Three projects will address water, septic concerns in Steuben County: Where they stand

An ongoing $2.25 million project to bring a public sewer system to Hammondsport’s Village Square will be, once completed, a game-changer for local businesses.

“It’s going to have a significant impact on the business district for a couple of reasons,” said Jamie Johnson, executive director of the Steuben County IDA. “First, a lot of the downtown businesses are operating under consent orders from the Department of Health due to inadequately sized septic systems, while other property owners are limited in their ability to expand.”

Johnson said the sewer project will alleviate health concerns while allowing for additional development to occur in the downtown business district.

Hammondsport Village Mayor Jean Jensen said the project will likely begin in the downtown area after Columbus Day and be completed in late fall.

The project was actually set to be completed years ago, Jensen said, but was delayed due to the pandemic.

“It should have been done by now. But it’s good to see work is finally underway.”

Johnson said the project received significant support — $1.45 million — from state and federal grants, along with $800,000 in long-term financing.

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“Currently crews are working on what we are calling the treatment area, behind the old Glenn H. Curtiss Memorial School, not in the downtown business district,” Johnson said. “So, people driving through won’t really see the work and that was purposely scheduled not to have work in the business district until after the summer tourist months.”

The project will also allow some anticipated expansion to buildings' upper floors in the business district.

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“I had a recent discussion with a grant writer from the Town of Urbana on the project," Jensen said, "and they said one of the things that has been identified is apartments in the business district on the second floor.”

The Hammondsport sewer project is one of three water quality projects geared to enhance business and community liveliness in Steuben County, by helping municipalities with their sewer needs, Johnson said. Other projects are planned in East Bath, near Lake Salubria, and the Prattsburgh business district.

A strategic $9.3 million Bath sewer project

Johnson says the Bath project, which will connect businesses along state Route 415 and create new development areas, will also enhance water quality for the residents around Lake Salubria, which has been deemed susceptible to rare harmful algae blooms due to high levels of nutrients in the lake.

“It is anticipated that construction of the sewer project will probably begin in the 2024 timeframe,” Johnson said. “It will basically take sewer out to the East Bath interchange and go around Lake Salubria, which has some Department of Environmental Conservation concerns on the water quality in the lake.”

Tony Russo, owner and president of Southern Tier Provisions, state Route 415 in Bath, is in total support of the project and the impact it will have on the business district.

“The project excites me because you know, since when we opened in 1985, we went from two employees on premises to 12 to 14 people, which requires bathrooms and use. So, this project is certainly going to be a huge benefit to us.”

Russo said the project will probably increase interest in the business corridor off exit 39, going from Interstate 86 to the Village of Bath.

“There's not been a lot of commercial development out here on state Route 415, in terms of restaurants and gas stations probably for that reason of no sewer,” Russo said. “I think this will change that.”

Prattsburgh Sewer Project in the early stages

Johnson said the Prattsburgh sewer project aims to establish a public sewer system for the business community around Main Street.

“It's attracting private investments, and with funding support from various sources, it promises to be a catalyst for further growth,” Johnson said.

The project has helped leverage private investments downtown with a $1.3 million rehabilitation effort on three Main Street properties and additional growth at Empire Telephone’s corporate headquarters.

“The Steuben County IDA has just helped the town make additional applications for funding,” Johnson said. “We're helping them put together a financial package.”

Johnson said there are some properties that need to be secured for a treatment area which town officials are working on.

“The project will seek funds through the next state consolidated funding request. If approved, we’ll be able to get the final pieces of the funding secured,” Johnson said. “Then the final design can be completed.”

Work on the project will likely break ground in 2025, Johnson said. The sewer project will provide Main Street properties owners with higher access to upgrade the upper floors of the structures. Owners currently have to pump their septic treatments.

Chris Costanza, owner of four properties in the Prattsburgh business district, said the sewer project would be a great asset to his future plans for the buildings.

“At the commercial spaces there are three septic holding tanks,” Constanza said. “The tanks have to be pumped every couple of days. It’s not ideal and the sewer project would have a great effect on the town as a whole.”

This article originally appeared on The Leader: Steuben County has 3 water quality projects planned: Progress report