Downtown Binghamton: Future of City-Owned Site Up in the Air

A prime piece of property in the heart of downtown Binghamton has been idle for nearly two decades and there are no redevelopment plans for the site.

The parcel on the southeast corner of Court and State streets once was occupied by the O'Neil and Ross buildings.

Efforts by preservationists to save those structures failed. The buildings were ordered demolished after pieces began falling onto neighboring properties and into the street.

The O'Neil Building was torn down in 2007 and the Ross Building was removed the following year.

Developer Mark Yonaty had hoped to build a multistory commercial and residential complex at the site but he ended that effort in 2023.

The property was sold back to the city last October. Since then, no new proposals have been discussed for the site.

Mayor Jared Kraham said the property can provide an "economic development opportunity" for Binghamton. He told WNBF News the "city certainly is open for proposals" for a project at the site.

Meanwhile, the grass-covered parcel - which once included tables and benches - sits unused.

The city removed the tables and other amenities in 2015 after a series of problems, including drug overdoses at the site.

Kraham expressed concern that if benches and tables are reinstalled, they might attract people who "just want to hang out there all day."

With summer approaching, there apparently are no new plans being considered to use the city-owned space.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.