PITTSTON - City officials broke ground Thursday for a $9 million condominium project on the riverfront.
When complete, the site on Kennedy Boulevard near Cooper's Seafood House will be home to a four-story building with 30 condominiums called "River's Edge."
Rob Grimm of Grimm Construction in Waymart is the developer.
The development marks the first major residential project in the city in several decades, said Joe Chacke, executive director of the Pittston Redevelopment Authority. He said the condos will be a "nice jewel" in the center of Kennedy Boulevard, right on the riverfront and near downtown.
"It will bring residents into the downtown area, which will help the business community," Mr. Chacke said. "We want to see more people coming back as the population continues to dwindle."
The project, which has been in the planning phases for about 10 years, is being built through a public-private partnership. The city and Redevelopment Authority obtained $4 million in state grants, including $1.5 million in gaming funds and $2.5 million from a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program awarded by Gov. Tom Corbett, Mr. Chacke said.
Facility Design and Development, which has offices in Scranton, New York and State College, designed the condominiums.
Construction is expected to take one year, said Alex Belavitz, president of Facility Design and Development. Officials scaled down the project from the original plan for a six-story building with 41 condominiums after the downturn in the housing market, he said.
Mr. Belavitz said he and officials from his firm recommended introducing housing that would embrace the Susquehanna River, which he called a "wonderful natural asset," and the Riverfront Park. More than 80 percent of the condominiums will have a panoramic view of the river, he said.
Prospective buyers will have the choice of different styles and finishes. The price of the condominiums has not yet been determined, Mr. Grimm said.
Contact the writer: dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com