NANTICOKE —The city is poised to acquire the former Pennsylvania Army National Guard armory on Main Street in Nanticoke.
Members of the state legislature on Sunday authorized the Department of General Services to sell the former armory to the city for $860,000 as part of a budget package deal.
Gov. Josh Shapiro is expected to approve the transaction, one of a dozen real estate transactions the state legislature authorized Sunday.
A requirement of the deal is that the 5.5-acre armory property be used for municipal purposes or it will revert back to the Commonwealth.
The state legislature on Sunday authorized the transfer of ownership of the former Pennsylvania Army National Guard armory in Nanticoke to the city. (Bob Kalinowski / Staff Photographer)
Nanticoke Mayor Kevin Coughlin said the city will definitely use the property in the future, but there are no specific plans yet.
“We have to get engineers in there to see what we can do with it. We have nothing planned right now,” Coughlin said.
The mayor credited state Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20, of Lehman Twp., for giving the city the opportunity to buy the armory and helping to get the bill passed to acquire the property.
“The new state budget authorizes the transfer of the DMVA armory to the City of Nanticoke. The armory has been a part of the community for more than a century. Its purpose has passed, unfortunately,” Baker said. “Now local leaders can plan a new public purpose for this community asset. Turning former state facilities over to community control has created opportunities elsewhere in the region, and the same can be true here. I am committed to working with Mayor Coughlin and the council to have a smooth transition on the transfer.
The state legislature on Sunday authorized the transfer of ownership of the former Pennsylvania Army National Guard armory in Nanticoke to the city. (Bob Kalinowski / Staff Photographer)
The Nanticoke facility — which was upgraded with millions of dollars in renovations in recent years — was the longtime home of Bravo Battery of the 109th Field Artillery, Pennsylvania Army National Guard.
However, the military hasn’t used the property much since the 109th was disbanded on Aug. 31 last year when it became the 28th Division Artillery, or the 28th DIVARTY.
The 28th Division Artillery remains headquartered in Wilkes-Barre on Market Street.