Pocono News Section

New Owners Plan Big Changes at Williamsport Apartment Complex

New Owners Plan Big Changes at Williamsport Apartment Complex - Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 4:23PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Tuesday, Feb 19, 2008 @04:23pm EST
Williamsport, Lycoming County-

You could call it a new lease on life for a rundown apartment complex in downtown Williamsport. A place that has been described as an eyesore, and one of the worst properties in the city. Deplorable conditions, drug use, and criminal activity have all been associated with this Edwin Street apartment complex. Conditions here at the former Mantle Apartment complex were so bad, the building was deemed unfit for human habitation last summer. The 21 apartments here have remained unoccupied ever since.

But new owners Steve and Marcia Baldwin, of Forksville, are working as hard as they can to clean up the building, and turn its image around.

Building Supervisor Darren Fischer said, "We're trying to get the setting that was here once before. There were families that stayed on this property, and they were comfortable. Older people stayed here, and they were comfortable. We're trying to bring that setting back to the community."

"We see the potential the building and know that, at one time, it was a good building for the community, and we just believe we can make that happen again," Mrs. Baldwin said.

That process begins by renovating the property, inside and out. Mr. Baldwin noted, "We put in new baseboard heat. They all have their own thermostat in each room, and we put new hot water tanks in each apartment...We have some exterior work we want to do in the spring. Painting, putting up fixtures, making the outside look nice as well."

The Baldwins will be doing other cosmetic work to the apartments. But they also hope to revitalize the neighborhood in this section of Williamsport, by screening for quality tenants who will act as good neighbors.

"My vision is to see a place where families can come and have decent living, and feel safe," Marcia Baldwin said.

Nancy Pepperman works near the apartment building. "Good housing sometimes is hard to come by and I think it's really important to have landlords who are on the scene, who are going to follow up on different things like that," she said.

"By the time that we're done with this property and with this project, it's going to be a safe and beautiful environment, inside and out," Fischer added.

We’re told the major work on the new Baldwin Apartments will be wrapping up in the next few weeks. That’s when the owners will start looking to rent out the complex. Prospective tenants are encouraged to stop by the office located in the complex at 745 Edwin Street to pick up an application.