Watkins breaks ground on next project

WATKINS GLEN--Local political and business leaders came together Friday, Aug. 20 for the groundbreaking on the $710,000 rehabilitation of the former Lil' Joe's Service Station. The property will be renovated offering new commercial space along with an upstairs apartment.
Joe and Ellen Scaptura owned and operated that business in Watkins Glen for 60 years. Located at 15 N. Franklin St., construction is expected to begin this September and be completed in the Summer of 2022. This work will be supported by the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
"This project holds such great promise because it's integral to Watkins Glen's racing heritage," said Judy McKinney Cherry, executive director for the Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development. "It's also a reminder of the first-generation immigrants who wanted to make the community better."
With its prime placement in downtown Watkins Glen near the waterfront, the property has two structures. The first is a two-story former filling station with living quarters on the second level along with an automobile repair garage.
"The commercial space will be terrific in both the station and the garage," Cherry said. "It is a key location in the village. I am thankful for the DRI Local Planning Committee, who had representatives in attendance, who saw the potential for this project."
Current plans call for the first floor, along with the separate historic garage, to become commercial space for lease with the second floor becoming a three-bedroom, 1,600 square foot apartment. Vacant for years, the buildings show their age, with exposed siding and weathering. Despite the current condition, Cherry said there is more than enough history and tradition at the property that makes its restoration not just good for the aesthetic of Watkins Glen but its heart as well.
"Joseph Scaptura was more than just a service station owner," said Cherry. "He was a key leader, volunteer and loved his community with every fiber of his being. His daughter, Sally and granddaughter, Margaret, are honoring their parents with this investment in the restoration of the station and garage."
Watkins Glen Mayor Luke Leszyk, who was also in attendance, said afterward that by renovating and not tearing down the buildings the historic character of Watkins is being maintained.
"We are grateful to the owners to be willing to put their own money forward to get this renovated, so I want to extend gratitude to them for their willingness to work with the DRI committee... and the property is still staying in the same family's hands, so we are keeping some historic value as well by not tearing down but renovating, keeping our historic nature," Leszyk said.
The project will include improvements to the buildings' facade, landscaping and structural improvements to make it desirable for both commercial and residential use.
"I appreciate the time and energy that Gary Short, Howard Cabezas and John Franzese have put into this project to bring it to this stage," said Cherry.
Cherry was joined for the groundbreaking by Carl Blowers, chairman of the Schuyler County Legislature, Watkins Glen Trustee and Co-Chair of the local DRI board Laurie DeNardo and others who are helping with the project.
"All buildings are important, but this one holds more significance because it's one of the first buildings you see when coming from the north, it's a gateway building so I think it will make a significant improvement in the impression of our village," Leszyk said.
"We were pretty excited about it," Leszyk added. "It's a DRI project and it means a lot. When we first started they asked for public input on what the public would like to see, and that building was the number one desire for the public to have something done with it. So it's pretty significant that we were able to accomplish the most important desire of the public to have that building renovated."