Broome County is preparing to move forward on an ambitious plan to redevelop a massive abandoned Johnson City building.

County Executive Jason Garnar said he expects to announce details about the proposed Victory building project "very soon."

Public artwork on the south side of the abandoned Lester Avenue structure. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
Public artwork on the south side of the abandoned Lester Avenue structure. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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Endicott Johnson built the structure at 59 Lester Avenue nearly a century ago. The 253,000-square-foot building has been idle for several years. The county took over the site in 2014 for unpaid taxes.

Garnar on Thursday said a local developer submitted the plan for a "massive project" after the county announced in August it was seeking proposals for the site.

Speaking on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program, Garnar said the mixed-use project would have commercial and residential components. He declined to elaborate on the plan for the building he described as "the biggest eyesore that exists in Broome County."

Garnar said he expected the formal announcement of the proposal to happen within the next few weeks. He said it's possible the county legislature could vote on the plan this month.

The county executive said the project won't be accomplished quickly, suggesting it likely will take several years for the plan to become a reality.

Garnar said it would cost "millions and millions of dollars to knock that building down." But, he said, the county now has found a developer that plans to renovate the structure and put "a serious amount of money into it."

Broome County officials say the EJ Victory Building opened in 1921. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
Broome County officials say the EJ Victory building opened in 1921. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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