Emergency Repair Work Starts at Downtown Binghamton Building
An urgent project to secure the upper portion of a historic Binghamton structure after the partial collapse of a parapet wall may take weeks to complete.
Several bricks fell from the roof area of the five-story structure at 23 Henry Street last Thursday.
No injuries were reported when the bricks landed on a sidewalk and along State Street near the entrance to Burger Mondays restaurant.
A section of State Street and the sidewalk on the west and south sides of the building have been closed by city officials because of safety concerns.
The top four floors of the structure are filled with student apartments, although some of the units are unoccupied.
Tim Moran of Foundation Housing, the Syracuse-area rental company that operates the property, said the building owners have been working with city officials to coordinate the project.
A wall has been erected around the work site and protective scaffolding also has been put into place over the restaurant entrances.
The dining area and bar at Burger Mondays have been closed since the bricks fell. The business has been providing takeout service for customers who call in their order.
Owner Matthew Jones hopes the business will soon be able to reopen for regular operations.
Moran said repair work on the building initially will focus on the State Street side. He said an 80-foot boom lift is expected to arrive at the site on Wednesday.
Moran said he hopes the job can be completed by the end of March. He said the work schedule could be affected by the weather.
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.