Binghamton, NY – The Broome County Land Bank Corporation announced the demolition of 65 Nowlan Road in the Town of Fenton.  Broome County Land Bank Executive Director Jessica Haas was joined by members of the Land Bank Board of Directors, Broome County Executive Jason Garnar, Broome County Legislator for District 10 Erin Micha, Town of Fenton Supervisor and Board members, and other officials to commemorate the event.

In 2023, the Land Bank acquired 65 Nowlan Road from Broome County which had foreclosed on the property due to non-payment of taxes. The property is in the Hillcrest neighborhood in the Town of Fenton and is adjacent to Hillcrest Park. The structure has sat vacant for several years leading to unwarranted blight in the neighborhood and severe neglect and significant structural issues. The property has been condemned as structurally unsound by the Town of Fenton Code Enforcement Office.

“Building on the success of last year’s historic round of Land Bank demolition projects, we’re proud to announce the demolition of 65 Nowlan Road in Hillcrest followed by an additional four properties throughout Broome County,” said Broome County Land Bank Executive Director Jessica Haas. “This condemned structure was brought to our attention by local officials and through the support of our partners in New York State and Broome County Government, we’re able to remove this dilapidated structure, further improving this wonderful neighborhood. Projects like this wouldn’t be possible without our funding and project partners, including our State officials, who helped secure funding for Land Banks across New York State, and Broome County, who transferred the property to the Land Bank for demolition and graciously provides us with Landfill tipping fee credits.”

“Today’s action will reduce blight, enhance community safety, and improve quality of life for residents of Fenton, with these results soon to be replicated at four additional sites across Broome County,” said New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas. “Supported by over $1 million in State funding through HCR’s Land Bank Initiative, the Broome County Land Bank is improving neighborhoods and creating opportunities for growth in the Southern Tier.”

“The Broome County Land Bank continues to do excellent work in eliminating eyesores all across Broome County,” said Broome County Executive Jason Garnar. “I want to thank the Land Bank and their partners for removing yet another blighted property from Broome County.”

“This new round of demolitions by the Broome County Land Bank is a continuation of the focused efforts to remove blight in our community,” said Broome County Legislature Chairman Dan Reynolds. “We’ll continue to partner with the Land Bank to invest in making sure that our communities are free from dilapidated and condemned structures. Thank you to the Broome County Land Bank and our municipal leaders throughout Broome County who constantly work to identify and address the safety concerns these dangerous buildings pose and return the properties to productive use.”

“I am ecstatic to know that a property I’ve personally seen deteriorate and plague our community over the years will be demolished,” said District 10 Broome County Legislator Erin Micha. “Not only will this blighted eyesore be removed, it will also enhance the neighboring Hillcrest Park and the overall quality of the neighborhood. As the President of the Hillcrest Civic Association, which oversees the Park, I’m excited about the improvements underway at the Park fields and adding this new property to the Park.”

65 Nowlan Road is the first of a series of five properties slated for demolition in early 2024. 282 Ransom Road in the Town of Chenango, 1363 Millburn Drive in the Town of Conklin, 9037 Main Street in the Village of Lisle, and 1529 Nanticoke Drive in the Town of Union, will be demolished in the coming weeks. The total construction cost of all demolition projects will be $87,500.

The Landfill tipping fees for the disposal of the demolition debris are being waived under a Broome County program that assists municipalities and organizations such as the Land Bank in addressing blight in the community. LCP Group, Inc. of Vestal, NY, will be the demolition contractor for all projects included in this round and Delta Engineering of Endwell, NY, is providing environmental testing and project management services.

The primary funding source for this round of demolition projects was secured through the Land Bank’s successful application to New York State’s Department of Homes & Community Renewal’s Land Bank Initiative (LBI) Phase II grant program. Additionally, the Land Bank will be receiving several grants from local Broome County municipalities to assist financially with their respective demolition projects.

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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