Vacant Endicott Kmart Site Springing Back to Life After 11 Years

For the first time in more than a decade, there's activity at what once was the thriving Endicott Plaza retail complex.

Initial preparation work for a distribution center for a Vermont-based company is underway inside and outside the building that had been home to a Kmart store.

Green Mountain Electric Supply is embarking on a multi-million-dollar renovation project at the site between Vestal and Harrison avenues.

Kmart opened its department store in 1979 in space that had been occupied by a Grand Way store. The Kmart never reopened after it suddenly ceased operations because of flooding in September 2011.

Five years ago, the village of Endicott received state funding to demolish the abandoned building. Plans to tear it down were scrapped and efforts were launched to redevelop the property.

Luc Choquette, Green Mountain Electric Supply's vice president of operations, said the acquisition of the property was completed on February 12.

Workers from a Pennsylvania company have been busy at the 17-acre site over the past couple of weeks conducting test borings.

The renovation plans for the site are being finalized. Choquette is hoping construction work can get underway soon. The goal is to be able to move into the new 100,000-square-foot distribution hub by December 1.

Green Mountain Electric Supply intends to donate about five acres of the site to a municipality to provide space for a park and a walkway for students from the nearby Jennie F. Snapp Middle School.

VIDEO: A quick tour of the old Endicott Plaza site where some big changes are in the works.

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.