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David Usavage, newest LCCC board member, commits himself to service

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WB Area employee used district email to publicize school board president and brother-in-law’s fundraiser for city council campaign

WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The city is planning to sell a small property to Bell Furniture for proposed improvements to the store and the owner&#8217;s efforts to revitalize the downtown.During its work session Tuesday night, city council had no questions about the $154,000 offer from James Bellezza, president of Bell Home Furnishings Inc., to purchase a portion of 103-105 S. Main St. At council&#8217;s regularly scheduled meeting Thursday night, it will vote on the resolution authorizing the city to go through with the sale.After the session, Bellezza provided a copy of his letter to Mayor Tom Leighton, explaining his plans to purchase the lot next to Bell Furniture. The parcel is one of several between the store and the former Army/Navy store.&#8220;What we would like to do with 103 S. Main would be put a side entrance in our building at 99 S. Main St. We would also like to redo and stucco the side like we did with the old Army/Navy store at 111-113 S. Main St. and make this a showplace area,&#8221; Bellezza wrote. The former Army/Navy store houses Bell&#8217;s leather furniture gallery.The improvements would allow the business to expand its inventory to include brands such as Bassett furniture, the letter read. &#8220;These kinds of galleries bring in medium and above medium income customers; we feel this would help the restaurants and other retailers in the area because the one thing Wilkes-Barre needs right now is higher-end customers to support these places,&#8221; Bellezza wrote. He added the city has great restaurants, but they have trouble supporting themselves. &#8220;A business like ours breeds other specialty shops and would be a good start for the city,&#8221; he wrote.Bellezza noted his plan would lead to improvements at other properties and referenced the Wyoming Valley Art League, &#8220;who we think would like to see us purchase this lot so they can redo part of their building in the front, as well.&#8221;Further down the block, Wilkes University last week dedicated its $1.7 million Gateway, a lighted, brick walkway from South Main Street across South Franklin Street into the Fenner Quadrangle on campus.Bellezza suggested the city hold on to the center lot at 107 S. Main St. and use it for metered parking while keeping Grover Lane open to vehicular traffic.<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Jerry Lynottjlynott@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLNews</shirttailMeta></div>

Bell Furniture owner plans improvements to Wilkes-Barre store to boost downtown