The Agency selects firm to study redevelopment of former BAE site in town of Union

DICKINSON, N.Y. — The Agency has selected a consulting group led by Elan Planning Design and Landscape Architecture to conduct a redevelopment study on 600 Main St., the former site of defense contractor BAE Systems in the town of Union.

Elan Planning Design and Landscape Architecture is based in Saratoga Springs, north of Albany.

The Agency is the entity that governs the Broome County Industrial Development Agency and the Broome County Local Development Corporation.

Elan has included two Binghamton–based firms — Griffiths Engineering, LLC and Woidt Engineering & Consulting, PC — in its consulting group. Both firms have “extensive” experience with post-2006 and 2011 flood-mitigation efforts, the Agency said in a news release.

Elan will also work with Venue Strategies, which has offices in New York City and Buffalo, to conduct an economic analysis of potential uses.

The Agency also expects to work closely with Town of Union’s economic-development and planning departments to ensure that uses identified align with the Town and the County’s comprehensive plans, the organization said.

“Critical” priority

The Agency has identified the redevelopment of 600 Main Street as a “critical” economic development priority in the year ahead, the organization said.

“This property is in the center of our urban core and it’s imperative that we identify the right development opportunity,” Stacey Duncan, deputy director of community and economic development at The Agency, said. “Elan has put together a great team and understands our goals for this study. We are looking forward to working with them.”

The U.S. Air Force in 2017 demolished the BAE building, which was devastated by flooding from Tropical Storm Lee in 2011, the Agency said.

The Agency now owns the property and will work with Elan’s team to identify site-development costs; assess flood-mitigation needs; and conduct economic analyses for potential uses.  The Agency expects to issue a developer request-for-proposal later this year.

The Elan firm is “extremely excited” to help the Agency and the Town of Union work on the redevelopment of this “key” site, Lisa Nagle, principal of Elan Planning, said in the release.

“Repurposing previously developed sites in our urban centers is key to the long term sustainability of our upstate New York communities. Integrating recent investments such as the Binghamton University Pharmacy School, the planned nursing school, and the Johnson City Health and Cultural iDistrict present opportunities to think broadly about revitalization,” said Nagle.

Agency officials expect the consultants to complete final recommendations for the redevelopment of the property by November of this year.

The office of U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) assisted in securing grant funds from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment to complete the redevelopment study and create a master plan for the 27-acre site.

The federal government approved more than $200,000 for the project.

“I worked hard to deliver the federal resources to resurrect the flood-damaged former BAE site, and the selection of a firm to lead a comprehensive redevelopment study is welcome news. In no time, this vacant lot will be bustling with new development and activity, making a positive contribution to Broome County’s economy. I look forward to the firm’s recommendations and will help the Agency, the Town of Union and Broome County to bring them to fruition,” Schumer said in the Agency’s release.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com