Bruce Nelson is pictured at the site of his development on Front Street in Owego.
The Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery (GOSR), New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), Empire State Development (ESD), Nelson Development Group LLC, the Village of Owego, the Community Preservation Corporation (CPC), and the Tioga County Department of Economic Development and Planning (ED&P) celebrated the beginning of construction on the Gateway Apartments project in Owego, N.Y. last Friday with a groundbreaking ceremony.
The $2.9 million project, which is being developed under the Governor’s Small Project Affordable Rental Construction (SPARC) program, will have eight affordable units along with four storefront retail spaces and two retail/office spaces.
The Gateway Apartments is in the Village of Owego’s main commercial area. The village sustained extensive damage during Tropical Storm Lee. Rapidly rising waters of the Susquehanna River and the Owego and Huntington Creeks caused severe flash flooding that resulted in flood damage to 85 percent of the homes, businesses and municipal structures in the Village.
A groundbreaking was held last Friday at the site of Bruce Nelson’s development on Front Street in Owego. Pictured, Bruce Nelson addresses guests attending. Also pictured is Tioga County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Gwen Kania.
This project will aid the recovery and revitalization of Owego’s historic downtown central business district by reconstructing an anchor building located at 200-204 Front Street. An early morning fire destroyed the previous buildings at the site on July 1, 2000.
On Friday, Sept. 22, dignitaries and guests gathered with Bruce Nelson, developer, to break ground on the building, which began construction earlier this month.
Gathering with Nelson at the location of the construction, key partners in the project expressed their enthusiasm for the start of the project.
Tioga County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Gwen Kania, stated, “We are here to celebrate revitalization.”
Tioga County Economic Development and Planning, in conjunction with Nelson, began work on this project in early 2016. And with much hard work, and the efforts of Brittany Woodburn, Economic Development specialist, they were able to get the project moving forward. You can visit http://www.owegopennysaver.com/PS/2017/09/14/economic-development-details-construction-and-process-for-the-gateway-building/ to read the details of the project.
For last Friday’s celebration, Nelson was relieved that the project was finally underway. “I’m just really happy to be a part of the community,” said Nelson when he addressed guests at the ceremony.
He added, “Nelson Development Group has been a part of the revitalization efforts in the Owego community for many years, and we are proud to build upon these efforts with the Gateway Owego project. We consider it our privilege to contribute to the success of Owego’s downtown, and are thankful to all of the partnering organizations and agencies that have helped bring this project to life. We truly admire the spirit of the Owego residents, and look forward to being a part of the fabric of this community for many years to come.”
Pictured is a rendering of the Gateway building.
Woodburn, who addressed guests, stated, “It is great to see this long awaited project come to reality,” adding, “Economic Development is pleased to be a part of this project.”
Woodburn added, “Both the Restore NY and SPARC programs have had a truly meaningful impact in Tioga County and in the Village of Owego’s historic downtown. The construction of the Gateway building will not only support and strengthen the Village’s vibrant main street community, but it will also grow economic opportunity in Tioga County, by offering retail space to encourage commercial development, as well as, residential apartments that will increase the population and consumer base in the downtown.”
According to Economic Development and Planning, the new construction will not only support the buildings, but it will support the business base.
A groundbreaking was held last Friday at the site of Bruce Nelson’s development on Front Street in Owego. Pictured is the façade that serves as a barrier for the construction site.
A representative from the Preservation Corporation referred to Nelson as a “gifted developer.”
This talent is demonstrated in the artistic façade that is placed in front of the construction site along Front Street. The container that serves as an office even has some artwork inside of it. The disruption during the period of construction, according to Nelson, is minimal.
The project is expected to be complete by September 2018.
What an odd thought thinking you can build in the 100 year flood plain with little consequence!
Time will tell.