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SHERRY LONG slong@timesleader.com

NANTICOKE – The city council sold the Nanticoke Senior Citizens Center for $250,000 to Scranton developer William F. Rinaldi during a specially called meeting Tuesday afternoon at the municipal building.

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Rinaldi can now tear down the building, which is housed in the former Nanticoke Post Office, to construct a new structure, which Luzerne County Community College will then have the option of leasing or purchasing to house its Culinary Arts Center.

City officials feel they received a good deal on the building at 2-6 N. Market St. because numerous appraisals the city had done on the 6,650-square-foot building valued it at $145,000 to $180,000.

New assessment values by 21st Century Appraisals, the county’s reassessment firm, valued the property at $216,700, including $183,400 for the building itself and $33,300 for the land.

“Based on my understanding of the structure of the building and what it needs to bring it up to snuff, I think we did OK,” councilman and finance director Jon Metta said.

Another Councilman Joe Dougherty said it was best that the city sold the structure because it needed a lot of improvements including fixing what he called a “deplorable” basement.

The city should receive the money over the next several weeks, City Administrator Kenneth Johnson said. It’s unknown exactly how the money will be spent. The money is expected to be added to the city’s capital budget.

Before Councilman Jim Litchkofski made a motion to approve the contract, Metta requested to adjourn into executive session to discuss the sale.

Metta said he wanted to further review the documentation he had been presented about an hour before the meeting.

“I wanted to make sure what I read was what was presented,” he said. After returning from a brief executive session, Metta seconded Litchkofski’s motion. It was passed unanimously by the council members. Councilman Brent Makarczyk was not present at the meeting.

Senior citizens who meet in the facility weekdays to eat and socialize are expected to be moved to Mercy Special Care Hospital on Washington Street in the next few months.

The Nanticoke Housing Authority is also in negotiations to sell the Susquehanna Coal Building on West Main Street. The former Susquehanna Coal Co. headquarters sits behind the Nanticoke Senior Citizens Center and its lot will also be needed to make room for LCCC’s Culinary Arts Institute.

Sherry Long, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7159.