Basalyga's appeals for lower taxes head to court

Borys Krawczeniuk, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
Updated ·2 min read

Oct. 25—Developer John Basalyga's appeals for lower taxes on more than a dozen properties will play out in Lackawanna County Court.

Attorney Francis J. Hoegen, Basalyga's lawyer, said he couldn't get all the appraisals establishing the properties' values done in time for a county Board of Assessment Appeals hearing Wednesday.

The board requires the owners of properties valued at more than $50,000 to present real estate value appraisals.

That forced the board to deny the appeals, which Hoegen said he will appeal to county court, where he will present appraisals.

Typically, a court appeal leads to mediation where lawyers for landowners and the board work out a compromise value. Chief assessor Tim Booth said Hoegen regularly fails to present appraisals so he can move appeals into county court.

Basalyga wants lower assessed values on 13 properties whose taxes total $622,266.07. They include personal care homes he acquired in September 2021 in Old Forge, Scranton and Blakely.

Basalyga has said his financial staff determined the assessments are too high compared to similar properties.

The properties are:

Parodi Scranton, 1015 N. Main Ave., Scranton, the three-story, brick former cigar factory he converted to 41 one- and two-bedroom apartments. Current assessed value: $578,650. Current tax bill: $155,018.26.

Former warehouse, 300 Brook St., Scranton, four parcels, two with buildings, two just land. Current total assessed value: $137,600. Current tax bill: $41,556.46.

Former Levels/Tink's bar and restaurant, 515-517-519 Linden St., Scranton. Current total assessed value: $125,000. Current tax bill: $44,029.97.

Former Southern Union headquarters, 417 Lackawanna Ave., Scranton. Current total assessed value: $408,100. Current tax bill: $121,928.30.

Rock Creek Corporate Center, 1444 E. Lackawanna Ave., Olyphant, two parcels. Current total assessed value: $325,000. Current tax bill: $67,677.12.

The Shoppes at Rock Creek, 1446 E. Lackawanna Ave., Olyphant. Current total assessed value: $138,000. Current tax bill: $28,728.06.

Electric City Parking, Spruce Street and Penn Avenue, Scranton. Current assessed value: $200,000. Current tax bill: $62,913.90.

Serenity Care Personal Care Community, 815-819 Jefferson Ave., Scranton. Current assessed value: $212,800. Current tax bill: $59,124.63.

Serenity Care Personal Care Community, 63 Sturges Road, Blakely. Current assessed value: $91,500. Current tax bill: $17,725.01.

Serenity Care Personal Care Community, 236-244 S. Main St., Old Forge. Current assessed value: $102,800. Current tax bill: $23,564.36.

All but the Serenity Care properties are owned by JBAS Realty, Basalyga's real-estate holding company. Serenity Care Realty LLC owns the personal care homes.

Contact the writer:

bkrawczeniuk@scrantontimes.com; 570-348-9147;

@BorysBlogTT on Twitter.