John Basalyga, President of the Basalya Group, addresses Wilkes-Barre City council during Tuesday’s combined work session and regular meeting.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader
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WILKES-BARRE — The sale of the former First National Bank building on Public Square was on city council’s agenda Tuesday and members once again approved the purchase of the building for $450,000, this time to a Scranton-based developer.
John Basalyga, president of the Basalyga Group, stood before council and explained his proposed plans for the century-old building include a fine dining restaurant and music venue.
No plans are set in stone, but Basalyga said he envisions the space housing a hospitality business that doesn’t compromise the original architecture, like the vaulted ceilings, or the general layout of the interior of the building.
Built in 1906, the bank stood vacant for many years before the city bought it for $225,000 at a Luzerne County delinquent-tax sale in 2004.
“It’s hard to imagine a better use without ruining what the building naturally offers. This plan would bring increased foot traffic downtown, [would be] a benefit to other surrounding businesses, and create dozens of permanent jobs,” he told council.
The developer, who owns at least two other buildings in Luzerne County, including Serenity Healthcare in Kingston, said his company owns, manages and operates over 2 million square feet of real estate throughout the region. That includes strip centers, corporate centers, commercial space, retail space, a movie theater, personal care facilities, restaurants and more.
Additionally, the Basalyga Group employs over 700 people.
“Our development arm, JBAS Realty has become a proven leader driving Scranton’s revitalization and ensuring all of our projects are done with the highest level of class integrity and professionalism. That is the brand we have worked so hard to create and maintain,” Basalyga.
Council Member Jessica McClay questioned when the developer plans to close the deal on the property since the city has had issues with selling the building in the past.
Several deals have fallen through in the last few years, most recently with Michael Bloxton, principal of Bloxton Investment Group and Big Public Square LLC who agreed to purchase the building this past January before eventually backing out.
Basalyga said the timeframe for closing the sale would probably be 60 days and would not be contingent on financing.
The sale of the bank building comes with a $250,000 grant the developer can use for renovations.
Mayor George Brown put his full support behind Basalyga and urged council to approve the sale.
“You see his history of investments and what he’s done in the city of Scranton. We need those investments in the city of Wilkes-Barre,” Brown said.
In addition to the sale of the bank building, the bulk of the two-and-a-half-hour meeting was devoted to the approval of 15 Luzerne County Local Share Assessment (LSA) grant applications for various businesses and organizations.
The applications will now be sent to local legislators, who will decide how the LSA funds will be allocated and what projects will ultimately be approved.
$250,000 for Moving River Ministries to restore the former Planters Peanuts building and turn it into a community theater and $437,000 for the City of Wilkes-Barre Police Department to purchase 5 new police cars to replace ones bought several years ago, were among the applications approved.
Council also approved increasing fines for various quality-of-life violations.
Other LSA Grant Applications Approved include:
• $76,523.00 for the City of Wilkes-Barre Fire Department/Emergency Medical Services to purchase upgraded monitor/defibrillator equitment.
• $43,764.00 for the Shpoppy Shawn’s Shmoked Cheese building renovation project.
• $131,389.00 for the United NEPA Alliance (UNA) Welcome Home Affordable Housing project.
• $600,000.00 for phase one of King’s College Safety and Security project.
• $500,000.00 for general construction modifications related to the minarets of the Irem Temple Building located at 62 North Franklin Street.
• $500,000.00 for the R/C Theatres Seating Renovation project to install recliner seating.
• $102,437.00 for the Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA Wellness Facility Upgrades project to add more exercise equipment for senior citizens.
• $350,000 for the Greater Wilkes- Barre Chamber of Business and Industry’s Project Elevate.
• $189,465.00 for Mia Bella’s Gourmet Candles new equipment project.
• $70,000.00 for Bulldog BBQ Sauce, LLC’s South Franklin Greenspace project for the removal of concrete and landscaping.
• $250,000.00 for the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority (LCFPA) Relief Well Rehabilitation and Replacement project.
• $200,000.00 for the General Municipal Authority New Equipment project.