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Thursday, September 02, 2010 - 2:55:10 PM
Local News
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City Clears the Way for North Side Grocery Store - 3/5/2010
BINGHAMTON, NY—Mayor Matt Ryan this morning joined Councilwoman Lea Webb, Save-A-Lot licensee John Hart and residents to commemorate the demolition of 10-12 West State Street, which will clear the way for a new Save-A-Lot on the North Side. The grocery store will be the neighborhood’s first in 15 years, and will offer 25 jobs. Hart will seek to hire from the North Side.
“Today we’ve taken another important step toward opening the new North Side Grocery Store,” said Mayor Ryan. “North Side residents have waited too long to have a neighborhood outlet for fresh foods at affordable prices, but with Save-A-Lot planning to open for business by this coming fall, soon that wait will end. I applaud all those who’ve contributed to this effort, especially the Office of Economic Development, the BLDC, Councilwoman Webb, Broome County and the residents of the North Side. Landing the grocery store is a key part of our effort to revitalize the entire North Side.”
The City was able to move forward with the project after the Binghamton Local Development Corporation (BLDC) bought 10-12 State Street from the McDonald’s Corporation last November, with the funds coming from the BLDC’s special projects line. The BLDC made the purchase with the provision that Hart would buy the site for the same amount, plus any ancillary costs.
Before this transfer could take place, the BLDC had to demolish the vacant structure still on the property. LCP Group won the contract by submitting the low-bid of $29,900, which the BLDC will cover with a $150,000 grant NYS Senate President Malcolm Smith drew from the Community Capital Assistance Program, which does not require matching funds.
The BLDC will cover the costs of the required environmental inspection with a $40,000 grant passed last summer by Broome County Executive Barbara Fiala and the Broome County Legislature.
Officials and residents have worked to open a North Side grocery store ever since that last one closed its doors in 1995. Among those who have been most active is Councilwoman Webb, whose district includes the North Side and Center City. She has drawn additional support to the project since her efforts were recognized by Oprah Winfrey’s O Magazine in November 2008. The magazine published a follow-up story last November.
“I’m excited about reaching this milestone for the North Side Grocery Store,” said Councilwoman Webb. “I’m looking forward to cutting the ribbon on the project this fall, to the new jobs the store will offer to local residents and to the fresh goods that soon will be readily available right here on the North Side.”
Other aspects of the City’s efforts to revitalize the neighborhood include the North Chenango River Corridor Redevelopment Project. Last fall, the City received a $147,570 Brownfield Opportunities Area (BOA) grant to complete a Step 2 Nomination Study for an approximately 407-acre area along the Chenango River on Binghamton’s North Side. The area includes the Binghamton Plaza.
The grant is one of three BOAs that are now underway in Binghamton, with the others in the First Ward and the Brandywine Corridor. According to the NYS Department of State, the latest grant makes Binghamton one of just three Upstate municipalities with three or more BOA awards currently underway. The others are Buffalo (4 awards) and Rochester (3).
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