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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The Westmoreland Club is expanding its campus, thanks to the purchase of the former First Baptist Church on River Street and the soon-to-be purchased land that the Jewish Community Center now sits on.</p><p>Robert Williams, the Westmoreland Club&#8217;s general manager and chief operations officer, said the church at 48 S. River St. was purchased for $125,000 and will be developed into a venue for weddings, events and club member parties. Capacity will be about 250 people, Williams said.</p><p>He said the exterior of the church will remain. Other buildings behind the church will also be developed, Williams said.</p><p>The Jewish Community Center will relocate soon to Kingston. Williams said the JCC has agreed to demolish the building and then sell the land to the Westmoreland Club. Williams said the land will be used to expand the club&#8217;s parking capacity &#8212; adding an additional 120 spaces to increase available parking to 170 spaces.</p><p>Williams said the Westmoreland Club, located at 59 S. Franklin St., currently has 715 resident members. He said spouses, associate members and others bring the total membership to 1,400.</p><p>&#8220;The church will be a beautiful venue for many events,&#8221; Williams said. &#8220;We will develop a strategic plan for the other buildings behind the church.&#8221;</p><p>Williams said several options will be considered, such as a fitness/wellness area, additional casual dining space, or areas for recreational use.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re very excited about these purchases,&#8221; said Williams. &#8220;We will soon have more than just the footprint of our building. We can now develop a club to serve future generations.&#8221;</p><p>Williams noted that the paved space next to the club&#8217;s main building is owned by the Osterhout Library. He said the two organizations have an agreement for its use. The Westmoreland Club has used that area for tented events during warm weather. Williams said the tent space covers about 6,000 square feet and can accommodate about 400 people.</p><p>&#8220;We will still be able to use that space for larger events,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Some minor masonry work needs to be done on the church building, work which Williams said will begin in the spring.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">The Westmoreland Club has purchased the former First Baptist Church located next to the Jewish Community Center on South River Street in Wilkes-Barre. The club also plans to buy the land the JCC sits on after that building is demolished. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL012619Westmoreland1.jpg</photo0><caption0>The Westmoreland Club has purchased the former First Baptist Church located next to the Jewish Community Center on South River Street in Wilkes-Barre. The club also plans to buy the land the JCC sits on after that building is demolished. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></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>

Westmoreland Club purchases church; will buy JCC land