Work Begins at Site of Future Johnson City Village Hall

Construction crews have started work at the site of the future Johnson City village hall.

The village acquired buildings at 60 Lester Avenue that for many years were used by Country Valley Industries.

The property was obtained from Great Eastern Hemp through the eminent domain process. Great Eastern’s plans to develop a hemp processing facility at the site fell through. The village paid nearly $2.6 million for the property.

Construction fencing has been erected around the site, which is located just east of the former Endicott Johnson Victory shoe factory building. That structure is being converted into apartments by Syracuse developer Matthew Paulus.

Johnson City officials had planned to move village public works operations to a new facility that was to have been built on Grand Avenue. But that idea was scrapped in favor of using the Lester Avenue site for public works and other village departments.

The revised plans now call for the public works department to be relocated from Brown Street first. Other village offices would be moved later.

The current village hall building at 243 Main Street is to be sold after it has been vacated. Johnson City officials believe the site would be attractive for future use by businesses.

It's not known when Johnson City workers will be able to start occupying the Lester Avenue site.

Mayor Martin Meaney and village director of public services Joshua Holland could not be reached on Thursday to comment on the project's timetable.

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