A developer says several dozen additional apartments will be part of his project to transform an old Johnson City shoe factory into a residential and commercial complex.

Matthew Paulus of Syracuse says the plans for the Victory Building project have been revised to include 156 apartments. Paulus originally proposed 108 units in the massive building at 59 Lester Avenue.

The updated design calls for 120 one-bedroom apartments and 36 two-bedroom units. The developer says the apartments will be the same size as originally planned. An additional floor of residential units was added to the project.

Speaking on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program Wednesday, Paulus said the job will be "one of the biggest transformational projects in upstate New York." He said the complex will have about 275,000 square feet of useable space.

The south side of the Victory Building on November 1, 2021. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
The south side of the Victory Building on November 1, 2021. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
loading...

Paulus said the plans for apartments on the second, third and fourth floors of the five-story building. He said the ground level will be used primarily for parking and the fifth floor would be designated as commercial space.

A view inside the former shoe factory on August 25, 2021. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
A view inside the former shoe factory on August 25, 2021. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
loading...

The developer said the cost of the project has risen from the $30 million that had been estimated when it was announced last December. He said he now expects the total cost will be closer to $40 million.

Paulus said he still hopes the complex could be open in early 2023.

Preliminary construction work is underway at the former EJ Factory at 59 Lester Avenue. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
Preliminary construction work is underway at the former EJ Factory at 59 Lester Avenue. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
loading...
Enter your number to get our free mobile app

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com.

For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

LOOK: Things from the year you were born that don't exist anymore

The iconic (and at times silly) toys, technologies, and electronics have been usurped since their grand entrance, either by advances in technology or breakthroughs in common sense. See how many things on this list trigger childhood memories—and which ones were here and gone so fast you missed them entirely.

LOOK: See the iconic cars that debuted the year you were born

 

How Many in America: From Guns to Ghost Towns

Can you take a guess as to how many public schools are in the U.S.? Do you have any clue as to how many billionaires might be residing there? Read on to find out—and learn a thing or two about each of these selection’s cultural significance and legacy along the way.

More From WNBF News Radio 1290 AM & 92.1 FM