As the Broome Developmental Center is scheduled to close this week, Broome County Executive Candidate Jason Garnar has proposed a new use for the facility.

The Democrat held a news conference outside of BDC located on Glenwood Avenue in Binghamton on Monday.

He says he would like it to become a long-term drug treatment center.

The 325,000 square foot facility would house treatment beds and would also be a central location for support services.

Garnar says the building is already medical facility and it wouldn’t require much conversion.

He says Broome County currently has no long-term plan for the BDC.

“We have a facility that can be very easily converted into a heroin and opioid treatment facility.  Let’s talk about it.  Let’s get to the table and get people together to start talking about it and moving forward in that direction.  Yesterday, we didn’t wake up and find out we have a heroin epidemic.  This has been going on for a number of years,” he said.

Garnar says the treatment center will help support District Attorney Steve Cornwell’s Operation SAFE program bring more addicts into treatment.

BDC is scheduled to close on Thursday.

Anyone who supports the idea can sign a petition at JasonGarnar.com/heroin.