Nypenn Trade Center closed due to vandalism

JOHNSON CITY, NY – (WIVT/WBGH) Just months before a major renovation project intends to start transforming the former Johnson City High School into apartments, the building has been shut down due to vandalism.

What’s currently known as the Nypenn Trade Center on Main Street has been declared uninhabitable by the J-C code enforcement department because of a lack of electricity in half of the structure. Vandals broke in last week, presumably in search of copper to scrap, and destroyed one of the building’s electrical panels.

The property is owned by the estate of the late Mike McKilligan but local developer The Lane Group is currently in negotiations to purchase it with a closing date expected in the next 30 to 60 days. The former high school currently rents space to a variety of tenants including religious groups, artists and martial arts academies.

Managing Member of The Lane Group Mark Lane says that even though his company doesn’t yet own the building, he’s working with the McKilligan family to get the power restored. Once that’s done, Lane says tenants will be allowed back in the building to begin the moving out process in advance of the project to convert it into housing.

Lane says his firm plans to apply for historic preservation tax credits for the market rate housing project. “The building itself, the structure, is in great shape. It was built back in 1914. 1916 was the second addition. We have to restore all of the windows, all the stone work on the exterior, and all of the interior finishes on the inside. It’s definitely going to be historic in nature and the apartments will be beautiful.”

Lane says the separate out building in the rear that once housed the high school’s gymnasium is about to be leased commercially. The main 3 story 80 thousand square foot building will be converted into 58 apartments, 48 with one bedroom and 10 with two.

Lane says the tenants will be given 30 days to vacate and he wants to work with them to make the transition as smooth as possible.

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