64 West Ross St. Flower Garden & Outdoor Education Space
FUTURE PLANS:
May 2026 - Due diligence is ongoing and we hope to close by mid-late May.
June 2026 - TBD the garden hopes to collaborate with the Downtown Resident’s Association for the annual neighborhood picnic.
Summer 2026 - Fundraise and apply for Jr. Leadership Northeast RFP
Fall 2026 - Organize cohort(s) to advise on the design and funding for the garden.
Winter 2026/2027 - Finish design and start to build the garden.
Spring 2026 - Finish building and start to plant the garden, then begin programing.
Summer/Fall 2027 - Programing & garden maintenance.
For more information, or to join our list of advisors and collaborators, please complete the form at the bottom of this page:
Timeline / Project History:
May 2021 - Mayor George C. Brown ordered the emergency demolition of what neighbors referred to as the ‘ vine’ or ‘ivy’ house (after years of neglect it was beyond repair and overgrown with vegetation.)
‘Vine house due for demolition’ - Times Leader, April 9, 2021
Crew razes problem house on Ross St. in Wilkes-Barre - Citizen’s Voice May 5, 2021
Wilkes-Barre house in ‘deplorable shape’ demolished - Fox56 May, 5, 2021
The property has been vacant since…
August 2024 The Lower South Valley Land Bank acquired the property.
Land bank purchase remove 19 properties from Luzerne County back-taxe auction - Times Leader, August 7, 2024
September 2024 - Social Fabric Collective Executive Director, Jamie Smith, began regularly attending the Lower South Valley Land Bank’s monthly board meetings.
November 2024 - The deed was recorded with the Luzerne County Courthouse.
March - April 2025 - The land bank announced an RFP (request for proposal) process. A group of over (50) neighbors, downtown businesses and local non-profit organizations signed on in support of the proposal to create a perennial flower garden & outdoor youth education space.
May 2025 - The neighborhood shared idea with city council. About a dozen members of the community also met with Mayor Brown.
Article about May 2025 City Council meeting, including garden project - Times Leader, May 22, 2025
Group wants Wilkes-Barre historic district lot for garden, learning area - Citizen’s Voice, May 26, 2025
June 2025 - The land bank’s board voted unanimously to sell the garden the property.
Land bank OKs sale of Downtown Wilkes-Barre lot for educational garden - Citizen’s Voice, June 11, 2025
June 2025 - February 2026 - lingering legal issues -including IRS liens had to be resolved.
March 2025 - the property was professionally surveyed and we applied for a city zoning hearing.
April 2026 - an agreement of sale was signed, one week later the garden received approval from both city planning and zoning.
Community garden gets Wilkes-Barre zoning nod - Times Leader, April 15, 2025
Wilkes-Barre flower garden, youth education center clears final hurdle - Citizen’s Voice, April 17, 2026