New Life for the Call Center

IN 2002, THE FORMER CALL CENTER SKIPPED TOWN, LEAVING THE CITY A 9-MILLION DOLLAR DEBT. TONIGHT...GOOD NEWS FOR THE CITY AS WILKES UNIVERSITY GETS CLEARANCE TO TRANSFORM THE BUILDING INTO A MULTI-PURPOSE FACILITY. TRAFFIC FLOODS THE STREETS OUTSIDE THE OLD CALL CENTER. SOON A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRAFFIC WILL INVADE THE INSIDE. Scott Byers...Wilkes University TELLS US... OFFICE SPACE, CLASSROOM SPACE AND ALSO SOME ATHELETIC RECREATION SPACE. THE ZONING HEARING BOARD UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A VARIANCE ALLOWING WILKES UNIVERSITY TO TRANSFORM 169 SOUTH MAIN STREET INTO AN EDUCATIONAL SETTING. WE HOPED FOR IT AND IT WENT WELL. WE`RE PLEASED. ZONING BOARD MEMBERS RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DEMAND FOR PARKING ONCE WILKES MOVES IN. BUT THE UNIVERSITY SAYS THE 550 SPACES WILL BE ADEQUATE. IT WILL ALSO HONOR A PREVIOUS LEASE AGREEMENT FOR RESIDENTS WHO LIVE AT 10 EAST SOUTH STREET. THE WILKES BARRE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SAYS THE UNIVERSITY WILL BE A GOOD TENANT. Frank Hoegen Solicitor, of the Redevolpment Authority "THEY MAINTAIN THEIR PROPERTIES WITH GREAT PRIDE AND WE THOUGHT THEY`D BE A RESPONSIBLE TENANT." A TENANT WHO WON`T SKIP TOWN. THE BUILDING CURRENTLY BELONGS TO THE CITY. WILKES BARRE TOOK OVER THE PROPERTY`S MORTGAGE AFTER `CUSTOMER SERVICE FIRST` PULLED OUT LEAVING UNPAID BILLS AND EMPLOYEES WITHOUT JOBS. DAVID YONKI WORKED AS A TRAINER FOR THE CALL CENTER FOR THREE YEARS. HE SAYS HE`S GLAD THE BUILDING WILL ONCE AGAIN BE OCCUPIED. "THIS IS A VERY GOOD BUILDING. IT`S A STATE OF THE ART BUILDING. AND WILKES IS GETTING A GOOD DEAL ON IT. DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT LEADERS AGREE." Hodgen adds... WE`RE VERY PLEASED. AND IT`S ONE STEP CLOSER TO MAKING THIS A REALITY. WILKES UNIVERSITY PLANS TO CLOSE ON THE PROPERTY IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS. THEY HOPE TO FULLY OCCUPY THE BUILDING WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR.