Binghamton Blight Fight: Trial Date for Owners Set for Next Month

The long-running legal saga involving an abandoned apartment building in the heart of downtown Binghamton has been stalled in recent months.

The city has taken the owners of 263 Washington Street to court. According to the mayor's office, Kevin Findley and Phillip Costa each were charged with 53 code violations related to the property.

The four-story Kenmore Building has been considered a blighted structure for more than a decade. The owners had announced plans to renovate the place but the project never moved forward.

The city sought a trial after the owners didn't make required repairs. Mayor Jared Kraham had expected the case to be heard over the summer.

But according to his office, there was "a delay in scheduling the trial date because the previous attorney for the property owner withdrew from the case." The trial now is scheduled for November 17.

The abandoned building has been for sale since last spring when the original listing carried an asking price of $499,000. The price has been reduced to $294,000.

A neighboring property at 257 Washington Street also has been listed for sale. An auction was held in August for that building, which had been home to the Boys Club for decades.

Real estate agent Scott Warren said there's "no solid deal" yet for that site. He indicated that a prospective buyer was working on financing.

Kraham said the auction of the former Boys Club building has "led to broader development interest in that site." He said "the outcome of that bank foreclosure and future owner stands to be important in looking at development" of the property at 263 Washington Street.

The state years ago was prepared to award a $500,000 grant to support the redevelopment of the blighted building. But that money is no longer available because of inaction by the property owners.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: An exterior inspection of 263 Washington Street from last spring.

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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.