Business

July 7, 2007

W-B business district service near

On Aug. 1, supplemental cleaning, security will start. New restaurant could open in theater area by Jan. 1.

By Ron Bartizek rbartizek@timesleader.com
Business & Consumer / City Editor

WILKES-BARRE – Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry CEO Todd Vonderheid had good news Friday morning for members of the Downtown Wilkes-Barre Business Association.

Vonderheid said the Business Improvement District, given final approval in March by City Council, will begin to provide supplemental cleaning and security services Aug. 1. And there are two positive developments at the chamber’s Northampton and Main project: the selection is near of a developer for the upper-floor condominiums and a large, new restaurant could be coming by the end of the year.

Vonderheid said the B.I.D. would pay for an additional 55-80 police man hours weekly in the district that is bounded roughly by North and Academy streets, River Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. City police chief Gerry Dessoye said in June that his department has been focusing extra resources on the downtown, particularly near the Wilkes-Barre Movies 14 theaters. But that manpower would have to be shifted if needs arise elsewhere in the city.

The final plan for the district lists an annual budget of $540,000, with $216,000 devoted to security and $182,000 for cleaning. The district is funded by an assessment equal to 2.57 percent of county tax valuation on commercial properties within its boundaries.

Vonderheid hopes the added services and an advertising campaign funded by the chamber and city landlords will offset lingering concerns about the viability of the downtown for businesses. He said several national franchises have found the downtown suitable, but local franchisees are reluctant to open in the city.

“We’ve found the enemy and the enemy is us,” he said.

Vonderheid said he expects in the next two weeks to announce a developer for residential quarters on the upper floors of the theater block. He described the firm as “an experienced loft developer with experience in small cities in Pennsylvania.”

Also, the chamber has received a letter of intent for development of a restaurant in a 5,000- square-foot space next to the movie entrance. Vonderheid said the potential tenant is someone with local restaurant experience who could have the spot ready to open within four to six months.

Retail and restaurant development is raising the downtown’s appeal as a place to live, Vonderheid said, but it is becoming more difficult to find residential properties for sale. That concerns hotelier Gus Genetti.

“If people aren’t living downtown nothing else happens,” he said.

The theater lofts will provide some new housing, as will the Sterling hotel reconstruction project, which is at a point that the building’s potential is visible.

“It’s exactly what we all thought it could be,” Vonderheid said.

Vonderheid acknowledged there have been surprises during his first month at the chamber after stepping down as a Luzerne County Commissioner. But, “there are more opportunities than challenges,” he said.

Ron Bartizek, Times Leader business editor, may be reached at 970-7157.

Tweet	Follow @TLnews