“It became clear from discussions that I had between local officials and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials that some clarifying language was necessary for a few of the projects that I requested funding for in order to meet the local needs,” he said.
He concluded by acknowledging that the parking garage still needed “further clarification” and that he was working with the Federal Highway Administration to find a solution.
The Kanjorski Center, which now stands empty, was built in 1993 with federal funds the congressman helped attain.
Local officials dubbed it the Kanjorski Center out of gratitude for the economic boon they expected it would generate. Initially, 300 employees of Travelers Insurance Co., which later was purchased by United Health, moved into the building to process Medicare claims.
Several years later, however, times toughened. United Health, now named HealthNow NY, threatened to cancel its contract because it needed more space to bring in 125 more positions. The company needed the space quickly and local officials readily came up with a plan to add 20,000 square feet onto the back of the building for $2.8 million.
Kanjorski had another idea that drew opposition from other local officials.
According to a report in the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, he urged the company to consider relocating to what would be a new, 60,000-square-foot building on South Market Street. That plan would have required the purchase of at least 11 properties, two of which were owned by Kanjorski family members. Kanjorski brought in a private developer with whom he had a longstanding relationship to pitch the Market Street building idea directly to HealthNow.
Charles Margelewicz, who chaired the Nanticoke General Municipal Authority, stepped in to oppose the plans to acquire the 11 properties on Market Street, even though Kanjorski had secured at least two federal grants to do so. After the chairman’s opposition, the authority rejected the plan.
Kanjorski’s office did not respond to questions about this report.
The expansion of the Kanjorski Center went ahead, but HealthNow left a few years ago and the building now stands empty. Local officials have attracted a new, recession-proof client in the Luzerne County Community College, which plans to open a health science center.
The earmark for the parking garage was supposed to accommodate student and faculty parking, but DoT spokeswoman Sarah Echols in a statement to the Hill said that, as currently written, it would not allow DoT to process funds.
In a four-page letter sent to Kanjorski in late May, DoT General Counsel D.J. Gribben explained the garage was inconsistent with federal rules. But Gribben pledged to work with Kanjorski’s staff to modify the project in the next transportation technical corrections bill so the city can provide some parking for the center, if not a parking garage.
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