Proposed lease revised for Luzerne County tourism transfer to historic practice station

A proposed lease to house the Luzerne County’s tourist office in downtown Wilkes-Barre’s historic train station has been revised to make it more affordable for the county.

The council will vote on the lease at today’s meeting at 6 p.m.

The original proposal said that district officials would have the right to terminate the lease if the renovation of the station on Market Street and Wilkes-Barre Boulevard was not completed by December 15.

According to a revised contract attached to Tuesday’s agenda, the council would keep this termination clause, but would also have the option to extend the allowable construction date and rental start date by six months. If the county chooses the extension, the owner must pay the county flat-rate damages of $ 180 per day until the station is ready to occupy the county, it says.

This is an attempt to allay a concern expressed by County Councilman Walter Griffith about the financial impact on the county if the property is not completed on time.

Project developer George Albert said his group stands by its commitment and has an “excellent track record” of completing projects on time and on budget.

Theodore Wampole, the district’s tourism director, said he believed the train station would be the best solution for the visitor center and administrative offices of his office.

D-Newport Township Rep. Gerald Mullery has also suggested the White Haven Area Community Library and Visitor Center as another option.

The council is due to vote on a five-year lease for 2,100 square feet in the former Central Railroad of New Jersey brick station, built in 1868 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Albert recently told the council that his investment group must have guaranteed tenants before they can proceed with the station renovation.

The county’s visitor bureau is spending approximately $ 30,000 on rent on its currently smaller, 1,300-square-foot (1,300-square-foot) public square. The train station lease is proposed at $ 32,400 per year. The office covers the expenses mainly through hotel tax receipts and does not receive any funds from the general operating budget of the district.

A link to attend today’s virtual council meeting can be found in the council’s online public meeting area at luzernecounty.org.