WILKES-BARRE — After years of negotiation, the Wilkes-Barre Area School District finally finished the sale of the former Meyers High School building on Thursday. According to District Solicitor Ray Wendolowski, the final step was simple and took less than 10 minutes, marking the end of a saga filled with strong emotions, protests, and heated debates.
Carey Holding LLC bought the historic building for $3.2 million. The school was closed after Wilkes-Barre Area combined it with two other old high schools to form a new central building in Plains Township in 2021. Wendolowski mentioned that the district provided the buyer with credit buy backs, which reduced the final amount paid.
The credits were given for work needed to finalize the sale, such as cleaning out the building and removing asbestos. Instead of the district covering these costs, both parties agreed that Carey Holding would take on some of the work and receive a credit or deduction from the sale price.
The new owner plans to start renovating the building by May. The intention is to convert a large portion of it into 103 apartments, consisting of 60 one-bedroom and 43 two-bedroom units. Some retail space on the first floor is also likely to be included.
As previously announced, the goal is to preserve the auditorium with its famous stained-glass ceiling depicting the seals of 48 states, showcasing its age. There will be some modifications, such as partitioning off the balcony to create conference and office space for tenants. The main section of the auditorium is expected to be used for educational or recreational purposes for groups or organizations in the city that may need such a space.
The swimming pool, weight room, and basketball courts are also expected to remain, with a pickleball court being added in the area currently occupied by the cafeteria. If there is enough community interest, membership for the use of those facilities may be offered to non-residents.
However, the adjacent stadium will not remain. The owners require additional parking, and the stadium turf area is set to be paved, creating 318 spaces.
The origins of the sale can be traced back to 2014, at least in terms of official action. The board initiated a feasibility study on the consolidation of the three schools, which concluded that renovations would be too costly. In 2015, during a lengthy meeting where audience members passionately opposed the closures, the board debated the closure of Meyers and Coughlin. Despite the attendees starting to sing the Meyers Alma Mater during a brief break, the closure was ultimately approved when the board reconvened, with some members expressing regret that they felt it was necessary.
Plans were altered after that, leading to the consolidation of all three schools, the sale of Meyers and Coughlin, and the conversion of the GAR Memorial building into a middle school. Meyers and Coughlin were put up for sale.
There were numerous protests and legal actions against the sale and closures, with a new organization called “Save Our Schools” spearheading many of the efforts. However, even a state review, which was granted at the request of consolidation opponents, did not stop the plans. Changes in School Board members also did not halt the consolidation, as new members sided with the incumbents in pushing the consolidation forward.
The purchase of Coughlin was already guaranteed. With the completion of the Meyers agreement on Thursday, a ten-year period of community turmoil might finally be ending.
