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PITTSTON — Former mayor Michael Lombardo and Main Street Manager Rose Randazzo have dreamed of bringing a college campus to the city.

After 19 years, their dream is becoming a reality as Pittston will soon be the home to a Luzerne County Community College (LCCC) campus.

Lombardo said the reason it took so long was because timing was always an issue.

“This project has extended through three mayors and four college presidents,” he said. “We got pretty far down the road and (former LCCC president) Dr. (Jon) Larson left for another position so we had to start all over again. The economy tanking at one point didn’t help.”

LCCC President Tom Leary recalls being the Dean of Students 19 years ago when discussions began for the college to move into Pittston.

“I was not really directly involved in the discussions, but I did hear about the idea,” Leary said. “I’m thrilled to see it come to fruition. I feel very humbled by this opportunity and it’s another example where the community college is reaching out to people more effectively.”

In addition to its main campus in Nanticoke, LCCC also has campuses in Berwick, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Northumberland and Kulpmont.

Leary said expanding into Pittston is more about being part of the city rather than the city being a part of LCCC.

“I think it really comes down to the people in Pittston,” he said. “They are so committed to the idea of providing a combination of culture and a business plan that I find truly great with the last several years. I think it was more of what they have accomplished in the city and I think it’s another extension to what they’ve achieved. I find it to be one of the finest models of resurgence in a city.”

The campus will be located in the former M&T Bank Building located next to Randazzo’s office on Main Street.

The building is 10,000 square feet and was sold to the city’s Land Bank Revitalization Corporation, which is dedicated to downtown revitalization, for $1 by M&T Bank.

“We were able to offer them (the Neighborhood Assistance Program Tax Credit),” said Randazzo. “So, the bank is going to get a tax credit for their donation and that is why they decided to donate the building to the city for $1.”

Randazzo continued by saying a tax credit is when a corporation makes a profit and has to pay taxes on that profit, the credit will be deducted from the tax payment.

The building is leased to LCCC for 15 years with option periods after that, according to Randazzo.

Lombardo anticipates the building to open before the fall semester of this year or the winter semester of 2018, but Leary would not comment on a timeframe.

Students taking classes at the new building will park in the Upper Tomato Lot as well behind the Pittston Memorial Library.

Lombardo said there will be a walking path and banners leading to the school so students can find their way.

The reason for the parking situation is so students will have the opportunity to see the city as they make their way between their cars and the building, something Randazzo says will be a benefit to the community.

“At its full capacity, it’s 500 students a day on Main Street,” she said of how many students the building will accommodate. “Even the preliminary numbers for year one are 185 students a day on Main Street.”

While Leary said he is not sure how exactly how many students will fit in the building, he did say some of the other campuses can fit up to 550.

Inside the building will be 12 classrooms, a student lounge, seven administrative offices and an elevator.

Outside the building will be eight parking spots for professors and an annex for students to hang out.

LCCC representatives and city officials will begin discussions about moving forward with the new building which includes architectural design and acquiring United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grants.

Lombardo estimates renovations will cost anywhere from $1.5 to $2 million.

Randazzo and Lombardo are both excited for the addition to the city and anticipate the campus will benefit all of Main Street.

“There will be an uptick on foot traffic downtown that will help all of our merchants which will allow this street to be the economic engine that drives everything we do in the city,” said Lombardo. “The other piece is the accessibility to education which some people may not have access to.”

A rendering of the inside of the new LCCC campus building coming to Main Street in Pittston City.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_LCCC-Campus-3-2.jpg.optimal.jpgA rendering of the inside of the new LCCC campus building coming to Main Street in Pittston City.

A rendering of a classroom in the new LCCC campus building coming to Main Street in Pittston City.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_LCCC-Campus-4-2.jpg.optimal.jpgA rendering of a classroom in the new LCCC campus building coming to Main Street in Pittston City.

A rendering of the outside of the LCCC campus building that will be in the old M&T Bank building on Main Street in Pittston City.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_LCCC-Campus-2-2.jpg.optimal.jpgA rendering of the outside of the LCCC campus building that will be in the old M&T Bank building on Main Street in Pittston City.
Former M&T Bank building on Main Street will house classrooms

By Jimmy Fisher

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Reach Jimmy Fisher at 570-704-3972 or on Twitter @SD_JimmyFisher