Another Convenience Store Planned in Binghamton Neighborhood

A Vestal man is seeking permission to open a Binghamton convenience store less than a block away from a similar business that recently began operating.

Balwant Heer outlined his plans to construct a two-story building with the business on the ground floor and three apartments on the second floor.

Heer wants to develop the project at 74 Tompkins Street on the city's South Side. The new structure would be located next door to a liquor store he owns.

An unoccupied two-story house would be demolished to clear the site for the convenience store.

The store would be located about a half block north of Stop N Shop Deli that opened less than a year ago at the corner of Tompkins Street and Conklin Avenue.

Appearing before the city planning commission, Heer said his store would be a mini-mart that would sell fresh produce and deli items.

The property is currently zoned for residential use. The Binghamton zoning board of appeals is considering Heer's request for a variance to allow a mixed-use project on the site.

The city Commission on Architecture and Urban Design also must give its permission to demolish the existing house on the site before the development could move forward.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.