Preparing for $60 Million Binghamton Garage and Housing Complex

Preliminary work has been underway ahead of the planned groundbreaking for a downtown Binghamton residential and parking facility.

The total cost of the project is expected to be around $60 million. The complex is to be developed by United Group of Troy and The Pike Company of Rochester.

Representatives of Pike Construction Services and others planning the launch of the project have been at the Water Street site in recent days. The structure will rise just north of the Boscov's department store.

Spray-painted markings have been made at the site of the future parking garage. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

The new facility is being built where a city-owned parking ramp had been operated for several decades. That crumbling garage was closed in December 2021 and demolished the following year.

Some Binghamton residents have expressed opposition to the plan to develop parking and 120 market rate apartments at the site.

Terri Rennia, a former mayoral candidate and city councilmember, on Tuesday said there are "a lot of things that are really, really wrong" with tax break deal lawmakers have approved.

An employee of Pike Construction Services at the Water Street site on July 11, 2023. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

The agreement authorized by city council would clear the way for a 28-year payment in lieu of taxes - or PILOT - arrangement.

Rennia told WNBF News the project developer made demands and the city simply "said OK, you can have it, we'll give it to you." She said the city "will be on the hook" for a 30-year bond needed to borrow money for the garage portion of the project.

Mayor Jared Kraham has said the project "will bring in nearly $4.5 million dollars in revenue" to the city, Broome County and Binghamton school district. He said it also will provide $4.5 million in infrastructure improvements.

But Rennia said most of the revenue actually will wind up being used to pay off the bond. She said the city still would be have to pay millions more to cover the total cost of the needed borrowing.

The Broome County Industrial Development agency still must give its approval to the project.

Mayor Kraham did not respond to a request as to when he expects the formal groundbreaking will take place but it's expected to occur within a matter of days.

A rendering of the proposed Water Street Development Project. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF Newsfile)

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

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