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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; When driving over the Market Street Bridge into the city, you can&#8217;t help but notice those minarets.</p><p>They point to the sky, but they define your destination. You know you&#8217;re about to enter Wilkes-Barre when you see the Irem Temple mosque.</p><p>Ironically, because of the demolition of another city landmark &#8212; the Hotel Sterling &#8212; the view of the Irem Temple is more noticeable these days.</p><p>Seeing those minarets also tells you, reminds you actually, many historic landmarks that, for decades, graced the city, are gone &#8212; forever.</p><p>How did this happen? Why were so many historical buildings allowed to be taken down? Why wasn&#8217;t more done &#8212; why wasn&#8217;t everything done &#8212; to keep them?</p><p>All good questions. Fair questions, at that. But the reality is many are gone. Many have been saved, too, but we can&#8217;t allow more to go.</p><p>I sat down with Wico van Genderen, president/CEO of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce, and Larry Newman, executive director of the Diamond City Partnership, to discuss the Irem Temple and its future.</p><p>I came away believing both men want to see the building saved. They truly see its value. They also know it will take a concerted effort to assure the distinctive building avoids the wrecking ball.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re at a critical point,&#8221; Wico said.</p><p>The Chamber purchased the mosque in 2005. It has been dormant since the mid 1990s and vacant for the last 10 years. The roof is leaking. As Wico said, &#8220;The elements are getting in.&#8221;</p><p>Something needs to be done sooner rather than later.</p><p>Wico and Larry said the Chamber cannot do it alone. They suggest a consortium be formed, bringing in representatives from business, academic and government arenas. The building needs to be stabilized, a process that could cost $1 million.</p><p>A study needs to be done to come up with a plan for viable uses of the building. Gone are its days as a 1,500-seat opera house or a home for stage and screen events. The building, while staying replete in its exterior splendor, must be re-invented on the inside. Besides, we now have the very successful F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts. We don&#8217;t need another one.</p><p>But as Wico and Larry wait for the necessary funding to start the process, the clock of deterioration is ticking. The longer the building goes untouched, the sooner the end will come.</p><p>This is what happened in 2011 when the Susquehanna River water seeped into the basement of the Hotel Sterling. We would be told the already deteriorating former grand hotel was damaged beyond repair. Now, all we have left of the Sterling are photographs and memories.</p><p>The same thing almost happened to the former Stegmaier Brewery building off Wilkes-Barre Boulevard. But, a resolution was found. The Stegmaier building would no longer brew beer, instead being re-tooled to become an office building with its historic exterior preserved.</p><p>An objective process must begin soon to save the Irem Temple building. Time is of the essence. Once the building is stabilized, the process must continue to find the sustainable uses for it to survive.</p><p>The situation is bad. Insurance carriers have advised the Chamber not to allow anyone in the building because of liability risks. That tells you we are nearing the point of no return.</p><p>The Chamber bought the Irem Temple for &#8220;safekeeping&#8221; in 2005 for just under $1 million. The Chamber&#8217;s bid in 2013 to land a grant for about $2.5 million was ignored.</p><p>It would take millions &#8212; as much as $15 million &#8212; to restore the Irem Temple, according to an analysis performed for the chamber.</p><p>Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tony George has stated he would &#8220;work with anyone who wants to restore the Irem Temple.&#8221;</p><p>Wico and Larry have been &#8220;having conversations&#8221; about possible solutions. There has been much talk in the community about saving the 110-year-old Irem Temple mosque. Social media has several sites dedicated to the cause.</p><p>However, the reality is we all have to stop talking about it and do something before it&#8217;s too late.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Bill O&#8217;Boyle </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_Oboyle_Bill-2-1-6.jpg</photo0><caption0>Bill O&#8217;Boyle </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IREM-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The Irem Temple auditorium in its heyday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IREM-4.jpg</photo1><caption1>The Irem Temple auditorium in its heyday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Times Leader File Photo </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_Irem4_LAW_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Auditorium of the Irem Temple building on North Franklin Street. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_Irem4_LAW_.jpg</photo2><caption2>Auditorium of the Irem Temple building on North Franklin Street. </caption2><photoCredit2>Times Leader File Photo </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_Irem5_LAW_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The Irem Temple Ballroom. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_Irem5_LAW_.jpg</photo3><caption3>The Irem Temple Ballroom. </caption3><photoCredit3>Times Leader File Photo </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_Irem6_LAW_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Balcony seats at the Irem Temple in Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_Irem6_LAW_.jpg</photo4><caption4>Balcony seats at the Irem Temple in Wilkes-Barre. </caption4><photoCredit4>Times Leader File Photo </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL020616Mosque.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wico Van Genderen, left, Chamber President/CEP and Larry Newman, executive director of the Diamond City Partnership, talk about the future of the Irem Temple Mosque building on North Franklin Street in Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL020616Mosque.jpg</photo5><caption5>Wico Van Genderen, left, Chamber President/CEP and Larry Newman, executive director of the Diamond City Partnership, talk about the future of the Irem Temple Mosque building on North Franklin Street in Wilkes-Barre. </caption5><photoCredit5>Times Leader File Photo </photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_irem2tljpg.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Silhouetted minarets of the Irem Temple in downtown Wilkes-Barre mark the city&#8217;s skyline. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_irem2tljpg.jpg</photo6><caption6>Silhouetted minarets of the Irem Temple in downtown Wilkes-Barre mark the city&#8217;s skyline. </caption6><photoCredit6>Times Leader File Photo </photoCredit6></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

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In Focus: Something needs to be done - and soon - to save the historic Irem Temple Mosque in Wilkes-Barre