Tenants Moving Into Former Chamber of Commerce Building

Scranton, Lackawanna County - There is new life for a historic building in downtown Scranton.

After months of renovations, the former Scranton Chamber of Commerce building is welcoming tenants as the latest apartment building in the city.

Mark Zdancewicz spent Monday unloading boxes and getting settled into his new apartment.

"When I saw what some of the apartments looked like and the historic nature of the building, I had to come and look and I saw this one and I fell in love with i," Zdancewicz said.

Since June, Eyewitness News has followed the renovations of the building, which was built in 1926.

For quite a while, most of the building sat empty, but now it has been completely renovated into 39 new apartments. Only four are still available.

"We have a good mix," property manager Jessica Kalinoski said. "We have young professionals, we have empty-nesters, we have some grad students. Currently in this building, the average age is 30 years old."

Scranton mayor Chris Doherty says this is the eighth building that has been renovated into apartments in the last three years.

In 2013, Doherty says three more will be completed, including the building that used to house Whistle's Pub & Eatery. The mayor says there is a tremendous demand.

"The medical school is expanding to 100 kids a class starting next year so those students need to live somewhere so we have to provide the space for them," Mayor Doherty said.

Back at Mark Zdancewicz's new apartment, his story is not unique either.

He just sold his three bedroom home in Sugar Notch, Luzerne County. He wanted to be closer to his job in Jessup and live where there is more action.

"I'm in walking distance to some of the restaurants down here, to coffee," Zdancewicz said. "I wanted to live in downtown Scranton. That's what I wanted to do!"

A grand opening celebration and holiday party is planned for Wednesday night to celebrate the opening of the new apartment building. It will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 PM.