WILKES-BARRE - The 107-year-old Irem Temple building, a historic landmark on North Franklin Street, once was Wilkes-Barre's primary public performance venue.
Today, the once-grand building has fallen into disrepair and has no heat, lights or electricity. But city and chamber officials are trying to save it.
During a tour by flashlight Wednesday, Ross Macarty, vice president of community development, real estate and special projects for the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, showed that water damage has taken a toll on the deteriorating building and thieves have stolen copper and brass inside over the past two months.
The Greater Wilkes-Barre Development Corp., an arm of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, bought the building in 2005 for $992,000, using a combination of federal, state and chamber funds. The chamber and city are seeking $2.4 million in state gaming funds to bring the building up to code and return it to use.
Mr. Macarty said obtaining gaming funds would be the first step to stabilize the building.
In the future, its basement could be used as a day care center and its auditorium could be used for rock concerts or theater performances, he said.
The Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre, King's College drama department and other theatrical groups have expressed an interest in using it, Mr. Macarty said.
The Shriners constructed the building in 1906 and it has been acclaimed as one of the nation's most significant examples of Moorish Revival Architecture. But for nearly a decade, the building has been vacant.
Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton and several state and federal legislators have written letters to the Commonwealth Financing Authority supporting the grant application for state gaming funds to rehabilitate the building.
In his letter, Mr. Leighton said the Irem Temple building is one of Wilkes-Barre's "fundamental postcard images."
Mr. Macarty also has started a Facebook page in support of the Irem Temple restoration project.
He is reaching out to foundations for additional funding to save the building. Additionally, he wrote letters asking others to contact state senators and state representatives to express their support to secure funding for the Irem Temple restoration.
"This is a mission I'm very passionate about," Mr. Macarty said. "I think it would be terrible if the city was faced with two Hotel Sterlings."
Contact the writer: dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com