Binghamton Crowley Lofts Apartment Project on Hold

The head of the Broome County Industrial Development Agency is expressing doubts about plans to convert the old Binghamton Crowley milk plant into a residential complex.

In an email response to a WNBF News inquiry, Stacey Duncan said she is "of the opinion that the project is not moving forward."

Duncan noted the agency approved benefits for the Crowley Factory Lofts complex in 2023, "so the developer would need to start our process over again." She said she believes the "project costs will have changed significantly."

Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham announced plans for a "$13 million 45-unit, mixed-use housing project" at the site in December 2022.

Two years ago, the city was awarded $2 million in state funds for the Crowley project

In an email on Friday, the mayor's office said the developer is continuing to work to clean out the property, including removing manufacturing equipment inside and outside the building.

According to the statement, the developer has spent about $1 million on the clean-out work so far.

The update provided by Deputy Mayor Megan Heiman said the developer is continuing work to clean out the property, including dismantling and removing the manufacturing equipment both inside and outside the building. They have spent approximately $1 million on clean-out to date.

The statement added the state grant "is still active and has not yet been spent down."

A contractor is scheduled to start on lead paint abatement inside the property. Once that’s complete, a masonry contractor will repair damaged wall tiles and penetration holes on the exterior of the building. There will also be new concrete floors poured throughout the building.

The developer is working with the New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to meet their approval on various design and construction requirements, with the goal being to maintain as much of the historic conditions as possible.

Two Broome County men - Patrick VanPutte and Jon Korchynsky - have been planning the redevelopment project.

In a brief telephone conversation last Wednesday, VanPutte indicated the project wasn't dead but it was moving more slowly than had been expected. He hasn't been available since then to elaborate on the status of the project.

In May 2023 during an appearance at the site with Mayor Kraham, Korchynsky said he expected construction would start in "a month or two" and that the project should be completed within two years.

Crowley Factory Lofts LLC acquired the former production facility from Mountain Fresh Dairy for $800,000 in January 2023.

HP Hood closed the Crowley processing plant in March 2012. About 54 people lost their jobs when the facility was shut down.

Mountain Fresh Dairy operated the plant with a small workforce for a short time before it went out of business.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: Mayor Kraham was enthusiastic about the project when he joined the developer to discuss it at the former Crowley facility on May 23, 2023.

Enter your number to get our free mobile app

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.