Site of 19th Century Court Street House Turning Into Parking Lot

A parking lot now is being constructed where a downtown Binghamton house had stood for nearly 140 years.

The Preservation Association of the Southern Tier fought the plan by FGR Realty to tear down the structure at 188 Court Street.

The Vestal company acquired the property for $140,000 in December 2023. Phillip Akel of FGR Realty sought permission to demolish the house to provide more parking for a neighboring office building owned by the company.

The Binghamton preservation group expressed "strong opposition" to the plan to remove the structure, which was built in 1885.

In a letter to city officials, the organization said the "modest residence served as the first haberdashery" in Binghamton. It said there had been "minimal alterations to the structure" since it was constructed.

According to the message, the building's "distinctive materials, architectural features and examples of fine craftsmanship remain intact."

Binghamton's Commission on Architecture and Urban Design initially rejected Akel's request to demolish the house, which is located across the street from the Phelps Mansion Museum. But the panel eventually gave conditional approval to the plan to tear it down.

Gorick Construction knocked down the house last December. The property had been idle until the last few days when workers from Pritchard Development Corporation began preparing the site to be paved for several additional parking spaces.

The neighboring office building now is used for mental health services provided by Guthrie. Back in 1932, it was home to the Akel family's first Giant Food Market.

Phillip Akel did not return a call seeking comment on the future of the building.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: A look at the activity at 188 Court Street on November 3, 2025.

FLASHBACK VIDEO: Crews started demolishing the house at 188 Court Street on December 9, 2024.

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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.