Lodge owner offers plan to raze eyesore in Carbondale

Font size: [A] [A] [A] The owner of the Masonic Lodge in Carbondale has come up with a last-minute plan to raise cash and demolish the crumbling building on Salem Avenue so he can avoid a two-year prison sentence, Mayor Justin Taylor said Wednesday.

[Ernie]

Get off your dead ass and knock the bldg. down. YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH TIME

[Evan Uzalko Suicide]

yeah demo that eyesore known as Carbondale, I mean the building.

[oh no call me broke]

Did you say they are going to bulldoze carbondale its about time save a lot of money

[Krtcobaine]

They have been crying about this building for TOO long!! You somehow had money to knock down the irving and the other buildings. Im sure that you had a little cheese left over from renting the machines, letting your own under-qualified employees of the city operate heavy equipment, and not have to haul the junk away. Im sure there is some dough left over from all the escapades around town, beer tent, wine tasting? Knock that dump down its hurting my eyes!!!!

[Joe]

Did they ever start building the new hotel and parking garage in Downtown Carbondale? I remember reading about it a year or two ago.

How about Laurstan?

[Krtcobaine]

Joe, I would love for you too see the debacle that our local government has placed right on the main street in town. They bought houses along church street, the irving theater,singers and knocked them all down. Now you can see clean to the other block. Im sure they have high hopes, but I think thats all they are; hopes. The pile of rubble has been sitting there for almost a month now. Just what every passing tourist would like to see from an "upcoming" development. The parking garage is going to be for flying cars; when the hotel is done they will be the norm!!

[red sox fan]

Joe,

I am a bit more optimistic about the project. I have been going to the city council meetings and I can personally tell you the project is a GO. The rubble is almost gone. It did take awhile since everything needed to be sorted (metal, concrete, wires, etc.). I have heard so many times from surrounding communities about the progress of the city. As stated publicly from council and the mayor, the process is slow due to getting clearances from DEP, Penn dot, and the release of government funding.

This is a 16 million project going into our downtown that will be replacing buildings and houses that were over 100 years old and rundown. Remember, The City is not footing the bill. It did put up 1 million to purchase the properties and then sold it to the developer. It was done in this manner to gain federal and state grant money. Ultimately, the project is being completed by Dan Sinawa is the person who totally built up Dickson City (Sam's Club, Kohl’s, Target, Red Lobster, and dozens of other multimillion dollar businesses). He did complete a feasibility study in Carbondale to see if this project is worthwhile.

The project may be completed in Carbondale but the big picture is a project for the upper valley. Anyone from Clifford, Honesdale, Forest City, Waymart, Jermyn, etc. who needs a hotel/banquet facility has to go to Dickson City, Dunmore, or Scranton.

Many negative people never felt the 10 Million dollar Y.M.C.A. project would happen. It will now be open in February of 2010.

The project is very much needed. The greatest risk in the Carbondale and the Upper Valley is simply not taking one. I am sure any municpality would love to have 26 million in redevelopement in their community.

[Krtcobaine]

Sounds right out of the newspaper! They tell you that things are going on and they really are not. Maybe you would like to see the kind of quality work that is going on in our fair city. Check this link.

http://www.youtube.com/user/TOMandOGshow#p/u/...

Like I said, renting the machines, letting your own under-qualified employees of the city operate heavy equipment. Funny, I havent seen them sorting anything there.

Cobbs house was one of the places that the city bought and I can assure you that it wasnt rundown or in need of the wrecking ball.

[red sox fan]

I was there, i saw it with my own eyes.. They were not city crew people doing demo. they were Dan Sinawa's employees. They city was in charge of removal. Cobbs were generously paid for their property. It is public record. I looked at the transaction myself.

I am not looking to start any argument. I am just sharing what I personally looked into. I would love to catch the city doing something not legit. I havent so far....