The manager of Luzerne County wants to pull the emergency brake on the county's future involvement with the Market Street Train Station in Wilkes-Barre, but a former commissioner and current councilman said the project is on the right track and shouldn't be derailed.
Isis Vieney and Alma Johnson take a walk with their children just across the street from the rundown Market Street Square complex in Wilkes-Barre.
The old train station has been vacant for several years, but plans call for a full restoration of the land in the hopes that passenger train service returns to Wilkes-Barre.
"It's nasty. Something needs to be done. They can make it look nice," Vieney said.
"I want to see it cleaned up or get it outta here or something. It's ugly. Who wants to look at that? You can't even walk on that side of the street. Someone may jump out and scare you or something," Johnson said.
When he was a commissioner last year, Luzerne County Councilman Steve Urban voted to spend $2 million of federal grant money on the restoration of the complex that is now owned by the Luzerne County The manager of Luzerne County wants to pull the emergency brake on the county's future involvement with the Market Street Train Station in Wilkes-Barre, but a former commissioner and current councilman said the project is on the right track and shouldn't be derailed.
Isis Vieney and Alma Johnson take a walk with their children just across the street from the rundown Market Street Square complex in Wilkes-Barre.
The old train station has been vacant for several years, but plans call for a full restoration of the land in the hopes that passenger train service returns to Wilkes-Barre.
"It's nasty. Something needs to be done. They can make it look nice," Vieney said.
"I want to see it cleaned up or get it outta here or something. It's ugly. Who wants to look at that? You can't even walk on that side of the street. Someone may jump out and scare you or something," Johnson said.
When he was a commissioner last year, Luzerne County Councilman Steve Urban voted to spend $2 million of federal grant money on the restoration of the complex that is now owned by the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority.
Current Luzerne County Manager Robert Lawton believes instead of using federal tax money to fix up the old train station it should be sold to a private developer.
"I don't believe that Mr. Lawton has the authority to interfere with the workings of an authority. That's number one. Number two, the money was appropriated through a budget process," Urban said.
He added the site still has strong support from other council members and the community.
According to Councilman Urban, long-term plans for the site include a senior center, a tourism office and an all new train station.
"I guess it would be nice to do something with it. There's a lot of senior centers. The tourism center would be nice, the railroad to the cities," Vieney added.
Newswatch 16 tried to talk to County Manager Lawton and to the chairman of the redevelopment authority about the complex, but neither responded.
Current Luzerne County Manager Robert Lawton believes instead of using federal tax money to fix up the old train station it should be sold to a private developer.
"I don't believe that Mr. Lawton has the authority to interfere with the workings of an authority. That's number one. Number two, the money was appropriated through a budget process," Urban said.
He added the site still has strong support from other council members and the community.
According to Councilman Urban, long-term plans for the site include a senior center, a tourism office and an all new train station.
"I guess it would be nice to do something with it. There's a lot of senior centers. The tourism center would be nice, the railroad to the cities," Vieney added.
Newswatch 16 tried to talk to County Manager Lawton and to the chairman of the redevelopment authority about the complex, but neither responded.