Broome to Set Up Veterans Center at Former Bowling Alley Site

A long-planned one-stop veterans services center now is expected to be located at the site of a once-popular Broome County bowling alley.

County Executive Jason Garnar said the facility is to be developed on Binghamton's North Side on property that had been owned by the Salvation Army.

The one-and-a-half acre site at 530 State Street for decades was home to the State Bowling Center. It was intended to serve as the new location for the Salvation Army's operations now based on Washington Street. The organization ultimately decided the project was too costly.

The county legislature has approved acquiring the property for $180,000 for the proposed veterans center.

In 2019, Garnar had announced plans to establish the veterans facility at the old Vestal Hills Country Club in the town of Binghamton. That location eventually was deemed to expensive as cost estimates continued to rise.

During an interview on News Radio WNBF, Garnar said he expected the county will seek bids for the project at the new site this winter. He anticipates "construction will happen in the early part of next year."

The county executive said "we've always wanted to have a one-stop shop - building - for our veterans."

Over the last few years, the State Street site was used as a community garden.

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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.