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WILKES-BARRE TWP. — A developer plans to transform the former Wilkes-Barre Township High School into a 30-unit apartment complex for seniors 55 and over.
According to Wilkes-Barre Township Mayor Carl Kuren and Zoning/Code Enforcement Officer Thomas Zedolik, Joseph Rinkus of Casey Avenue Holdings has applied for a zoning change from R1-R2 to R-3, to allow for a multiple family use, such as townhouses and apartment buildings.
Zedolik said the township zoning board approved the request and it will now go before council for consideration in December.
Kuren said he and township officials had sought to get the building from the Wilkes-Barre Area School District and when that was approved in February for $1, the township put the building up for sale and Rinkus purchased it for $247,000.
“Since I’ve been mayor, senior citizens have been telling me how difficult it gets to take care of their properties,” Kuren said. “They have asked me to find nice housing for them where they don’t have to worry about all that maintenance.”
Zedolik said the township will issue permits to Rinkus to begin interior demolition of the building and to repair the roof.
Zedolik said the former school sits on about 7.2 acres. He said Rinkus plans to install an elevator, patio, community rooms and laundry room in the apartment complex. He residents will be allowed to plant gardens as well.
A public hearing will be held to allow neighboring property owners to comment on the proposed project, Zedolik said.
Zedolik said Rinkus is also building a hotel near the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza — a 106-room Home2Suites.
Panera Bread update
Zedolik said the Wilkes-Barre Township Commons project is moving ahead. He said the property owner, Urban Edge Properties of New Jersey, will soon submit drawings for the new free-standing Panera Bread.
“I will be issuing a permit in the near future,” Zedolik said.