Opinion: We need to safeguard our heritage

Dear Editor,

From where I sit, Owego’s village has come back smartly from two floods, new businesses have migrated here from other parts of the region, the storefronts in the business district are more fully occupied than at any time in my memory, and a monumental and appropriate building is under construction on Riverrow. The Gateway Project incorporates public access to the river and the public restrooms we have clamored for over almost two decades. 

If our upstream neighbors can rein in development of the riverbanks and paving of wetlands, we may look forward to a future as storied as our past. When I look at the various neighborhoods of my hometown, I see potential for better things. This is not to downplay the amount of work and investment required.

But, being what we have become, a tourism draw, proximate to a major university, a soon-to-be state-of the-art interstate highway, and with regional benefactors like Tioga Downs, and the State of New York who made the Riverrow project possible, there is no reason to despair of continuing our steady progress. 

I would stress the importance of the Gateway project under construction. Projects like this are rare. People don’t tend to build new buildings in old downtown areas. But we showed New York State that we deserved the necessary help, and it was extended. What other Village or hamlet can you point to in central New York that has thus benefited? Who else is constructing a monumental building on a vacant lot in a downtown?

There is another project for which we will undoubtedly require a major assist. It is dear to the hearts of generations of Owegans, is central to our identity, and has recently been shown to be both vulnerable and endangered. The Certified Local Government (CLG) status of the Village, under the current Historic Preservation law (Chapter 126 of the Village code) will be critical in getting the outside funds to preserve and repair Central Station. If we lose the OHPC we will also lose the CLG status, and we cannot afford that if we want to save this historic structure.

The Preservation Commission, along with the ORBC (Owego Revitalization and Betterment Corporation) was successful in securing a $5,000 grant from the Preservation League of New York State that was used this winter to do an engineering / condition study of Central Fire Station. The report indicates that among other serious defects, the superstructure of the forth-floor tower is in a state of rot that threatens its existence. The entire building needs serious investments of time and materials. Maintenance has been deferred long enough.

I would prefer to spend my time and energy refurbishing this Historic artifact of both our built environment and the culture of generations of brave volunteer firefighters and first responders, than fight over who is best to safeguard that heritage. 

Let us maintain the status quo, rededicate ourselves to Chapter 126, which has served us well for over 25 years, and get on with the job of assuring our Villages’ past glories and its future successes.

Mark Trabucco, Chair

Owego Historic Preservation Commission