ServU Credit Union and Walgreens seek to build new Corning locations

Applications to build a new Walgreens pharmacy on West Pulteney Street and a ServU Credit Union branch on East Denison Parkway were recently reviewed by the Corning Planning Commission. 

The Walgreens pharmacy project, if approved, would be built on a vacant site on Pulteney Street, near the city’s western entrance that formerly housed a Sugar Creek gas station, according to Jennifer Miller, city Planning & Economic Development Director.

The ServU Credit Union location would be constructed on East Denison Parkway, across Columbia Street from the Alternative School for Math and Science, Miller said. Two single-family homes currently at the site, one on East Denison Parkway and one at the intersection of Cluthra Lane and Columbia Street, would be demolished to make room for the credit union site.

Both projects are in the early stages of review, according to Miller.

The former Sugar Creek location is one of several city properties that have long struggled to attract developers and are eligible for a tax incentive as part of efforts to spur growth.

In 2015, the City Council qualified sections of West Denison Parkway, Walnut Street, East Tioga Avenue, West Pulteney Street and Wardell Street as eligible sites to receive a partial tax exemption. 

The state real property tax law allows governments to adopt a local law offering a partial tax exemption from town, county and school taxes. 

“I think these are both positive projects,” Miller said. “The redevelopment of the old Sugar Creek site will receive mixed-use tax incentives for redevelopment of the remediated brownfield. I think the bank project is consistent with making Denison Parkway more commercial. It represents another investment in our community.” 

Chris Sharkey, president of Corning Enterprises, said she thinks the reuse of the old Sugar Creek site on Pulteney Street will have a positive impact on the city. 

“I think putting another new build at one of the gateways to the city (the former Sugar Creek site) meshes well with the Corning Housing Partnership Initiative to combat blight,” Sharkey said. “Anything we can do to make it a more welcoming and professional entrance to the city is a good thing.” 

Miller said the city Planning Commission has not received a timeline for either proposed project at this time. 

“The SurvU project still needs to find out if they can get access to the site off Denison Parkway from the state Department of Transportation, and have not provided any plans to the city on what the exterior of the building is going to look like,” Miller said. “Walgreens still has to provide more documentation and renderings to the planning board.”