Audubon Elementary School Sold to Geisinger
By: Eric Deabill
Updated: November 29, 2012
Scranton, Lackawanna County- John Audubon school was sold at auction Thursday Morning and the winning bidder says his company will most likely demolish the building.
Three bidders went back and forth but in the end Geisinger Health System came out on top.
It will pay 750-thousand dollars for the property.
John Audubon school has sat empty since 2010 when students were moved because of a mold problem.
After hearing the property was sold Thursday and could soon be demolished many people were sad.
"It's an old building and you can't duplicate buildings like that. I'd hate to see it be torn down, I really do, I thought maybe they'd use it for office space or a medical facility" said Tom Winnicki of Scranton.
Geisinger Community Health System bought the property.
They recently took over CMC hospital across the street.
As of now there are no specific plans for the property but officials say they may use it as a staging area for a multi-million dollar expansion project.
"Its exactly why we wanted to buy it. The adjacency right across the street, there is no large pieces of property available in that part of the city that are anywhere near close to the hospital, so this is a very attractive property to us." said Robert Davies, Geisinger Chief Support Services Officer.
Wayne Lucas of Eynon uses G-CMC and understands progress is good but would hate to see the school be torn down.
"It's a piece of history. Its like Scranton central was. They re-did that. They could re-do this too. That's my opinion.
Q: They'd just have to put the money into it?
A: Yes. They'd have to put the money into it..."
With the school sitting empty in the middle of a residential neighborhood others are just glad something is being done.
"I'm glad to see it go to use. Its been sitting there empty for quite a while. I'm glad somebody can use it. said Michelle Hetzel of Throop.
Officials expect it to take 90 days to complete the sale.
Geisinger was the only bidder that was willing to pay more than the building's appraised value.
Three bidders went back and forth but in the end Geisinger Health System came out on top.
It will pay 750-thousand dollars for the property.
John Audubon school has sat empty since 2010 when students were moved because of a mold problem.
After hearing the property was sold Thursday and could soon be demolished many people were sad.
"It's an old building and you can't duplicate buildings like that. I'd hate to see it be torn down, I really do, I thought maybe they'd use it for office space or a medical facility" said Tom Winnicki of Scranton.
Geisinger Community Health System bought the property.
They recently took over CMC hospital across the street.
As of now there are no specific plans for the property but officials say they may use it as a staging area for a multi-million dollar expansion project.
"Its exactly why we wanted to buy it. The adjacency right across the street, there is no large pieces of property available in that part of the city that are anywhere near close to the hospital, so this is a very attractive property to us." said Robert Davies, Geisinger Chief Support Services Officer.
Wayne Lucas of Eynon uses G-CMC and understands progress is good but would hate to see the school be torn down.
"It's a piece of history. Its like Scranton central was. They re-did that. They could re-do this too. That's my opinion.
Q: They'd just have to put the money into it?
A: Yes. They'd have to put the money into it..."
With the school sitting empty in the middle of a residential neighborhood others are just glad something is being done.
"I'm glad to see it go to use. Its been sitting there empty for quite a while. I'm glad somebody can use it. said Michelle Hetzel of Throop.
Officials expect it to take 90 days to complete the sale.
Geisinger was the only bidder that was willing to pay more than the building's appraised value.
