Guest Viewpoint: Updates on Endicott redevelopment and Washington Avenue
We are experiencing a childcare desert. It would be great for people who want to go to work to have an opportunity to raise their standard of living by going to work. Affordable childcare may be an answer.
A developer is in the process of acquiring the former United Methodist Church on McKinley Avenue in Endicott. His bid has been accepted, and he has 45 days to sign a contract to make this a reality.
I am involved with a non-profit group that is working for affordable childcare. Our plan is to turn former Sunday school classrooms into childcare classrooms.
We have our 501(c)(3), and are working with social services and the Family Enrichment group to assist parents in this cost. Other childcare facilities, like Binghamton University childcare, have offered information on this process. Senator Webb's office is assisting in acquiring many grants.
As mayor, I was involved in acquiring a new owner for the industrial campus and attracting new companies to come to our campus to join our anchor company − BAE. The campus is really filling up We need to bring workers to fill the many jobs now available. More workers on our campus will provide more people to patronize the businesses and restaurants on the Avenue. In anticipation of this, new businesses and restaurants have already come to the Avenue.
After three years of design planning, problems with the 2023 bids, and now almost double the cost – the Avenue will finally be started. Changes have been made to the Washington Avenue project this year. We are not sure if there will still be cameras on the Avenue, or in all parking lots and alleyways. Cameras and much better lighting would be a big start to increase people's confidence in the safety of the Avenue and surrounding area.
With the $10 million DRI, the rest of the parking lots were to be upgraded with better lighting, as well as cameras, so people would feel comfortable parking there. We are looking forward to see the finished project.
Because of many state restrictions, many businesses are not taking advantage of the matching grants to renovate their properties. But some are still planning on upgrading at their own expense. We must get the businesses involved with keeping the Avenue attractive.
One developer is working with the campus businesses on apartments for their workers. To bring good tenants to the Avenue apartments, we will need to have all property owners working together to clean up our area. Once the Avenue is paved, our hope is that more empty properties will be attractive to more new businesses.
The new O'Reilly car parts store on Main Street will be a great addition to our village. They came to the village planning board last year with their plans, and their landscape will make a great welcome into our village.
Changes take time. It is great to see so many projects we have worked on in the past few years now coming to fruition.
Linda Jackson is the former mayor of Endicott.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Updates on Endicott redevelopment and Washington Avenue
