DUPONT — The Ben Franklin Kindergarten Center housed thousands of students for 50 years and may soon be home to the same students once taught there.
According to Dupont Borough President Stanley Knick, the borough hopes to use the building for senior housing. The sale of the building was completed on June 18.
“We’re certainly looking into senior housing,” Knick said. “That’s our first option right now.”
The property, purchased from the Pittston Area School District for $290,000, is being financed through a loan from PNC Bank, but a grant from the state department of agriculture will be sought once the final purpose for the facility is established.
Knick said the borough has been working with U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, state Sen. John Blake and state Rep. Michael Carroll to secure funds to help renovate the building. He said the old school’s classrooms are just about the perfect size for senior living quarters.
“There are a lot of people in town that are elderly that can’t afford their homes and they don’t want to leave Dupont,” Knick said.
Dan Lello, who has served as the borough’s mayor since 2004, has seen the kindergarten center in working operation. According to the mayor, 60 percent of the population in Dupont is around 60 years old. He mentioned neighboring towns, such as Duryea, West Pittston and Pittston all offer senior housing.
Lello is 68 years old and lives in a seven-room house.
“I might not need that down the road,” he said. “A lot of people don’t want to move out of town. Many members of the community are congratulating us on getting the property.”
The building, a single-level structure which sits on 4.8 acres, has 14 rooms and a cafeteria.
“That would work perfectly for people who have a wheelchair of any handicaps,” he said.
The property currently has a baseball/softball field, a basketball court and a tennis court, all in dilapidated condition.
In July 2013, the school, which sits at 611 Walnut St., was closed because of problems with the building. An engineer said within the next year or two, the roof, carpeting, HVAC, electrical system and fire alarm system would all need to be upgraded at a cost of $1 to $1.5 million.
In 1959, the property was controlled by the Dupont High School and became part of the Pittston Area School District when neighborhood schools were consolidated into one district. The center was under school district ownership for the past 56 years.
When the school closed, current students were transferred to the Pittston Primary Center in Hughestown. In late 2013, the school was valued at $702,000.
At the March Pittston Area School Board meeting, the board accepted an offer from Main Street Realty LLC to purchase the property for the $290,000. Dupont was given 30 days to choose if it wanted to exercise its right of first refusal, which was set when the school closed. In April, Dupont notified the board it would match the bid and purchase the building.
