Binghampton takes "big step" with grocery store plan

The Binghampton community is one step closer to realizing one of its greatest priorities.

But Binghampton Development Corporation Executive Director Robert Montague cautions that it's "a big first step."

The BDC will demolish a blighted apartment building at 480 Tillman Street, the last major hurdle to developing a commercial retail center anchored by a grocery store. Montague said a grocery store has been on the neighborhood's wish list for a long time.

"It would be a real sign of hope and change in the neighborhood," Montague said.

The nonprofit BDC has aggregated 6.5 acres--on the south side of Sam Cooper Boulevard, on the west side of Tillman Street and the strip between Sam Cooper and the Memphis Police Department's Tillman Station precinct--for development of the retail center.

In early January, it will begin demolition of the eyesore apartments, having helped all the former residents transition to alternate housing.

A grocery store on the site would employ 70 to 80 people. Montague said the process to the opening of the store could be a long one, though. Currently they are recruiting operators, and will have to go through zoning approvals and fundraising before the project becomes a reality.

"We have a good bit of fundraising to do to be able to work within the real environment of inner city lease rates on new construction," he said.

The BDC will develop and own the center, Montague said, making the income of the property an element of sustainability for its work to support the neighborhood.

It wouldn't be the BDC's first foray into owning and developing real estate. The group renovated two sets of apartments on Tillman: Hope Community Senior Apartments and Tillman Crossing Apartments.

"The cash and margin that they produce helps fund our property development and management entities," he said. "It's an element of predictability for long-term presence and funding."

Over the past three years, Montague said BDC has invested $3 million renovating property along Tillman.

The faith-based BDC has its hands in many other neighborhood projects as well. Montague said Memphis Gridiron Ministries, which is in its second season of a youth football program at Hamp Field in Binghampton, has been a great bridge builder for the neighborhood's kids.

The Carpenter Art Garden pairs volunteers with neighborhood children and adults to transform previously abandoned lots on Carpenter Street into places of beauty and creativity.

The BDC's construction job training program also is a major source of focus. It uses acquired, blighted properties as experiential classrooms while transforming neglected properties into quality, affordable homes.