Town of Union, NY – 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 announce the demolition of the former Red Carpet Inn Motel located at 749 W. Main Street in West Endicott. The former motel had been severally blighted, becoming a nuisance property for the neighborhood, and was one of Western Broome County’s remaining massive eyesores.

“This demolition is a true testament to the phrase ‘it takes a village’, as all levels of government came together to make this a reality,” said Broome County Land Bank Executive Director Jessica Haas. “Thank you to our partners in New York State for the funding to achieve this demolition, as well as County Executive Garnar, Chairman Reynolds, and all the Legislators, who helped the Land Bank acquire the property in the first place, and the Town of Union for assisting with funding, code enforcement, and environmental review services. This project would not be possible without everyone working together as a team.”

In partnership with Broome County Government, the Broome County Land Bank purchased the motel in February 2024 for $600,000 in grant funding secured from Broome County. The funding source for professional environmental services and a majority of the demolition scope of work had been secured through 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. The Town of Union is also providing $70,000 in local entitlement Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) funds to assist with the demolition costs.

“It’s an exciting day for Broome County to see this eyesore removed from the community,” said Broome County Executive Jason Garnar. “This is a huge success for not just the surrounding neighborhoods, but it also creates a more positive impression for all the guests at the Dicks Sporting Goods Open PGA tournament across the street. Thank you to the Broome County Land Bank and Broome County Legislature for their work in making this happen.”

“The County has been working with the Land Bank for many months to address this long-blighted property in the Town of Union and this event today is the culmination of those efforts,” said Broome County Legislature Chairman Dan J. Reynolds. “Today’s demolition 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. Today’s 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. Today’s demolition of the former Red Carpet Inn will finally address one of the biggest eyesores in Western Broome. This is a day for the community.”

“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 excited to see the start of the demolition today and see it completed in the coming weeks. 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.”

The motel was condemned by the Town of Union as structurally unsafe, and following NYS and local procurement guidelines for public bidding, Gorick Construction was awarded the contract as the lowest qualified bidder at the April meeting of the Broome County Land Bank Board of Directors. The total cost of demolition will be $179,400. Delta Engineers, Architects, Land Surveyors, & Landscape Architects is providing the environmental monitoring and oversight of the project.

“The Town of Union is excited to collaborate with the Broome County Land Bank on this project and to be providing $70,000 from our Community Development Block Grant funds to help partially fund this demolition of the former Red Carpet Inn,” said Town of Union Supervisor Rob Mack. “The demolishing of this blighted eyesore is a perfect example of local government working together to eliminate blight in our community. The Town is looking forward to seeing the proposals and plans for future development of the property.”

While there are no immediate plans for the redevelopment of the site, the Land Bank plans to work with all stakeholders to determine the best future course of action that most aligns with the Land Bank’s mission and goals.

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.

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