As developer John Basalygac embarks on another apartment project, this one stands out due to the condition of the property.
The Diocese of Scranton sold the former Nativity school and convent in South Scranton to Basalyga for $675,000 in February 2023.
The purchase included a former convent on Hemlock Street at South Webster Avenue; the former Nativity school, most recently known as Marian Catholic, on Hemock Street; a breezeway connecting the two buildings and ancillary structures in the rear; and a parking lot along Hertz Court.
“It’s a unique project in the sense that it’s probably the nicest building I ever turned into apartments,” he said. “My biggest intent, the whole time, was just keeping the beauty of the school and honoring its past — taking an empty building and creating something that will be full of life, full of people, and hopefully rejuvenate that neighborhood.”
Now, about three years later, crews started interior demolition on some of the existing classrooms and Basalyga expects framing and construction of the apartments in the school to begin in the coming weeks.
“A lot of the existing classrooms are too small to be an apartment so, for the most part, we’re joining every two classrooms into one to make an apartment,” he said.
Overall, Basalyga believes it will take about 12 to 14 months, maybe less, to repurpose the vacant convent and school into 54 one- and two-bedroom apartments — about 12 units in the convent and the rest in the school.
A rendering of John Basalgya and his JBAS Realty firm’s planned conversion of the former Nativity school and convent in South Scranton into 51 apartments. (IMAGE PROVIDED / COURTESY OF JBAS REALTY)
A rendering of John Basalgya and his JBAS Realty firm’s planned conversion of the former Nativity school and convent in South Scranton into 51 apartments. (IMAGE PROVIDED / COURTESY OF JBAS REALTY)
A rendering of John Basalgya and his JBAS Realty firm’s planned conversion of the former Nativity school and convent in South Scranton into 51 apartments. (IMAGE PROVIDED / COURTESY OF JBAS REALTY)
The former Nativity/Marian Catholic School property on Hemlock St. in Scranton on Thursday, April 01, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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A rendering of John Basalgya and his JBAS Realty firm’s planned conversion of the former Nativity school and convent in South Scranton into 51 apartments. (IMAGE PROVIDED / COURTESY OF JBAS REALTY)
Basalyga plans to preserve the exteriors of the convent and school. The convent has a chapel with an arched, ornate ceiling, and the school has a spacious lobby with coffered ceiling and chandelier.
“We’re preserving the existing marble wainscoting on the walls and we’re keeping the existing terrazzo floors,” he said. “We’re going to work on preserving a lot of the existing, beautiful old stained glass in the building. Much of what was there, the beauty of that building, will still be intact.”
The entire school property will be part of the transformation, Basalyga added.
“We’re even using the attic for really cool apartments,” he said. “There are all kinds of structural beams and steel in there. It’s going to be fascinating to see. We got the best yield out of the building without ruining it.”
A room in the convent that houses a piano will likely be used as an amenity space for tenants, Basalyga said.
He also plans to eventually purchase the church and rectory on the same property.
“We talked with the diocese a lot about it and we have really good conversations,” Basalyga said. “Is it our intent to purchase those and continue with the rest of the project. We’re going to have some cool outside areas, too. The intent is to build its own little village if I end up with all three buildings.”
While Basalyga noted some city residents and former parishioners expressed dismay over the shuttering of the church and school, he feels his efforts will help soften the blow.
“I think it’s really the best case,” he said. “A lot of people are upset about the church closing, but this certainly beats it sitting there empty. As hard as it is to say, I think it will look even better when I’m done. I know it will.”
Monday Update
THEN: Developer John Basalyga announced in August plans to construct 50-plus apartments at the former Nativity school and convent in South Scranton.
NOW: Renovations started in late February and Baslayga envisions crews will start framing and building the apartments in the former school property in the coming weeks.