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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; They show no visible marks of ownership by Wilkes University, and indeed are south of Ross Street, well beyond recognizable campus landmarks.</p><p>But three former residence halls are set for demolition in the 300 block of South River Street this week.</p><p>&#8220;They&#8217;ve been empty 10 years or more,&#8221; Communications Director Gabrielle D&#8217;Amico said. A review by the university and three separate developers unanimously &#8220;determined they couldn&#8217;t be saved and the best course of action was to take them down.&#8221;</p><p>The work, contracted to Stell Enterprises, could begin as early as Thursday and be done within a week.</p><p>D&#8217;Amico didn&#8217;t know the age of the buildings, but neighboring residences sport porch plaques with &#8220;circa 1870&#8221; and &#8220;circa 1885&#8221; on them.</p><p>All three are three-story buildings the width of a typical double-block home, though only one &#8212; 325-27 &#8212; has two front doors. Technically, that building and neighboring 321 show up on the university website campus map, listed as Lakeside Hall at 321-27 S. River St.</p><p>Both are brick structures. Both show decay &#8212; stucco is blistering and sloughing off at 321, and some of the brick work at the neighboring building needs re-pointing. A shrub sprouts from a chimney at 325-27.</p><p>The third property at 339 is wood frame with clapboard siding in need of repainting, and cedar shakes are missing from the third-floor facade. The wooden steps and porches on 325-27 and 339 both show signs of decay.</p><p>The decision to raze the buildings is not related to ongoing streetscape upgrades replacing sidewalks and streetlights. That work is currently most visible along the 200 block of South Franklin Street, where an army of orange cones and a stream of yellow tape stretch along both sides.</p><p>D&#8217;Amico said there are no current plans for the three properties.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Guydish</p><p>mguydish@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes to raze three former residence halls on campus outskirts