Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham has announced a step that would make up for a few of the parking spaces lost with the demolition of the Water Street (or Boscov’s) parking ramp.

Kraham says the City will install a temporary surface parking lot where the parking garage had stood before meeting the wrecking ball a couple days after Christmas last year.

Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News
Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News
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Around 45 spots will provide free, two-hour parking when it opens next month.

In making the announcement September 6, the Republican said “More and more people are coming to downtown Binghamton to shop, enjoy a meal or attend a show, game or other type of entertainment.” Kraham says, “By adding a temporary surface lot near the corner of Water and Henry Streets, the City is providing an added incentive for residents to come downtown and a boost to the businesses, like Boscov’s, that have helped drive its revitalization.” 

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The 52-year-old Water Street parking garage has been undergoing demolition over the course of the spring and summer.  The ramp had been deteriorating for years and many parts of the structure were in decay.

Pike United is in the process of doing site structure evaluations as it plans to construct a $48-million mixed-use structure that will include parking for around 500 vehicles on the lower floors as well as housing units.  The plans currently call for the upper floors to include about 120 units of market-rate-housing.

Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News
Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News
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City Hall says crews will begin underground work on the site while the temporary surface lot is open with more significant construction in the spring.

A conundrum still facing Pike is how to address the remaining portion of the old ramp that is built into the building housing Boscov’s. The remaining part of the ramp is part of the former Fowler's store building right over the Men’s Department.

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