Schumer Announces, After His Push, Air Force Has Agreed to Demolish Former BAE Site in Westover

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that, following his push, the Air Force has agreed to fund the demolition of the former BAE site in the Town of Union, which is an eyesore, a drag on local finances, and a hindrance to local redevelopment efforts. The Air Force is currently soliciting proposals for demolition of the site, which is expected to cost $17.3 million, and the contract should be awarded by the end of this month. Demolition will be able to get underway soon after the contract is awarded, as the environmental baseline survey of the property conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), which determines potential environmental hazards that could result from demolition, is complete.

"The Air Force's commitment to demolish the former BAE site is great news for the Town of Union and its residents," said Schumer. "This site has been a black mark on the neighborhood for far too long and has been a real drain on the local economy. Now, with the Air Force fully committed to demolition, we can finally begin to turn the page on this derelict site. Very soon, there will no longer be an unoccupied eyesore dragging down local businesses and eating into local development funds; instead, we will have a valuable plot of land ripe for redevelopment. And I will continue to watch the Air Force like a hawk to make sure we get there."

We are pleased to hear the demolition of the former BAE Systems building is moving forward," says Broome County Executive Debbie Preston. "We want to thank Senator Schumer for his efforts in securing funding so this important project can move forward."

Schumer has long fought to demolish and supported re-development of the former BAE site after it was severely flooded following Tropical Storm Lee in 2011 to the point that it was no longer inhabitable. His first effort following the flooding was to make sure BAE committed to staying in the region and keeping 1,350 jobs in the Southern Tier. Once the jobs were safe, Schumer focused on ensuring the federal government honored its commitment to handle the shutdown and demolition of the vacant property, which is owned by the Air Force. In March, Schumer announced that the Air Force had committed $1.2 million to conduct an environmental assessment of the site, the first major step in the demolition process. Schumer then called the Secretary of the Air Force and asked her to prioritize the funding needed to fully demolish the site as part of the Air Force's FY15 budget, which she has now committed to do.

"The demolition of the former BAE site is welcome news and a tremendous step forward in our ongoing flood recovery," said Town of Union Supervisor Rose Sotak. " The site is a gateway to our community and a key component in shaping the future of the Town of Union. We thank Senator Schumer for his tireless advocacy and support, without his efforts this giant step forward would not have been possible."

The Air Force funds the demolition of sites from its Operations and Maintenance budget, and determines which projects to move forward on each year depending on the availability of funds and the importance of the project. That is why, in March 2014, Schumer urged the Air Force to prioritize the former BAE Systems site in the Town of Union for demolition in their FY2015 budgeting, so that the Air Force could be ready to move on the project soon after the environmental baseline survey was complete. Schumer argued that the BAE demolition should be prioritized because of the significant negative impacts it has had on the community. The local Industrial Development Agency (IDA) continues to pay approximately $14,000 per month in maintenance and upkeep costs to keep the building safe and secure, and the building is a drag on nearby property values. Furthermore, it is a potential environmental hazard and a roadblock to redevelopment.

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