Wyoming Area Passes Budget; Taxes To Rise

Ada Gleockler 
June 26, 1996 
Ada W. Gleockler, 94, Of Forksville, Died Wednesday At The Sycamore Manor, 
Williamsport.

By MITCH MORRISON; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Friday, June 28, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE -- The Luzerne County Convention Center Authority listened to
different philosophies as three major companies pitched why each should be
hired to oversee construction of the proposed $44 million arena/convention
center. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The three firms offered different advantages: One has worked with the
authority for nearly two years; another has worked with the authority's
consultant, and the third is represented by a Luzerne County native. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The three agreed on certain items: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The fall 1998 scheduled opening date is "aggressive" and, possibly, overly
optimistic. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The 75 acres surrounding the arena at the Highland Business Park must be
incorporated into an overall plan to develop hotels, restaurants, specialty
stores and other operations that could pump revenue into the arena. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Favor contracting local labor unions for construction work. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Willing to invest private funds to help build the facility. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Guarantee the price would not exceed $44 million. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After listening to three hours of presentations, Chairman Stephen Barrouk
said the 11-member authority hoped to select a master developer by Aug. 1. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The following are summaries of each presentation. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Fox Management Corp., Chesterbrook: Founded in 1953, Fox Management
recently was developer of the $135 million CoreStates Center, the 21,000-seat
new home of the Philadelphia Flyers and 76ers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In that project, the company worked with Legg Mason, the Luzerne County
arena authority's consultant. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Executive Vice President Robert Lee described Fox Management's role. "We
let the authority make the decisions, but we tell you when you need to act on
a particular item." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Gilbane Properties, subsidiary of Gilbane Co., New Jersey: Unlike the other
two companies, Gilbane proposes to be the master developer and builder of the
arena. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Some board members felt this would represent a conflict -- how could
Gilbane represent the best interests of the arena authority while overseeing
itself? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But company official Vice President Ed Broderick said Gilbane boasts
extensive experience in developing, constructing and marketing properties.
Among the firm's largest jobs were serving as development manager for the 1980
Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y. and the Inner Harbor East project in
Baltimore. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Broderick said Gilbane would be willing to take out a $3.5 million bond to
help finance the facility's construction only if it is named master developer.
If it's hired only as the project's builder, the bond offer would be
withdrawn. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Federal Development Co., Paoli: The principles of this company have worked
under different corporate names on several other multi-million dollar projects
including the $150 million Fleet Center in Boston, home to the Boston Celtics
and Boston Bruins. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Company officials said they would work to recruit an arena football team,
traveling shows and concerts. "Our vision is to make sure this is a viable
part of the community," said principle member Cary Chevat. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Of the three bidders for master developer, Federal Development is the only
one with a local partner -- Tom Flaherty. "We'd be the eyes, ears and arms of
the authority," Flaherty said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

3 Firms Compete To Oversee Arena Convention Center Authority Hears From Each About The Construction Of Planned $44 Million Center