Monday, March 18, 2013
City plans to move government offices to new center about a block away.
Easton will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its new city hall on Friday, the mayor's office said Monday. The groundbreaking—scheduled for 2 p.m.—comes about six weeks after Mayor Sal Panto first announced plans to move the city offices from the Alpha building to the intermodal center at 123 S. Third St. In addition to the city offices, the intermodal will include a LANTA bus terminal, commercial space and a new 375-space city parking deck. City officials say the move will help generate income for Easton through the sale of the Alpha building and from rents from the other intermodal space, and give the city goverment a more visible, centralized location. Critics of the project have said the city has moved too quickly, and that the …
40.689326
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Sunday, March 17, 2013
Should Easton be moving its city offices to a new building?
Last week, City Council voted to look for buyers for the Alpha Building, which has been home to Easton government for the last 17 years. The plan is for the city to move its offices to the new intermodal center farther south along Third Street. We've seen a mix of opinion on this move so far. When the idea was first proposed last month, reader Adam Fairchild said the move was that of a modern, competitive city. "Cities that do not spend money on their infrastructure, beautification and modernization will be left behind," he wrote. Commenter Ronnie DelBacco called the idea of a new city hall "a monument for Sal Panto," and said the city needed to be more thrifty. "Stay put and make due with where you are," he wrote. "My guess is that …
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Other big stories include a violent robbery in Wilson, and local reaction to the new pope.
Within three years, Easton's city goverment will have a new home. City Council voted Wednesday to look for buyers for the Alpha Building—its home since 1996—and move to the new $26 million intermodal center. For the past few years, budget season in the Easton Area School District has meant the threat of cuts to staff and programs. And that's the case again this year, where the district could trim 18 positions either through attrition or staff cuts. “It’s March on the calendar, but I’d say the theme of this is Groundhog Day," board member Robert Moskaitis said at Tuesday night's board meeting. Catholics around the globe watched Wednesday as Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the new pope. Among them was the Rev. Deogratias …
Thursday, March 14, 2013
City council voted Wednesday to move out of the Alpha Building and into the intermodal.
Within three years, Easton's city goverment will have a new home. City Council voted Wednesday to look for buyers for the Alpha Building—its home since 1996—and move to the new $26 million intermodal center "We’ve done very well here in the Alpha building, but I think it’s time to move on," said Councilman Jeffrey Warren. Moving to the intermodal will accomplish several things, said Gretchen Longenbach, Easton's director of community and economic development. It puts an "impressive, attractive" building at the city's "gateway," removes a gap in the downtown, and generates income from the sale of the building and the other tenants of the intermodal, she said. And Mayor Sal Panto argued the new building will give city goverment a better …
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Easton City Hall
1 S 3rd St, Easton, PA
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873517
/locations/9013363
Sunday, March 10, 2013
City Council hears more about the City Hall move, the school board meets, and more...
A new week is here, so let's take a look at some of the things on our calendar. 1. City Council meets Wednesday at 6 p.m., with council expected to hear more on the administration's proposal for moving the city officies from the Alpha Building to the intermodal center. 2. The Easton Area School Board will hold its monthly committee meetings Tuesday at 6 p.m. 3. Russian journalist Masha Gessen will give two talks Monday at Lafayette College's Skillman Library, the first at 12:15 p.m., the next at 4:15 p.m. 4. Late Night Catechism comes to the State Theatre for four shows this week. 5. The Historic District Commission meets Monday at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Administration wants to move city offices to intermodal building, but council has questions.
Earlier this week, Mayor Sal Panto announced a plan by his administration to move the city's offices to the planned intermodal building, and then sell the Alpha Building, which has been city headquarters since 1996. At the time, Panto said he would offer more details about the plan at Wednesday night's City Council meeting. And although the mayor did explain more about how the sale would work, council members say they need more time and information -- and want to hear more from residents -- before taking a vote next month. “To really make a good decision, we need a more detailed financial prop of what’s going to happen, including what revenue we lose, what revenue we gain, all of that," said Councilman Roger Ruggles. Councilman Michael …
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Mayor Sal Panto said the city should sell the Alpha building after moving into new intermodal center. What do you think?
If Easton is going to spend money on a new building, it might as well own that building. That's Mayor Sal Panto's argument for moving the city government offices out of the Alpha building on South Third Street and into the still-to-be-built intermodal building a block or so away. Of course, this isn't a done deal. The mayor will bring his plan before city council Wednesday night. And you'll have a chance to speak up then too. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. Until then, we'd like to hear what you think. Take our poll, and then use the comments section to explain why you think the city offices should/shouldn't move.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Mayor Sal Panto says Easton's city offices should be inside new intermodal building.
Easton Mayor Sal Panto wants to move the city government offices out of the Alpha Building and into the new intermodal unit on S. Third Street. Panto made that announcement Monday afternoon, saying he will take the plan before City Council Wednesday evening. The mayor said the city would sell the Alpha Building and try to move into the intermodal -- a $26 million project that will include a three-story structure and a new city parking deck -- by the first part of 2015. "Downtown is really the place for City Hall, there’s no doubt about that," Panto told reporters at a news conference at City Hall. "Whether it needs to be right on the circle in the most prominent building in the city, I don’t think so." Panto said the city is having the …
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Some audio and video equipment still needs to be installed, but otherwise Easton City Council's new space is complete.
After two years of holding Easton city council meetings in the mayor's conference room, the council convened for the first time Wednesday evening in its new chambers. Joined by a number of invited former city council members, two former mayors and several past city administrators, after a brief council session, the group reminisced about days past and memorable occasions during their times in office. The earlier portion of the meeting was marked by audio and microphone difficulties, but the problems were largely ironed out by mid-meeting. Mayor Sal Panto noted the audio system is still awaiting a monitor, and video monitors will also be added to the room, making the viewing of plans and presentations easy for both the council and the …
40.69061
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Easton City Hall
1 S 3rd St, Easton, PA
/articles/new-city-council-chambers-officially-open
873517
/locations/5585575
Tom Coombe
1:22 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Joan, why would a zoning change be necessary? more ›