Just outside of Courthouse Square is where work on another new upscale downtown apartment building is underway.

It’s taking place inside the old Lackawanna County Administrators building.

The new life for this downtown building is something that could also create more foot traffic, something many nearby small businesses rely on.

Some downtown residents, including Bryan Hall, moved back to the Scranton area from New York because of the boom and new apartments in the city.

”Everything is here at my doorstep. I need something with some things going on, some access to restaurants, just the day to day. I love the city life. And this place offered everything for me” Hall said.

Bryan is among dozens who live inside a downtown Scranton building at the corner of Lackawanna and Penn. Many Scrantonians know the place from way back as the Samter’s Brothers Clothing Store. The place has been rockin’ and rollin’ with tenants since 2017.  Its success set the stage for “Admiral Management Services” and its Scranton developer to blaze new trails in downtown living.

It’s called “200 Adams.” It is under development right now near courthouse square.

”It was once the county (Lackawanna) Administration building. It housed the commissioners’ office” Jessica Kalinoski with Admiral Management Services said.

And by this fall, 200 Adams will become 65, one and two bedroom apartments” Kalinoski said.

So why the big boom in downtown living? And why now?

”There’s now a segment of the population and businesses allowing their employees to work from home. They can get double the space for half the price. They can work from home and contribute to our city” Kalinoski said.

”Our rents start around $900 and go to $1,900 dollars a month. The price depends if it’s a one bedroom or two bedroom and what floor you’re on.”

 The cost of the total project is $10 million dollars.

Jessica Kalinoski also told Newswatch 16 that whether it’s at 200 Adams or at another downtown property that Admiral Management Services oversees the demand is there!

“We have six buildings, more than 200 units, and we’re thrilled that they’re occupied. And that those places didn’t just become some parking lot or surface lot in the city of Scranton” Kalinoski said.

The Mayor of Scranton adds that as the new development at both Wyoming Avenue and Adams takes place, it helps attracts even more tenants downtown which helps small businesses thrive!

The new construction helps bring a new demographic to the city’s downtown,  many from out of state, that’ll all help play a vital role in the city’s ongoing revitalization.

 ”It’s a great place to stretch out a little bit. You can get an apartment in downtown Scranton that’s a lot bigger than what you’d get in New York or New Jersey or Philadelphia. We’re looking for people to move out of those densely populated cities, especially post COVID to come here, to come to Scranton. To visit our incredible restaurants, our incredible stores and to get an incredible quality of life where you can go hiking and biking just 10 or 20 minutes away” Mayor Paige Cognetti said.