Binghamton Orders Demolition of Longtime Downtown Eyesore

A crumbling downtown Binghamton apartment building that's been considered a blighted property for more than a decade will be coming down.

Mayor Jared Kraham on Friday said "time's up" for the owners of the structure at 263 Washington Street to tear it down soon or the city will demolish it and send them the bill.

The Kenmore Building was constructed around 1890. It was acquired in 2009 by an entity based in New Paltz for $57,000.

At one point, the state was prepared to provide a $500,000 grant to help the owners to renovate the historic building to create 26 "modern studio apartments." But the project was scrapped.

Bricks and other parts of the structure have been falling to the ground in recent years. People still routinely enter the dilapidated building despite a temporary construction fence around the perimeter.

Kraham told WNBF News the city has put the property owners "on notice that the building is a danger to public safety and they will have to demolish it as soon as possible."

The mayor said "if they don't do it in a matter of days, the city will move in with demolition crews" to do the job.

The property owners - Kevin Findley of Binghamton and Philip Costa of Wallkill - last fall were found guilty in Binghamton city court of several dozen code violations.

Kraham said a warrant was issued for Findley who could not be located by authorities. Costa originally was to be sentenced in January but that court date was postponed. The judge now has scheduled a conference for mid-May with sentencing to follow that.

The total cost of demolition and clearing the site is expected to cost about $100,000.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: Students who live next door to The Kenmore Building reacted to the planned demolition on April 10, 2026.

A LOOK BACK: How WNBF News reported on the property at 263 Washington Street in December 2017... Project Stalled at Downtown Binghamton Eyesore

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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.