Binghamton Crowley Lofts Housing Project Prep Work Continues

A $13 million project to redevelop the century-old Crowley milk processing plant in Binghamton is moving forward.

Two Broome County men - Patrick VanPutte and Jon Korchynsky - are planning to develop 48 housing units in the Conklin Avenue complex on the city's South Side. New York state is providing $2 million to support the project.

VanPutte said work to prepare the site for the project has been going on for more than a year. He said a "couple hundred thousand tons" of debris has been removed from the former dairy manufacturing facility. He said garbage was up to four feet high in some parts of the building.

Much of the mess was linked to unauthorized people who had entered the complex. VanPutte said he expects the clean-up work will be completed by the end of the year. Construction work at the site is to start in early 2025.

The 73,000-square-foot building will include apartments for young professionals and some commercial space.

People who pass by the Crowley site have noticed the large "R" that was part of the iconic sign atop the old plan is missing.

VanPutte said the letter became detached from the support during a windstorm several months ago. He said the Binghamton fire department helped to salvage the "R."

Plans call for the letter to eventually be returned to its prominent spot as the Crowley Lofts project proceeds.

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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.