Binghamton Eyesore Owner Hit With $37,000 Fine

A man who had owned an abandoned downtown Binghamton apartment house has been assessed a fine after being convicted of several dozen code violations.

Philip Costa of Wallkill was fined $37,500 in connection with the problems at the Kenmore Building at 263 Washington Street.

According to a news release from Mayor Jared Kraham, the fine was assessed by City Court Judge Daniel Seiden.

The judge had found Costa guilty of 50 misdemeanor code violations at a trial last November.

A pile of bricks near the entrance to an abandoned building at 263 Washington Street on May 21, 2025. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

A warrant has been issued for a second owner of the property, Kevin Findley of Binghamton.

Costa, Findley and Philmar Holdings LLC had been cited by the city code enforcement department for violations of the state property maintenance code.

The owners also are supposed to pay for demolishing the crumbling building. The cost of tearing down the old structure in April was expected to be about $100,000.

Philmar Holdings of New Paltz acquired the Washington Street property for $57,500 in 2009.

At one point, the owners said they had developed a $2.5 million plan to create 26 "modern studio apartments" in the building, which was constructed around 1890.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: Demolition of Kenmore Building got underway on April 23, 2026.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com.