Greenridge residents seek clarity on Park Gardens; housing authority identified as manager

Greenridge residents told the Scranton City Council they want clear answers about the status and future of Park Gardens, a neighborhood rental complex that neighbors fear could change in character if ownership or funding were altered.

At the meeting, Laura Agostini, president of the Greenridge Neighborhood Association, summarized residents’ inquiries and asked council and administration for transparency. Agostini said questions included whether Park Gardens is a city asset, whether the city pays any bills for the property, whether the complex receives federal funding and whether its ownership or program restrictions (for example, age restrictions or income-based occupancy) may change.

“My understanding is that Park Gardens is owned by the city of Scranton,” Agostini said during public comment, and she asked council to help provide accurate information to neighbors. Agostini also said the association had attempted to obtain minutes from the Scranton Housing Authority and had not been able to find recent records online.

Why it matters: Residents say Park Gardens fits the Greenridge neighborhood’s character and that a conversion to a subsidized or income-restricted property could change neighborhood composition and management. The questions raised touch on transparency about public housing assets and tenant impacts.

Council and administration follow-up

Council members asked that Agostini’s questions be sent to the administration for written answers. Mister King and Mister Schuster asked that a formal list of questions be forwarded so staff could provide definitive responses. Doctor Reister (council member speaking during the meeting) provided a clarification: Park Gardens is owned and managed by the Scranton Housing Authority and “they do not get city funding,” and the housing authority is working to make minutes available after recent membership changes.

Clarifying details recorded in the meeting included residents’ statements that Park Gardens currently does not have income restrictions and does not receive federal funding, according to the speaker’s understanding; the Community Housing Partnership was referenced by a public commenter as an organization that manages low-income properties in other places, but no formal transfer or management contract was presented to council. Council asked the administration and the Scranton Housing Authority for definitive, documented answers and requested minutes from recent Housing Authority meetings.

Ending

Council members directed staff to forward the neighborhood’s questions to administration and to request the Housing Authority produce or provide recent meeting minutes. The meeting record shows a public meeting about Park Gardens was scheduled for Jan. 13 in the basement of Saint Clare’s Church; council members and neighborhood leaders said tenants should be invited to that forum.