Closed Binghamton Parking Garage Not Secured

Two days after the city-owned Collier Street parking ramp was permanently closed, people continued to wander into the facility despite fencing that was designed to secure the crumbling structure in downtown Binghamton.

Thousands of dollars in emergency spending was approved to install the security fence around the garage. But despite the fencing, people were observed wandering into the facility through an open gate November 11.

The young men said they were Binghamton University students. They were looking for garage employees to pay a monthly parking bill. A reporter directed them to the office's new location.

Binghamton police were notified that the gate to the closed parking facility was not locked.

City officials later in the afternoon, however, said the gate was unlocked as garage employees were inside working and the gate was secured by evening.

At least two parked vehicles remained inside the closed garage despite signs that had warned the facility would be closed on November 9.

City officials are expected to try to locate the owners of the cars using registration records.

The garage is to be demolished early next year. Officials say the process to tear down the nearly 55-year-old structure will be costly and time-consuming.

After the ramp is removed, a surface parking lot is to be opened on the site directly across from City Hall.

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