(Owego, NY) – The demolition of eight residential structures, along with two sheds owned by the Tioga County Property Development Corporation (Tioga County Land Bank) are underway in the Village of Owego. These structures, located on Temple Street and Liberty Street, have been a source of blight in the neighborhood for many years,
with conditions significantly worsening after flooding caused by Tropical Storm Lee in 2011. The demolitions are
being completed by LCP Group, in coordination with O’Rourke, Inc., the firm that will be handling air monitoring
for the project.
“We are excited to see this project underway,” says Tioga County Land Bank Director Brittany Woodburn. “The
Land Bank acquired these properties throughout 2020 and 2021, and the removal of these distressed structures
will eliminate significant blight in this neighborhood, and allow for new opportunities for the residents of Liberty
Street and Temple Street, and the surrounding area.”
Ralph Kelsey, Chair of the Tioga County Land Bank Board adds, “We are pleased to be able to bring this project to
life, and are looking forward to similarly partnering with our other communities in the future to help combat
blight and deterioration, and revitalize housing, neighborhoods and downtowns throughout Tioga County.”
The Tioga County Land Bank is a not for profit organization charged with managing and repurposing an inventory of underused, abandoned, or foreclosed property in Tioga County. The goal of this organization is to maximize
these properties to their best possible reuse, return properties to the tax roll, and develop a land bank program
that breaks the cycle of lost and distressed properties.
