. while some faculty members were overheard chattering about moving nearer to downtown.

What the "why not MY neighborhood?" whiners need to realize also is that Wilkes-Barre is curing itself from the core outwards. Soon the chain-smoking, foul-mouthed, and rudely-staring bus crowd that hovers around the square will be "scattered" a few blocks away to an artery most never travel down anyways, helping to further enhance the image of the square. As Downtown Wilkes-Barre continues to see an influx of new restaurants, clubs, bars, retail, parks, loft housing, etc., people will want to start looking into living near to the action (Kingston, just across the bridge, will benefit greatly as well). Nearby neighborhoods like The Heights will gentrify as younger childless couples, singles, the LGBT crowd, empty-nesters, yuppies, etc. move in to renovate outdated housing for a fraction of the price of a $200,000 downtown condo. Wilkes-Barre IS on the path to recovery; only a moron would think that the city was better off five or six years ago than it was today.

I also echo the gripes about the arena. Why, pray tell, wasn't this MAJOR regional draw built at the foot of Coal Street, on the large plot of land adjacent to the Jewelcor Building (and potentially taking over that building as well?) I don't think rabid Scranton hockey fans would stop going to see a game if they had to drive an extra five minutes down Coal Street to a downtown arena. I'd bet that if the arena had been built on that site in 1999, then by now in 2009 the adjacent Market Street Square would be restored with a visitors' center, shops, restaurants, etc. catering to that foot traffic generated by the arena, and the Stegmaier Complex across the street would be home to great loft apartments/condos. Wilkes-Barre Boulevard would have a new streetscape, and the adjacent Heights neighborhood would really see an influx of vitality.

Some will say "look at all of the PROGRESS the arena brought in where it is now." I don't see how Wal-Mart, Red Robin, Target, Cracker Barrel, etc., etc. are "helping" Downtown Wilkes-Barre in any way, shape, or form. Those national retailers would have come by the early-2000s anyways, as Wilkes-Barre is too densely-populated of a marketplace to NOT have a presence of any one of those retailers (I'm actually still surprised either an Apple Store or a Joe's Crab Shack hasn't set up shop in the region yet, but I digress). If and when I move back to NEPA I think I've finalized my decision to turn my back on Scranton, a city that loved turning its own back on me and the few others that tried to rally behind its rebirth, and instead move to Wilkes-Barre to open my business and take a stab at city council!

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by W-B proud

I routinely mow my lawn and the lawn of the abandoned apartment building, because if I didn't, the grass would be three feet high by now. I don't have to do it, and I could call the city and whine and complain about it, but I choose to do it to do my part to keep the neighborhood looking decent. There is only so much the city can do, the rest is up to you.

Scranton Residents: See above.

[kettlepot]

Originally Posted by W-B proud

I routinely mow my lawn and the lawn of the abandoned apartment building, because if I didn't, the grass would be three feet high by now. I don't have to do it, and I could call the city and whine and complain about it, but I choose to do it to do my part to keep the neighborhood looking decent. There is only so much the city can do, the rest is up to you.

I will definitely praise your civic-mindedness towards your city and your neighbors for mowing the lawn of the abandoned apartment building next door. However, at some point (and soon) you should contact your local city attorney and code enforcement and explain the situation to them, perhaps even form a group of neighbors living near this property to give your complaints added weight. Then don't mow the lawn for awhile, so that the owner can be cited. Send him a wake up call that he could eventually lose the property to the city as a hazard and nuisance. As long as you mow the lawn the city won't notice the situation, and will have difficulty initiating proceedings against him. You have become an "enabler" for the landlord. I definitely understand why, as it's right next door, but I'm sure you don't want this situation to continue, where the landlord can claim your uncompensated labor forever.

[Eyes]

Wilkes_Barre as a college town is a song that has been sung longer than the current student population has been on earth.
Sadly ... "AGNES" did something to the valley that made many people bitter and staid.
I don't now all the details ... but until the demographics no longer include the survivors of Agnes.
The valley will sit stagnant. The current economy has slowed the little progress made.
As a small city it needs to learn to turn on a dime .. at that point it can grow into something.
I relly hope the current crop of under 30's is able to endure and prosper ...

[PITTSTON2SARASOTA]

Originally Posted by Eyes

Wilkes_Barre as a college town is a song that has been sung longer than the current student population has been on earth.
Sadly ... "AGNES" did something to the valley that made many people bitter and staid.
I don't now all the details ... but until the demographics no longer include the survivors of Agnes.
The valley will sit stagnant. The current economy has slowed the little progress made.
As a small city it needs to learn to turn on a dime .. at that point it can grow into something.
I relly hope the current crop of under 30's is able to endure and prosper ...

I think you are right...but it started with the Knox Mine disaster finishing off King Coal....never recovered fully and then Agnes...I was around for both; but the problems are not all from us oldsters...LOL...(I was 2 when the Susquehanna flooded the mines). It seemed the Valley went into a depression, like people do and got somewhat cynical and apathetic and "gave up".