Binghamton to Spend $1 Million to Upgrade Old Fire Stations

Four neighborhood fire stations in Binghamton will be getting some needed work this year.

Mayor Jared Kraham on Monday said the city plans to spend $1 million to upgrade and renovate the stations, two of which were constructed more than a century ago.

Speaking in front of the East Side fire station on Robinson Street, Kraham said the planned work will include interior refurbishing, new roofs, as well as renovated bathrooms and bunk spaces.

The East Side station was built in 1904. The city's West Side station on Main Street was constructed four years earlier. The South Side station on Conklin Avenue was built in 1929 and the North Side station on West State Street was built in 1960.

The money for the work will come from the Covid-19 federal relief funding the city is receiving through the American Recovery Plan Act. Kraham said the plan will be presented to City Council next week.

Meanwhile, construction is continuing on the new $8.5 million fire department headquarters complex at Court and Chapman streets. That project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The fire department has been operating out of a former car dealership at Court and Carroll streets in recent months.

Fire Chief Alan Gardiner said things have been "going pretty smoothly" at that site. The temporary site can't accommodate a tower truck, so that is being housed at the North Side station for now.

Enter your number to get our free mobile app

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.