By Denise Allabaugh, Wilkes-Barre Citizens’ Voice
Development begins at Market Street Square:
Developer George Albert’s company bought the train station and six acres of land at the Market Street Square complex for $1.2 million from the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority.
The restoration marks an $8 million to $10 million investment, Mr. Albert said.
The Luzerne County Convention and Visitors Bureau hopes to be one of the first tenants to open in the complex.
Exterior and interior renovations will be completed at the existing 10,000-square-foot retail strip at the site, Mr. Albert said. The train station also will be renovated.
Mr. Albert said his company is working with a large law firm to potentially take that space. His company’s office and a real estate firm will be located on the second floor.
Among the other tenants that will locate to the site, a Burger King will open next year at Wilkes-Barre Boulevard and Market Street. Domino’s Pizza plans to relocate from its current site on Pennsylvania Avenue to the Market Street Square complex, he said.
His company has plans for professional office buildings in the back of the property and the remaining property will be a mix of the new construction and renovation, he said.
Developments in downtown Wilkes-Barre:
Gov. Tom Wolf came to downtown Wilkes-Barre in October to announce a $2 million state grant was awarded to the “Innovation Squared” project.
The funding is aimed at creating and retaining 200 full-time high-tech jobs.
Mr. Wolf joined state officials in front of the long-vacant First National Bank on Public Square, which will become a new home for startup companies.
The grant also will be used to ensure 75 jobs remain at Pepperjam in the Innovation Center, the governor said.
Pepperjam will add 50 to 75 jobs over the next 18 months, the company’s Chief Executive Officer Michael Jones said.
The company is looking to fill job openings that pay an average salary of $60,000 a year, Jones said.
Pepperjam now employs 120 people in Wilkes-Barre and a total of about 300 at its 10 offices around the world, he said.
D&D Realty acquired the PNC Bank building in downtown Wilkes-Barre, where they plan to create 40 upscale apartments and office space in a project called “Riverview West.”
D&D Realty acquired the PNC Bank building in downtown Wilkes-Barre, where they plan to create 40 upscale apartments and office space in a project called “Riverview West.”
In November, the first Chick-fil-A in Luzerne County opened at King’s on the Square in the former Ramada Hotel building on Public Square.
