Wyoming, Old Forge Make Title Game 
The Warriors Power Past Seton Catholic, And The Blue Devils Beat Northwest In
The Holiday Tournament.

Anna Sadauckas

By JON FOX jfox@leader.net
 Tuesday, December 28, 2004 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





WILKES-BARRE - It was a case that pitted a cash-starved city against a
downtown property owner. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But on Monday, City Council relented and granted Salvatore Salci approval
to demolish a downtown home and pay lower property taxes on the lot. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Fortunately, the city and I have reached an amicable agreement," Salci
said after the decision. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Salci, who owns Salci Construction with his father, Joseph, had sought
council's permission to tear down a home at 477 S. Main St. to expand the
parking lot of his business. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Council had agreed to allow the demolition providing Salci continues to pay
the taxes on the current assessed valued of the property. Salci balked at the
demand. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It's like asking me to pay for a Ferrari when what I've got is a Pinto,"
he said earlier this month. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Current taxes on the home, which Salci intends to buy from Leonard Woods,
total $2,006, but Salci estimated that without the structure on the lot taxes
would decrease to between $200 and $300. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Council Chairwoman Kathy Kane said council's decision to relent was based
on "some hefty discussion with Mr. Salci at the last session." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 There was also a concern that the city would be unable to defend the
stipulation that taxes remain the same. "I'm not sure legally we could win in
court if we told them they were responsible for that," Kane said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At a Dec. 9 meeting, Salci had threatened to sue the city over council's
request that he continue to pay the current tax level on the property. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In the past, council has granted demolition requests contingent on current
tax assessments being maintained, said Bill Vinsko, assistant city attorney.
This year several residents have agreed to council's request as a way to help
out the cash-strapped city, he said, adding, "Mostly everyone has complied." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The debate over Salci's plans spiraled out of a 2002 ordinance drafted to
stem former-Mayor Tom McGroarty's go-it-alone, unfunded construction projects
and razings of city property. At the time, council passed an ordinance
requiring all demolitions within the city be approved by council. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It was under that ordinance that Salci was required to seek council's
approval for a plan that he and Woods, the seller, had agreed upon. Kane said
council plans to revisit that ordinance and likely rewrite it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The intent of the ordinance two years ago is different than what the
intent would be today," Vinsko said. "The intent then was to save historic
facades." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Salci intends to demolish the home, which also housed a beauty salon, to
afford more storage space for heavy construction equipment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Jon Fox, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7219. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

W-b Backs Down In Plan To Raze Home City Council Will Tax Property At Appropriate Lower Rate After House Is Demolished For Parking.