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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The &#8220;For Rent&#8221; signs have attracted some interest for a downtown property owned by the Wilkes-Barre Parking Authority that&#8217;s been vacant for more than two years.</p><p>But the landlord isn&#8217;t ready to commit to bringing in a new tenant just yet.</p><p>Tom Torbik, executive director of the parking authority, said that&#8217;s because of litigation with the existing tenant.</p><p>The authority signed a multi-year lease with tenant Wes Blakeslee in 2015. He made some repairs on the property located on the street level of the parking garage connected to the James F. Conahan Intermodal Transportation Facility. But Blakeslee stopped paying monthly rent, and the authority turned over the matter to the Rosenn Jenkins &amp; Greenwald law firm, Torbik said Tuesday.</p><p>&#8220;In the meantime, we&#8217;d like to get somebody in there,&#8221; Torbik said.</p><p>&#8220;For Rent&#8221; signs have been placed in the windows with a phone number for LAZ Parking, the authority&#8217;s management company. The signs have drawn attention to the nearly 2,000 square-foot property, Torbik said.</p><p>&#8220;There have been people that have called,&#8221; he noted. But the authority is holding off on signing a new lease until it gets direction from the lawyers on how to proceed.</p><p>Torbik believes a restaurant would be a good fit for the South Main Street site.</p><p>Maers BBQ opened at the spot in January 2012 and closed three years later. The Tony Thomas Deli had a longer run from 1994 until October 2011.</p><p>The existing tenant was selected after the authority issued an RFP, or Request for Proposals.</p><p>&#8220;We did our due diligence,&#8221; Torbik said. But, &#8220;It didn&#8217;t work out.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">While the Wilkes-Barre Parking Authority is involved in litigation with a tenant over unpaid rent at its property on South Main Street, it&#8217;s advertising the space to see who&#8217;s interested. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_TTL090617ParkingBuilding1.jpg</photo0><caption0>While the Wilkes-Barre Parking Authority is involved in litigation with a tenant over unpaid rent at its property on South Main Street, it&#8217;s advertising the space to see who&#8217;s interested. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre Parking Authority seeking tenants at downtown property