Wilkes-Barre Mayor Brown and Councilman Barrett to meet with Sherman Hills residents

WILKES-BARRE — Ahead of their meeting next week with the residents of Sherman Hills, Mayor George Brown and Councilman Bill Barrett heard from one resident on how to make the troubled apartment complex safer.

Brown and Barrett, whose District D includes Sherman Hills, scheduled a meeting for 1:30 p.m. on Monday in the community room of the apartment tower building.

Last week they met with representatives of the new owners and agreed security was one of the top priorities as the federally subsidized low-income complex undergoes a planned $16 million renovation.

Nonprofit Indelible Housing Inc. of Washington, D.C. partnered with LEDG Capital, based in Seattle, in purchasing the complex for $27 million earlier this year. The Section 8 project based housing complex had been owned by Sherman Hills Holdings LLC, an affiliate of the real estate investment company Treetop Development based in New Jersey.

Resident Anne Cicon touched on security and other issues when she addressed City Council during its meeting Thursday night.

Cicon said she’s lived at Sherman Hills for a number of years and had to find temporary shelter after she was forced out of her apartment as a result of a fire on Feb. 22.

Cicon suggested installing a guard station, staffed around the clock, at the main entrance. Residents could be issued a card or ID that they would have to present for access to the complex. Likewise, guests and visitors would have to show a driver’s license or ID.

“Because, let’s face it, gangs and drug dealers are not going to want to show their ID,” Cicon said. “And I think that would cut down at least 50% on the unsafe environment there.”

The most recent gunfire at the complex occurred Feb. 23, the night after the fire. Police said more than 80 shell casings littered the property after two groups of people engaged in a shootout. No one was injured and police filed charges against one of the suspected shooters.

A guard station was not among the security upgrades discussed at the March 17 between city officials and the new owners. Instead, the city said there would be on-site daily police details, a substation would be established as well as fencing in the property and installing gating to limit access to residents.

Councilman Tony Brooks, who has spoken with Cicon, said others have also brought up the idea of a guard station.

“You’re not the only person I hear this idea from,” Brooks said.

Cicon thanked Brooks and Brown, who also has spoken with her, for their help.