Broome County Land Bank

2025 was another extremely successful year for the Broome County Land Bank. Yesterday, the Chairman of the Land Bank Board of Directors, Aaron Martin, and Executive Director Rob O’Donnell presented the Land Bank's Annual Report for 2025 to the County Legislature's Economic Development, Education and Culture Committee. Last year wouldn't have been successful without the support of all our partners. For that we'd like to thank Broome County Executive Jason Garnar, Dan J. Reynolds, Chairman & 5th District Legislator, the entire Broome County Legislature, and all of our state, municipal, and project partners. With such a great year last year, we're looking forward to all that 2026 has in store! To learn more, you may find a copy of the 2025 Annual Report on the Land Bank's website here: https://broomelandbank.org/public-information/.

Thanks again to Broome-Tioga BOCES and Director Matt Sheehan for hosting Land Bank Board members and staff, and County officials this morning for a site visit to see the work of the BOCES carpentry program and the new and unique housing they're working on. It was a great opportunity to see it first-hand, and we can't wait to see the final completed project.

Congratulations to newly appointed Broome County Lank Bank Executive Director Robert O'Donnell!

He was appointed unanimously yesterday at the annual organizational meeting of the Land Bank Board of Directors.

Rob previously served as the Assistant Director of the Land Bank for the past 3 years, and has nearly 15 years of experience in both County and State Government.

He succeeds former Executive Director Jessica Haas, who has taken on a new role in the Broome County Clerk's Office.

A copy of the full press release announcement can be found on the website here: https://broomelandbank.org/press-release/broome-county-land-bank-names-new-executive-director/

This afternoon, the Broome County Land Bank Board of Directors held their annual organizational meeting, which included the election of officers for 2026.

Congratulations to this year's unanimously elected Land Bank officers:

Chairman: Aaron Martin
Vice Chairman: Tom Augostini
Secretary: Tony Fiala
Treasurer: Mike Sopchak

Photo L-R: Mike Sopchak, Tom Augostini, Director Robert O'Donnell, Chairman Aaron Martin, Tony Fiala

NEW LAND BANK LISTING. This morning, the Broome County Land Bank and project partners announced that 170 Moeller Street on Binghamton’s East Side is now available for purchase through the Land Bank’s Affordable Homes Program. This is the fourth home fully renovated this year through the Land Bank’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant agreement with the City of Binghamton - Government, and the sixth home in total renovated under this program.

Similar to the Land Bank’s other projects rehabilitated under this program, all eligibility and program guidelines can be found in the Land Bank’s ARPA Affordable Homes Program Handbook located on our website: https://broomelandbank.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ARPA-Homeownership-Handbook-FINAL-4.2.25.pdf.

This, and all of our projects, would not have been feasible without the strong support of all our partners. Thank you so much to Mayor Jared Kraham, New York State Homes & Community Renewal, Broome County Executive Jason Garnar, Dan J. Reynolds, Chairman & 5th District Legislator, Broome County Legislature, Brittany White, Malarkey Construction LLC, Delta Engineers, Architects, & Surveyors, and LCP Group, Inc..

The listing realtor is John Farrell at EXIT Realty Homeward Bound, and a copy of the listing is available here: https://www.exithb.com/real-estate/greater-binghamton-mls/property/333549-170-moeller-street-binghamton-ny-13904/. If you’re interested in submitting a purchase offer for 170 Moeller Street and meet the eligibility guidelines outlined in the program handbook linked above, please contact our realtor.

Thank you to LCP Group, Inc., for their demolition services and to Delta Engineers, Architects, & Surveyors for project oversight yesterday with the demolition of 7 Church Road in the Town of Lisle, as well as for their oversight of all recent demolition projects. This, and all of the Land Bank demolitions, would not be possible without the help of our partners on all levels. We can’t express how grateful we are to have County Executive Jason Garnar, Dan J. Reynolds, Chairman & 5th District Legislator, Broome County Legislator Matt Hilderbrant, District 9, and the entire Broome County Legislature in our corner. Another huge thanks is due to New York State Homes & Community Renewal, as the funds provided through the LBI capital grant received by the Land Bank in 2025 made these demolitions possible.

The next property recently demolished in this round of projects was 26 Overland Drive in the City of Binghamton. This long-since condemned structure had already half-collapsed and was fire-damaged, and it has plagued Binghamton’s Southside for too long. The Land Bank worked with County Executive Jason Garnar, Dan J. Reynolds, Chairman & 5th District Legislator, and the entire Broome County Legislature, to acquire this property in late 2024 for the Land Bank’s demolition program. Another shoutout to New York State Homes & Community Renewal, whose LBI grant has played a vital role in these projects. Like our other projects in this round, LCP Group, Inc. completed the demolition, and Delta Engineers, Architects, & Surveyors provided the environmental testing and oversight on the project.

61 Park Avenue in the City of Binghamton was the next property that LCP Group, Inc. recently took down as part of our current round of demolitions around Broome County. One of the core missions of the Land Bank is addressing blighted structures within our community. Our Demolition Program, or any of our other programs, wouldn’t be possible without the support of our local governments. For this, we would like to thank Broome County Executive Jason Garnar, Dan J. Reynolds, Chairman & 5th District Legislator, and the entire Broome County Legislature. This demolition is being funded by New York State Homes & Community Renewal, through their Land Bank Initiative (LBI) grant program. The environmental monitoring and project management services on this project are being provided by Delta Engineers, Architects, & Surveyors.

Earlier today, Land Bank Executive Director Jessica Haas and Board of Directors Chairman Aaron Martin, along with project partners, announced the demolition of the former Food Fusion restaurant in West Endicott across from En-Joie Golf Course. The removal of this vacant building continues the Land Bank’s commitment to removing blight in our community and kicks off a round of several other demolitions across Broome County. This, and all Land Bank projects, would not be possible without the tremendous support of all levels of government. We’d like to especially thank Jason Garnar, Dan J. Reynolds, Chairman & 5th District Legislator, Broome County Legislator Greg Baldwin, 6th District, Broome County Legislator Matt Pasquale, District 7, Broome County Legislature, New York State Homes & Community Renewal, and EXIT Realty Homeward Bound for their part in helping the Land Bank acquire this site. As for the demolition, this is being undertaken by LCP Group, Inc., and is being funded through grants provided by HCR. The environmental monitoring and oversight of this project is being coordinated by Delta Engineers, Architects, & Surveyors, and the asbestos abatement was performed by Sunstream Corporation. Keep an eye out for other demolitions coming soon in this round.

THREE NEW LAND BANK LISTINGS. This morning, the Broome County Land Bank and project partners announced three City of Binghamton American Rescue Plan Act-funded, fully renovated homes for sale under our Affordable Homes Program. The three homes available for sale in Binghamton are: 14 McNamara Avenue on the South Side, 8 Gray Street on the East Side, and 33 Elm Street in the First Ward. The listing realtor is John Farrell at EXIT Realty Homeward Bound, and a copy of the listing is available here:

14 McNamara Avenue: https://tinyurl.com/bdf5xhzt

8 Gray Street: https://tinyurl.com/5y2wevx3

33 Elm Street: https://tinyurl.com/ymcywx9a

To familiarize yourself with our program, there is an ARPA Affordable Homes Program Handbook located on our website for eligibility guidelines: https://broomelandbank.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ARPA-Homeownership-Handbook-FINAL-4.2.25.pdf.

Thanks again to all of our amazing project partners in making this project a reality: Jared Kraham, New York State Homes & Community Renewal, Jason Garnar, Dan J. Reynolds, Chairman & 5th District Legislator, Broome County Legislature, City of Binghamton - Government, Construction Management Associates, Brittany White, Clearview Door & Window, Malarkey Construction LLC, L2studio architecture, Delta Engineers, Architects, & Surveyors, The SEPP Group, and LCP Group, Inc..

If you’re interested in submitting a purchase offer for any of these homes and meet the eligibility guidelines outlined in the program handbook linked above, please contact our realtor, John Farrell.

At this week's Land Bank Board meeting, the Board of Directors authorized an agreement with the Prospect Terrace Fire Department to waive landfill tipping fees for a necessary demolition project that will help them expand their fire station.

Thank you to Fire Company President Tom Pudish and Dickinson Town Supervisor Michael Marinaccio for giving a tour of the fire station and a discussion of expansion to Land Bank Board Chairman Aaron Martin and Executive Director Jessica Haas.

The fire company was recently awarded a NYS V-FIRE grant to assist them with their expansion project, and the Land Bank is proud to partner with them on this project.