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Brian Adey
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Oneida County Executive Joseph A. Griffo today announced that he has secured $1 million in funding from Gov. George Pataki to demolish the former Broadacres Skilled Nursing Facility in Deerfield.

“Once again, Gov. Pataki has listened to the needs of our area and responded with assistance to address a major local issue,” Griffo said. “Gov. Pataki has not only been a frequent visitor to our area, he has devoted substantial state resources to helping our communities address major problems. On behalf of the people of Deerfield and all the taxpayers of Oneida County, I thank him for this latest investment in making Oneida County stronger.”

“By securing this funding from the state, we are able to remove an eyesore from the community of Deerfield and to do so without a significant impact on the county’s finances,” Griffo said. “I made a strong case to the governor that this project was essential for Oneida County, because it posed a health and safety hazard in its present condition. The people of Deerfield deserved better than to have deteriorating buildings that have been virtually empty for a decade. I also made the case to the governor that the costs of demolition were above and beyond what the people of Oneida County could afford. I am very pleased that the governor agreed with me and that we are able to move forward and demolish this facility.”

Griffo said that County Government will work with the community of Deerfield to develop a re-use plan for the 60-plus acre site. “Broadacres occupies some very choice real estate in Deerfield,” Griffo said. “Securing funding for its demolition has been a top priority. Now that we have this funding, we can work with the officials and residents of Deerfield to discuss a long-term re-use plan that will provide what the community needs and what neighbors on the site may want.”

Griffo said he is open to considering a wide variety of uses for the site once the current buildings are razed. “The land Broadacres now occupies could be transformed into an attractive green space parcel that adds to the overall beauty of the area. There is also potential there for residential development, or increased recreational activity in the town.” Griffo said. “I want the people of Deerfield to have the first say in what they think would be appropriate for the site. The next step in the process is to develop a formal re-use planning group that can include representatives of the town and county to consider options. While that is going on, the county will put the demolition project out to bid.”

Broadacres was built in 1929 as a tuberculosis sanitarium. It was converted to a nursing hone in 1966. The facility closed in 1996. Its only use since than was for records storage in the late 1990s.