Binghamton Developing Plans to Tear Down Water Street Garage

City officials have decided that Binghamton's crumbling Water Street parking ramp will be demolished and not repaired.

The garage attached to the Boscov's department store went into operation in May 1970. Pieces of concrete have fallen on parked vehicles in the facility and its elevators don't work.

The city is planning to release a request for redevelopment proposals for the site on Friday.

An upper floor of the Water Street garage near an entrance to Boscov's department store. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

In a statement, Mayor Richard David said "downtown deserves better than a 50-year-old hulking concrete eyesore."

Proposals for new projects could include housing and commercial components. Developers are being advised to incorporate at least 500 parking spaces in their plans.

The city has been trying to obtain millions of dollars in state funding to pay for repairs in the building used by Boscov's and to address the store's parking needs.

A section of the Water Street parking garage was closed in July 2020. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)