County will get Tennis Center

A massive building erected several years ago on the west side of Coudersport as a recreation center will apparently come under public ownership.

Recent developments with the former "Tennis Center" could bode well for the efforts to attract major employers to fill the gap since Time Warner's abrupt departure early last month.

Representatives of the Potter County Redevelopment Authority confirmed this week that Time Warner intends to donate the building to the organization.

Authority President Doug Morley said Tuesday the "gifting" process is being delayed by the complexities of separating the Tennis Center from an adjacent property containing a Data Center the company plans to keep.

Time Warner estimates it will keep about 70 engineering and information technology employees in Coudersport, headquartered at the Data Center.

Currently, the Data Center and Tennis Center are linked with joint infrastructure, including fiber-optic cable, which must be separated out before the building is conveyed to the Redevelopment Authority.

Among Time Warner's incentives to dispose of the Tennis Center is the likelihood of a tax write-off for a charitable donation. The company can also avoid building upkeep and maintenance costs, as well as taxes, by shedding itself of the property.

It was erected in 1999 by Adelphia, originally as a community recreation center. The company's rapid growth resulted in the building's conversion to a customer service center. Time Warner took over last August and continued operations until Feb. 5.

At least three companies are eying the Tennis Center for location of customer service facilities, taking advantage of the trained workforce of more than 500 cut loose by Time Warner. The building would likely be leased from the Redevelopment Authority.

Meanwhile, one new employer is on course to open its doors in Coudersport in the coming weeks.

AP Wagner, a distributor of parts for household appliances, is training about 25 employees who will occupy a new customer center in the Farm Services building at the Coudersport Industrial Park.

AP Wagner is the largest multinational distributor of appliance parts and accessories in the Northeast. The company services a growing network of appliance dealers, service technicians and do-it yourselfers.