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WILKES-BARRE — A group of area residents gathered in Wilkes-Barre Councilman Tony Brooks’ home Saturday to discuss ways to save the historic Irem Temple.

Brooks said about 25 “dynamic” people turned out for the meeting about the North Franklin Street landmark.

Brooks, who organized the event with Christian Weilage, was impressed with number of people under 40 that were in attendance.

“(The younger crowd) was what I was most excited about,” Brooks said.

Two different options to save building were discussed.

“The preferred method is to truly save the entire building, as a viable event space for years to come,” Weilage said.

The second route would be to use a method proposed by Luzerne County Councilman Rick Williams. Williams, an architect, suggested turning the building into an open air structure.

Brooks and Weilage are hoping to meet with and pitch the ideas to the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce within the week. The chamber purchased the building in 2005 for just under $1 million. It has been dormant since the mid 1990s and vacant for the last 10 years. The roof is leaking and there are other structural concerns.

To get involved with the restoration project like Irem Temple Hall Restoration Project on Facebook or email [email protected].

Brooks
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_Tony-Brooks-3.jpg.optimal.jpgBrooks

This file photo from May 2000 shows The Irem Temple on North Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IremTemplemosque-1.jpg.optimal.jpgThis file photo from May 2000 shows The Irem Temple on North Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre. Times Leader file photo

By Melanie Mizenko

[email protected]

Reach Melanie Mizenko at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TL_MMizenko