Latest news with #DiamondCityPartnership
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
INNOVATION: Newman says Post-COVID, Downtown Wilkes-Barre is coming back strong
Apr. 27—WILKES-BARRE — Larry Newman, executive director at Diamond City Partnership, says that five years have passed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — an event which had an enormous economic impact on Downtown Wilkes-Barre. "Across the nation, the rise of remote work led to a significant reduction in demand for office space — one of the primary pillars of Downtown's economy," Newman said. "That unexpected drop in daily employee traffic dealt a blow, in turn, to storefront restaurants and retailers. And after more than a decade of positive momentum, Downtown Wilkes-Barre's revitalization was halted in its tracks." However, Newman said the Downtown had the benefit of a road map to guide its recovery — the plan developed by the Diamond City Partnership (DCP) — Wilkes-Barre's nonprofit downtown management organization. "That plan — which serves as a basis for Downtown Wilkes-Barre's Main Street program designation by the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development — is built around the time-tested 'four-point' Main Street approach to downtown revitalization," Newman said Well before the start of COVID, Newman said the Main Street approach was helping DCP implement the community's vision for Downtown Wilkes-Barre as: —Clean, safe, and beautiful. —The region's "walk-to-everything" neighborhood of choice. —The region's college neighborhood. —A regional center of arts, culture, dining, and entertainment. —A place whose historic architecture, riverfront, and high-quality public environment are the basis of an enhanced visitor experience. "And despite the setbacks of the past five years, we've continued to make progress toward those goals," Newman said. Newman said Downtown Wilkes-Barre continues to grow as a residential neighborhood — by the end of 2024, he said the total number of people living within the boundaries of the Downtown Wilkes-Barre Business Improvement District was 157% of the 2019 total. That residential growth was accompanied by retail growth — Newman said eight new independent storefront businesses opened within Downtown's SOMA Arts District during 2024. Merchants like The Burnt Norton, Evergreen, and Virtual Fairways are catering to a new generation of downtown residents, college students and visitors. Once-vacant downtown spaces — such as the former newspaper building that's now King's College's Kowalski Center for Advanced Healthcare Education, or the one-time furniture store at 116 South Main Street that now houses Building Blocks Learning Center and 34 market-rate lofts — are again filled with activity. Newman said a terrific array of outdoor events — parades, the Fine Arts Fiesta, Farmers Market, Rockin' the River, and Public Square concerts — occurs throughout the year, joining the entertainment offerings at the F.M. Kirby Center, R/C Movies 14, and Downtown's other arts and culture venues. Last year, Newman said DCP helped return the Cavalcade of Jazz to Downtown Wilkes-Barre, and on April 25, DCP is partnering with the Sordoni Art Gallery to present "SOMA" Night Lights — a new projection mapping festival that will temporarily transform the landscape of Downtown's SOMA Arts District into a canvas for illumination art. "Together with DCP's other events — such as the 'Sunsets on South Main' live-music series; the Downtown Discoveries Kids Fest; Cocktails & Culture; Inspired Bites; Small Business Saturday; and the Holiday Market — these events are bringing more people downtown throughout the year," Newman said. DCP also continues its work to improve the downtown environment. Thanks to a Luzerne County ARPA grant, Newman said DCP was able to expand its Downtown Ambassador Team in 2024. The Team now cleans and beautifies the downtown core 7 days a week, while a new Quality of Life Ambassador connects at-risk individuals to the help they need. During 2024, Newman said DCP's Downtown Ambassador Team: —Removed almost 14,000 pounds of trash from sidewalks and curbs. —Eliminated 74 graffiti tags and 369 stickers. —Planted and maintained 186 hanging flower baskets and 32 large ground planters. —Assisted or provided directions to 764 people. Newman said DCP's volunteers planted 17 additional shade trees throughout downtown in 2024, while DCP façade grants are restoring historic buildings and improving Downtown's built environment. Slowly but surely, Newman said Downtown continues to rebound — in 2024, downtown visitation reached 82% of 2019 levels — led by those who came here to shop, dine and attend shows and events. And 2024 downtown employee volumes hit 57% of the 2019 total — a 5% improvement over last year. "This work is critical because the fact is that downtown revitalization is economic development," Newman said. "That reality is understood by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, whose new 10-year Economic Development Strategy has been built, in large part, around downtown revitalization." As Gov. Josh Shapiro recently said in an address to the 2025 Main Street Now Conference: "You can tell whether a community is vibrant or not based on the success of a Main Street. If that Main Street is successful, chances are that broader community is going to be safer; chances are that schools are going to be stronger; and there's more economic opportunity in those communities." "At DCP, we couldn't agree more — which is why we are so determined to overcome the obstacles and keep the momentum going," Newman said. "But it's also critical that the larger community also recognizes the importance of having a healthy downtown. We need more stakeholders who are willing to put their shoulders to the wheel — more people who will patronize a downtown business, renew a downtown lease, or push back on negative perceptions. Everyone can do their part to make things better and help build a city center that's a point of pride for all of us." Newman said Downtown Wilkes-Barre is coming back. "And we urge you to be a part of the downtown rebound — because no matter what part of Greater Wilkes-Barre you call home, we all benefit from having a strong and vibrant neighborhood serving as the heart of the Wyoming Valley," Newman said. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Housing shortage hits northeastern Pennsylvania
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — If you're in the market to purchase or even rent a house or property in northeastern Pennsylvania, then you are probably already aware of the challenge it could be to find a place of your liking. Real estate experts say there is a housing shortage across the nation and right here in northeastern Pennsylvania. 28/22 News is told by local real estate agents, as well as government officials, that if you are in the housing market and see something you like, don't waste any time. Make a move. 'We have buyers who want to buy. We have sellers who want to sell. Unfortunately, the inventory is just not there,' said Tom Leighton with CA Leighton Company Tom Leighton owns a real estate agency and has been buying and selling properties in northeastern Pennsylvania for some 45 years. He says he's never seen anything quite this before and says there is no single reason for the housing shortage, that there are multiple factors in the equation, including the aftermath effects of the COVID pandemic, namely supply chain shortages and higher interest rates. 'The solution would be to create more housing. The unfortunate part is you can not get land. Land is very scarce in an urban area. As you go out into suburban areas like Mountain Top, Bear Creek, and Dallas you're seeing expanding further and further out,' Leighton explained. Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo has been very aggressive in developing housing in the city and says the answer to the housing shortage is not only to create new housing areas but to utilize existing buildings. Boil advisory in effect for part of Nanticoke 'So we're not suggesting it make sense to go and rip down hundreds of acres of forest, but I think there are opportunities here in the northeast to repurpose brownfields, to repurpose old industrial buildings, to repurpose old schools,' Mayor Lombardo stated. The City of Wilkes-Barre has done just that. Larry Newman is the Executive Director of the Diamond City Partnership, a nonprofit group that focuses on downtown development. Many former bank and office buildings are now used for residential housing. 'All of them involve residential conversion of formerly commercial properties and as a result, the numbers of downtown housing had increased by almost 60 percent from 2019 to the present day,' Newman explained. Again, the real estate experts 28/22 News spoke with for this report say there is no magic wand to resolve the housing shortage. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
