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PITTSTON — Waterfront Management Group LLC has been approved for a $2 million grant to rehabilitate a 101,997-square-foot warehouse at the corner of East Street and Kennedy Boulevard in Pittston — a project that is expected to create 60 new jobs.
Gov. Tom Wolf announced the new funding Friday to revitalize the Pittston waterfront by converting an under-used warehouse into a mixed-use facility with apartments, offices, retail space, and a business incubator.
“This comprehensive redevelopment project will be a noticeable update to a section of downtown Pittston that has a lot of potential, but not expansive use,” Wolf said in a press release. “By renovating the structure and surrounding area, we will be creating jobs, expanding offerings for businesses, college students and residents, while opening up opportunities for more economic development.”
The completed project is expected to have:
• 27 apartments
• A food court supporting the students of the recently opened nearby Luzerne County Community College’s Pittston center.
• 28,296 square feet of office space
• A business incubator with space for 36 units.
Currently, the warehouse is only partially occupied.
Pittston Mayor Mike Lombardo said the city is excited and appreciative for funding for the Waterfront Warehouse Project.
“This property represents the largest physical structure within our city limits,” Lombardo said. “The building also has a long history and the thought of it being back to 100 percent use is a great symbol of the future of the city.”
State Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Avoca, was also grateful for the support.
“I’m extremely proud of the wide array of community enhancements in the City of Pittston and this significant investment of state funds will advance an integral commercial and residential project along the Susquehanna River waterfront,” Carroll said.
The project is expected to bring economic growth through enhanced property values, a stronger local tax base, and increased commercial and residential development, said the lawmaker. The renovation will also beautify the waterfront through exterior renovations and new landscaping.
Sen. John Yudichak, D-Plymouth Township, said it’s yet another positive step in the city’s revitalization.
”The re-purposing of this former warehouse facility into a state-of-the-art multi-use asset along the Susquehanna River will create the opportunity for continued economic growth in Pittston and our core cities in Luzerne County,” Yudichak said.
The state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program supports critical expansion projects, some of which will provide opportunities for additional economic development.