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Architecture, Riverfront, and Walkability in Wilkes-Barre: America’s Best Community

The City of Wilkes-Barre is home to many awe-inspiring architectural masterpieces –all located within its River Street Historic District!

Over 200 buildings representing the architectural styles of Art Deco, Baroque, Beaux Arts, Chateauesque, Craftsman Style, Gothic Revival, Classical Revival, Greek Revival, Moorish Revival, Colonial Revival International, Italiante, High Victorian Gothic , Neoclassical Revival, Queen Anne, Tudor Revival, Renaissance, and Romanesque, can be found throughout our downtown streets.

Private and public entities have undertaken countless rehabilitation projects throughout the district to restore and modernize the buildings of the downtown. Mixed-used projects, including the Luzerne Bank Building development and the Northampton and Main/Movies 14 project, have connected entertainment, office, and residential spaces. Additionally, many historic buildings, including the Fredrick Stegmaier Mansion, have been restored to their original splendor. Our park-like River Common space has also opened the riverfront back up to the community, and is host to many community events.

Rehabilitation and reuse strategies continue to be a focus area for our America’s Best Communities Revitalization Plan-so stay tuned!

 

Watch above to learn more about Wilkes-Barre’s architectural history, riverfront development, and restoration projects!

Welcome to the America’s Best Communities Competition

CSC_0056The City of Wilkes-Barre has recently qualified as one of 50 quarter-finalists in Frontier Communication’s competition designed to identify America’s Best Community. This gives our city the opportunity to compete for up to $3 million in support of a strategic revitalization plan that will spur economic growth and advancement in our region. The America’s Best Communities competition contributes $10 million over three years to support innovative plans for revitalization in small towns and cities across the U.S

Thanks to our sponsors Frontier Communications, DISH Network, The Weather Channel, CoBank, and our local partner Scripps Network Interactive, Wilkes-Barre has received $50,000 towards the development of our strategic plan during this quarter-finalist phase.

We will utilize a GoPro camera provided by our sponsors to document the impact that this competition has had on our community, as well as our progress towards implementing downtown Wilkes-Barre’s five year action plan. Our videos will focus on six core goals that will enhance and transform the downtown. Downtown Wilkes-Barre will be:

A safe, clean, and attractive place to live, work, shop, and visit

The region’s college neighborhood

The region’s “walk-to-everything” neighborhood of choice.

The region’s “Innovation District”: a setting for business growth and entrepreneurship

A great visitor’s experience, enhanced by our historic architecture, riverfront, colleges, and walk-ability

A regional center of arts, culture, dining, and entertainment

This downtown revitalization plan was developed through the support of our committee members, including the Diamond City Partnership, the City of Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes University, Kings College, Senator John T. Yudichak, and Representative Eddie Day Pashinski.

These goals align to form an accessible innovative hub that leverages the arts, entertainment, area businesses, and local colleges and universities.

Check out oCSC_0055ur video, which highlights the Greater Wilkes-Barre area as a great place to live, work, and experience at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4vVElo4kAc