As the Diamond City Partnership wraps up its Downtown Design Workshop, how would you characterize the potential for Downtown Wilkes-Barre?

The Diamond City Partnership (DCP), an alliance of local community organizations, businesses and individuals working to ensure a vibrant future for Downtown Wilkes-Barre, recently invited interested citizens and business representatives to participate in a Design Workshop – the purpose of which was to explore new ideas for the physical development of Downtown Wilkes-Barre.  The project was based upon the market findings from the DCP's recently completed Strategic Market Development Plan.  Here are responses to our question from several of the principals involved in organizing the Workshop:

“The revitalized Downtown that we are working to build together will be a show place for future generations and a catalyst for attracting new businesses and jobs.  I predict the year 2004 will be remembered in the future as the year that Wilkes-Barre turned the corner, and despite its fiscal issues, began new construction in Downtown.  A greater community pride by involved citizens and its government will lead to newspaper headlines announcing the ‘rebirth of the Downtown.’  If we believe in ourselves and work together, it will happen.”

Tom Lawson
Chairman, Diamond City Partnership
Executive Vice President, Borton-Lawson Engineering

“Upon completion of the Downtown Market Study and the recent Downtown Design Workshop, what’s become evident is the Downtown the public and the business community would like to see.  The Downtown Wilkes-Barre of tomorrow will undoubtedly maintain the integrity and the historical value of the Downtown Wilkes-Barre that once was. 

I see a revitalized community where people live, work and play.  The new Downtown will build upon its existing strengths, including the Susquehanna Riverfront, Public Square, diverse housing types, the unique and historic architecture, a significant employment base of more than 12,000 people, abundant recreation opportunities, and thriving institutions. 

Stakeholders - new and existing - are working together to promote the community and a customer friendly atmosphere will contribute to the new and expanding retail stores, restaurants, and businesses.  The streets and public spaces will be clean and safe with new streetscape elements - including lighting - that will make Downtown more walkable and livable.  Parking - a critical Downtown resource - will be abundant and convenient.

Students will feel a part of the Downtown community and as always, the colleges and universities will be continuing the trend to improve their facilities and programs near Downtown.

In the very near future, I see Downtown alive during the evening with community events, shopping, cultural activities, entertainment, dining and cafes and much, much more.” 

Jim Stevenson
President, Lincoln Property Company

“The Downtown Wilkes-Barre Public Design Workshop generated more than ideas for Downtown.  It also fired the determination of scores of the city’s energetic civic activists not to rest until the heart of Wilkes-Barre is something people will be proud of once again.  

In my career as a consultant and Main Street activist, I have the good fortune to see many cities and towns around the country, and frequently participate in events like the Design Workshop.  For that reason, I have an objective perspective when I say something is starting to happen in Wilkes-Barre.  One can sense that pent-up energy is about to be harnessed as people rise to the challenge of putting Downtown back together ­for the 21^st Century.  Of course, it won’t happen all at once, but I am confident that within five years, Downtown Wilkes-Barre will be the place to be in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  

The Diamond City Partnership and the Northeast Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) deserve the region’s gratitude for their sponsorship of this event ­ and for taking the most promising ideas forward in the months to come.”  

Mary Means, President
Mary Means & Associates, Inc.

“The enthusiasm shown by the hundreds of people who participated in the Downtown Design Workshop sends a very clear message: Downtown Wilkes-Barre is coming back, better than ever.

What makes this effort different?  We don’t assume that quick fixes or single projects bring success.  The Downtown Design Workshop was a single piece of a larger strategy, one that’s grounded in the basics.  To be sure, the big projects are important, but they won’t matter in the long run if we don’t also address the fundamental issues that have kept people from choosing Downtown as a place to live, to invest, to shop or to visit.   

That’s why, since DCP was formed two years ago, we’ve been diligently building the foundations for sustainable revitalization.  While some of our initial work has resulted in visible improvements – DCP’s Clean & Green Program, which ensures that Downtown “opens clean” each workday, is the most obvious example – most of our efforts have been less noticeable, but just as necessary for long-term success.

Now, it’s time to take the next steps.  We have a business plan – DCP’s Downtown Market Study, which revealed that, despite everything that’s happened over the years, Downtown’s market potential is remarkably strong.  We have a framework to guide new development – that’s what the Downtown Design Workshop was all about.  It brought the community together to develop consensus about Downtown’s future physical form, generating some basic urban design principles to direct our efforts.  As of January, we will have an unprecedented level of collaboration with City Hall, and we already have a solid base of volunteers – people from all walks of life, donating their time, energy, and resources so that Downtown can succeed.

The final step, of course, is implementation: moving from plans on paper to investment in Downtown properties; to new businesses in Downtown storefronts; to people on Downtown sidewalks.  Again, collaboration is key, and DCP and the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber are already working with incoming City officials to address the most critical issues facing Downtown.  Next year, the Chamber plans to hire a Main Street Manager, who will be responsible for working with Downtown business owners on a day-to-day basis and engaging DCP’s volunteer base in a new series of targeted initiatives.  And, yes, there will be one or two big projects – but they won’t stand in isolation.  Through it all, the DCP work-plan and its components will be the bedrock of our revitalization strategy.

It’s not going to happen overnight.  However, if we continue to stay the course set during those first meetings in 2001, Downtown Wilkes-Barre will be the vibrant heart of our region that we want it to be – a place to which we can all look with pride.”

Larry Newman
Chairman, DCP Planning Committee
Vice President of Community and Economic Development
Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry