AVRE Plans Addition to Downtown Binghamton Complex

A Binghamton-based agency that provides opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired is preparing to expand its downtown facility.

AVRE - the Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment - is planning to build a warehouse on the south side of its complex at 174 Court Street.

Ken Fernald, AVRE president and CEO, said the project is a continuation of a manufacturing expansion initiative. The warehouse will have 9,740 square feet of space.

Fernald told WNBF News heavy rolls of paper will be stored in the new structure.

The paper rolls are used to produce copy paper. The first phase of the expansion involved the addition of new equipment to increase the capacity of the operation.

AVRE has presented details of the warehouse project to the city planning commission, which has scheduled a public hearing for next month.

Fernald said if the plans are approved, a groundbreaking for the project could take place around May 1. He said the new facility could be ready for use sometime in November.

Fahs Construction Group of Binghamton will be the general contractor for the warehouse project.

Fernald said about 70 people now work at the downtown facility.

AVRE moved into its current space on Court Street in 2007. Before that, the site was used by Doron Precision Systems.

The building was constructed for use as a Sears store, which opened in August 1938. The downtown Binghamton department store closed 40 years later.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.