News

November 14

County to approve funds to demolish Hotel Sterling

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter   |   Jenn Learn-Andes on Facebook   |   @TLJenLearnAndes on Twitter

 Luzerne County Commissioners plan to vote Thursday to use $1 million in county community development funding to demolish the landmark Hotel Sterling in downtown Wilkes-Barre, officials said during the commissioner work session this afternoon.

 Wilkes-Barre city officials have agreed to provide about $260,000 earmarked from gaming funds for the project, pending state approval. That funding was allocated for restoration of the building and would have to be reprogrammed for demolition, officials said.

 Commissioner Stephen A. Urban questioned whether the funding decision should wait until the new county council takes office Jan. 2.

 Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla said she does not believe commissioners have a choice because the structure has been condemned, and road closures around the structure are creating traffic jams. Snow would likely cause additional damage, she said.

 Urban said the historic structure would not be demolished until January or February. He stressed that the community development funding may not be used for county general fund operating expenses or staff.

County Community Development Director Andrew Reilly said the money would come from a business development loan fund. About $10 million would remain in the fund after the $1 million demolition expense, he said.

The county has already loaned $6 million in community development funds to redevelop and market the property, which is owned by the nonprofit CityVest.

Wilkes-Barre issued a condemnation notice on the property in September after two engineers hired by the city concluded the structure was unsafe. The city ordered CityVest to begin demolishing the North River Street building within 30 days.

The CityVest board responded by instructing the city to tear down the structure if it’s deemed unsafe, because the nonprofit has no assets.

Thursday's meeting is at 1 p.m. in the commissioners' meeting room at the county courthouse in Wilkes-Barre.

 

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