PITTSTON — The Lofts at Newrose are starting to take shape while the Water’s Edge Condominiums are coming together.

The high-end loft apartments at the Newrose Building and the condos at Water’s Edge are both expected to be near completion within the next several weeks.

According to Main Street Manager Rose Randazzo, tenants will begin moving into the first two floors of retail space in the the Newrose in September. The top three floors are expected to be filled with residents come October. Randazzo also announced one of the retail spaces has already been snatched.

Tea and Holly, a small home furnishings store, expects to open the first week of September. The store will offer a tea bar and Wi-Fi, along with small desserts and sandwiches.

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Although Tea and Holly is the only committed business committed to set up shop in the lower floors, there are only one or two loft apartments remaining, according to Randazzo.

Pittston’s first “skyscraper” was a thriving downtown building for many years, most recently housing a daycare and offices. It will now be the home to Grace Luxury Apartments, comprised of the construction firms of Patrick Hadley and Tino Feretti.

“I’m so thrilled about all of this,” Randazzo said. “I’m happy for the merchants. People have to live in downtown and that’s where the offices need to be, as well. Everyone is doing well.”

The Newrose has approximately 10,000 square feet per floor. According to a story in the Sunday Dispatch in March 2013, the building was purchased in 1921 by Jacob Newman and Joseph Rosen. Newman’s and Rosen’s last names were combined to name the Newrose Building. Newman was a politically active merchant from Dupont while Rosen was a resident and merchant from Plains Township.

Water’s Edge takes shape

While the Newrose is being transformed from an historic building to high-end space, Water’s Edge has come from the ground up. Work, which began in late 2014, is almost complete on the inside and Randazzo said models will be ready within the next two weeks.

Currently, final exterior landscaping is taking place. The realtor will then begin to set up models and announce hours for tours and an exact opening date.

Water’s Edge, located adjacent to Cooper’s Waterfront Restaurant on Kennedy Boulevard, has been in the planning stages for the last decade and is being built through a public-private partnership.

The Pittston City Redevelopment Authority obtained $4 million in state grants, including $1.5 million in gaming funds and $2.5 million from a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program from the state Office of the Budget. Grimm Construction is the primary contractor for the project.

Water’s Edge will feature 30 condominiums, including 80 percent condos with a view of the river. All maintenance will be provided on-site with a large community room for residents. A variety of floor plans are available offering two and three-bedroom units. Floor plans range from 700 square feet to upwards of 1,800 square feet.

Randazzo said there isn’t much space left in downtown Pittston.

“Things are going fast,” she said. “People have to remember they can get all of their shopping done in one place. These apartments will prove people can do that. There’s no need to go to the big box stores. We have everything right here in downtown.”

Streetscape making progress

While the streetscape project is finishing on Kennedy Boulevard, it will gain momentum when it heads back to South Main Street in the next few weeks.

During last month’s Pittston City Council meeting, the council announced it will request a Multimodal Transportation Fund Grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority for the Main Street Streetscape Project. A grant of approximately $1 million will be requested to complete the streetscape project from the Columbus Statue at the corner of Kennedy Boulevard and South Main Street, to Winter Street, adjacent to the Sunoco and Dunkin’ Donuts.

The project on Kennedy Boulevard was paid for with a $250,000 PennDOT Transportation Enhancement Grant. The revamped sidewalks now extend from the Firefighters’ Memorial Bridge to Cooper’s Waterfont Restaurant. Crews have started planting Turf Lillies next to the sidewalks.

The Water’s Edge Condominiums are expected to be finished within the next two weeks. Crews are working on finishing the exterior landscaping.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_WatersEdge.jpg.optimal.jpgThe Water’s Edge Condominiums are expected to be finished within the next two weeks. Crews are working on finishing the exterior landscaping. Nick Wagner | Sunday Dispatch

The Lofts at Newrose on Main Street in Pittston will begin to house business tenants by early September and residents by October.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_Newrose1.jpg.optimal.jpgThe Lofts at Newrose on Main Street in Pittston will begin to house business tenants by early September and residents by October. Nick Wagner | Sunday Dispatch

Pittston City’s Streetscape Project took on Kennedy Boulevard. Shown are the new sidewalks extend from the Water Street Bridge to Cooper’s Waterfront Restaurant.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_Streetscape.jpg.optimal.jpgPittston City’s Streetscape Project took on Kennedy Boulevard. Shown are the new sidewalks extend from the Water Street Bridge to Cooper’s Waterfront Restaurant. Nick Wagner | Sunday Dispatch

The front of the Lofts at Newrose got a facelift recently.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_Newrose2.jpg.optimal.jpgThe front of the Lofts at Newrose got a facelift recently. Nick Wagner | Sunday Dispatch

Some of the color on the outside of the Newrose is also changing color.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_Newrose3.jpg.optimal.jpgSome of the color on the outside of the Newrose is also changing color. Nick Wagner | Sunday Dispatch
Apartments, condos in downtown should be finished by end of month

By Nick Wagner

nwagner@timesleader.com

Reach Nick Wagner at 570-991-6406 or on Twitter @Dispatch_Nick