NYS Investment Complements 2023 Strategic Plan – The Region’s Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy
See Renderings of Projects Here
Governor Kathy Hochul today outlined plans for the next two phases of a transformative, mixed-use development project that is breathing new life into the former Oakdale Mall in Johnson City, Broome County. Now known as Oakdale Commons, the distressed mall is undergoing a rebirth aimed at creating a vibrant, walkable, mixed-use, mixed income, transit-oriented anchor destination for residents and visitors alike in the Southern Tier. Efforts include the adaptive reuse of an adjacent vacant site for the construction of new housing to support workforce development initiatives in the Greater Binghamton area, the creation of further commercial opportunities, and the establishment of an expansive child care center that will service targeted regional needs, which are all top priorities for the Governor. Still home to several successful retail outlets, the former Oakdale Mall, which opened in 1975, has close to 964,000 square-feet of usable space. Johnson City, which was also a round six winner in the administrations’ successful Downtown Revitalization Initiative, was among the first communities to be certified under the Governor's nation-leading Pro-Housing Communities program.
“The Oakdale Commons project is transforming a once distressed mall into a vibrant, mixed-use community asset, which will provide much-needed affordable housing, child care and ensure access to medical care,” Governor Hochul said. “This innovative project further supports the transformation already underway in Johnson City and will serve as a glowing testament to what can be accomplished when the State and local stakeholders all pull together to get things done.”
Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, “The Oakdale Commons project has already had a tremendous impact on the continued revitalization efforts in Johnson City. This latest funding also complements additional New York State investments that are reigniting the village’s center, including $10 million awarded in Round Six of Governor Hochul’s transformative Downtown Revitalization Initiative. ESD is proud to support Newman Development in its reimagining of this formerly distressed mall, which – with the addition of much-needed affordable housing, medical and child care facilities – will further increase this community’s economic potential.”
Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, “The Downtown Revitalization Initiative was created to accelerate the resurgence of downtowns across the State, and we’re seeing that happen here in Johnson City. Additional investments in projects like Oakdale Commons build on the momentum the DRI brings into a community, helping to grow the local economy and creating even more opportunities for local residents.”
Phase II and III of the adaptive reuse project will include the construction of an 85,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art, regional medical campus; the construction of a new 22,000 square-foot child care center, administered by Broome County and operated by a contracted provider, that will serve up to 208 children to include infant, toddler, preschool, Pre-K and school age slots and the creation of up to 45 new jobs; and the construction of 125 residential units, located on the adjacent parcel, that will cater to the projected job growth in the Greater Binghamton Area.
Read the full press release here.