Town of Union, NY – The Broome County Land Bank Corporation and Broome County Officials announced the acquisition of the former Red Carpet Inn Motel located at 749 W. Main Street in West Endicott with the intended purpose of addressing blight reduction in the County. Broome County Land Bank Executive Director Jessica Haas and Chairman of the Land Bank Board of Directors Aaron Martin were joined by Broome County Executive Jason Garnar, Broome County Legislature Chairman Dan J. Reynolds, Broome County Legislature Majority Leader Matt Pasquale, Broome County Legislator Greg Baldwin, Town of Union representatives, and other officials to commemorate the event.

In partnership with Broome County Government, the Broome County Land Bank entered into a purchase agreement in February 2024 to acquire 749 West Main Street in the Town of Union. Through a resolution passed by the Broome County Legislature and signed by Broome County Executive Jason Garnar, the County made $600,000 in Brownfield funds available to the Land Bank to make the purchase a reality.

“When you think of notable, blighted structures in Western Broome, this motel is at the top of the list, and the Land Bank is proud to have purchased this property with the intent of future development,” said Broome County Land Bank Executive Director Jessica Haas. “Thank you to County Executive Garnar, Legislature Chairman Dan Reynolds, and the entire Legislature for their continued support of the Land Bank, and the funds to make this acquisition a reality. Without their financial assistance, this wouldn’t be possible. Our goal now is to demolish this longstanding eyesore with funds made available by New York State Homes and Community Renewal and make this lot suitable and attractive for future development here in the Town of Union.”

“The acquisition and demolition of the former Red Carpet Inn Motel is a big win for Broome County and an even bigger win for neighborhood residents who don’t have to live with a big eyesore in their backyard anymore,” said Broome County Executive Jason Garnar. “It also makes our great Dicks Sporting Goods Open PGA tour event more welcoming and inviting as this hotel is right across the street from the En Joie Golf Club. I want to thank the Broome County Land Bank and Broome County Legislature for their strong partnership in working together to get this done.”

“The County has been working with the Land Bank for many months to address this long-blighted property in the Town of Union,” said Broome County Legislature Chairman Dan J. Reynolds. “This project continues the work we’ve been doing in recent years to address blight by removing eyesores like the former IBM Country Club in Fairmont Park, the former Christ the King School in Endwell, the former E-J Factory in West Endicott and countless vacant and dangerous residential properties throughout the County. Demolition of this former motel in West Corners will continue our efforts to clean up these eyesores and pave the way for new development that will enhance neighborhoods rather than be a detraction.”

“Since it was created in 2013, the Land Bank has worked to fight blight around Broome County through the demolition or rehabilitation of commercial and residential properties, ” said Broome County Legislator and Majority Leader Matt Pasquale. “Through this partnership with the Land Bank, we’ve knocked down countless buildings including several in Endicott and the Town of Union that were a nuisance to the community. I look forward to seeing this eyesore go in the coming months.”

“This old motel has been one of the most blighted and unsightly properties in West Endicott for many years,” said Broome County Legislator Greg Baldwin. “As a lifelong resident of this neighborhood and the Legislator representing this area, I’m pleased to help facilitate this partnership between the County and Land Bank and look forward to seeing the building demolished in the coming months. Thank you to the Broome County Land Bank, County Executive Garnar, Legislature Chairman Reynolds and all of my colleagues in the Legislature for your support of this important project.”

EXIT Realty Homeward Bound of Vestal, NY provided the real estate broker services on the purchase of the property. Delta Engineers of Endwell, NY will be providing environmental testing and project management services for the site as one of the Land Bank’s term contractors. Bidding for the demolition of 749 W. Main Street will follow NYS and local procurement guidelines for public bidding and the Land Bank will be accepting bids in the coming month or two.

The funding source for environmental services and the demolition scope of work has been secured through the Land Bank’s successful grant application to Phase II of the New York State Land Bank Initiative (LBI) program, which is a program administered by the New York State Office of Community Renewal and funded through the New York State Housing Trust Fund Corporation using funds appropriated in the New York State Budget.

“We are pleased to see the Broome County Land Bank’s continued progress eliminating blighted properties throughout the county and preparing these sites for future redevelopment,” said Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas. “The demolition of this prominently located rundown motel in the town of Union is exactly the type of project that the New York Land Bank Initiative was created to support, and complements Governor Hochul’s ongoing efforts to make New York a safer, healthier and more affordable place to live for everyone.”

Established by Broome County in 2013 under the New York State Land Bank Act, the Broome County Land Bank is a nonprofit corporation created to target distressed, vacant, abandoned, and foreclosed properties with the goal of fostering community and economic development by eliminating blight and stabilizing neighborhoods.  To learn more, please visit our website at www.broomelandbank.org.