Plans for parkade in Wilkes-Barre fall through

Luzerne County Council unanimously voted Tuesday evening to cancel a $2 million federal American Rescue Plan Act allocation for a parkade at the former Hotel Sterling site in Wilkes-Barre. According to reports, Council had earmarked the parkade funds to the Wilkes-Barre Industrial Development Authority, which was overseeing the proposed public parking garage as part of a public/private partnership with the developer of a planned Gateway Hyatt Place Hotel and Conference Center on the corner of North River and West Market streets. As of yesterday, “despite considerable effort,” the authority has been unable to secure definitive commitments for all funds required to proceed with the $4.5 million Riverfront Parking Garage project within the required deadline.