A developer first proposed in January to take down the former Palace Theater in Lansford.

It took almost the whole year, but by mid-December, work was underway to demolish the former theater and restaurant.On Jan. 13, developer Joseph Bennett came to Lansford Borough Council proposing to build a two-story medical facility at Patterson and Coal streets. Bennett asked council if he could dump the debris on property they own that was formerly mine land, which council agreed to.On March 9, council members said they had to reverse their decision, after doing research into the property that Bennett inquired about. Council says they do not have a place to dump the debris.In April, Bennett says that he has to re-evaluate the project, but that he's still committed to making it happen in Lansford.However, it would be seven months before Bennett attended another council meeting. In that time, council members and police became concerned after a large picture window on the building was broken, exposing it to trespassers and animals.Finally, in November, Bennett returned to council and announced he had made a deal with BET Investments to dump the debris on mine land in nearby Coaldale.Demolition on the Palace got underway in mid-December.