LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The fate of two state-owned properties in Luzerne County is once again a hot topic of discussion.
SCI Retreat prison near Shickshinny closed in 2021 and White Haven Center closed in 2023.
State officials have been trying to sell the properties to private entities and/or make them available to Luzerne County officials.
"The meter is running for taxpayers and it's not right". That's what a state senator is saying about two vacant state owned properties in Luzerne County.
State senator David Argall is talking about the former SCI Retreat prison and the former White Haven Center. Both were closed by the state in recent years, efforts are underway to sell or lease the properties.
It appears, based on what I'm being told, SCI Retreat and the White Haven Center will remain vacant for the foreseeable future.
"The state has spent over $160 million essentially mowing the, grass running the water, running the sewer system on buildings that are empty," stated Rep. Argall.
State senator David Argall is talking about all vacant state owned properties: including the former SCI Retreat prison near Shickshinny and the former White Haven Center. The retreat was closed in 2021. At one time it housed 1,000 inmates and employed about 400 staff.
The White Haven Center was closed in 2023. For decades, it provided residential services for people with intellectual challenges. It too employed around 400 staff.
The commonwealth has been marketing both properties trying to find new owners, thus far without success. They recently reached to Luzerne County officials.
But I wish the Department of General Services, Department of Housing Services, would have done some of this years ago. I mean both facilities have been closed for far too long," voiced Rep. Argall.
The state recently reached out to Luzerne County officials . County Manager Romilda Crocamo says White Haven is not a good fit neither is the retreat.
"Of course we're keeping all options open however when we toured the facility in the spring of 2021-22, it really wasn't feasible. The work that would need to be done to update to standards, it wasn't economically feasible," explained Crocamo.
Jim Bach heads up the FLT Museum and Shickshinny Historical Society. He says:
"Well, I've seen other areas that have taken places like this and made it into a tourist attraction where they have places where people can come and stay. There are trails here they can go hiking. There's a lot of history here."
Senator Argall will hold a public meeting on April 10 in White Haven along with state officials to discuss the future of both SCI Retreat and the former White Haven Center.
The I-team reached out to the Department of General Services for comment on this story. We have no yet heard back.
