Scranton, PA - Developer is Not Buying School, Paving Way for Orthodox Jewish Community

Scranton, PA - One of two groups interested in buying the closed East Intermediate School has bowed out, possibly paving the way for an Orthodox Jewish community to buy the building and move families here.

Campus Apartments, a Bucks-County based group, told the Scranton School District it is no longer interested in the Quincy Avenue building.
As a result, the School Board is expected at a proposed special meeting Aug. 21 to vote on selling the school to the Orthodox community from Brooklyn, N.Y. Community member Rabbi Alter Rosenbaum offered the district $400,000 - at least $25,000 to $50,000 higher than a previous appraisal on the school. The community plans to use the building as a school.

Despite the Orthodox community’s offer, the board was considering the other group’s offer, which was not made public, because it involved a for-profit use that would put the property on the tax rolls. A school use would most likely be tax-exempt.
The Orthodox community purchase would have its own benefits, however. The 5,000- to 7,000-member community plans to relocate 100 families here if it can buy the school, with up to 1,000 families eventually moving to Scranton. Community members also are expected to open businesses.

Board members Robert Lesh and Kathleen McGuigan said they support the sale. “I think that would be great for the economy and great for taxes if they purchase homes,” Mr. Lesh said.