Micro Apartments Proposed for Binghamton’s West Side

A Binghamton man wants to acquire four city-owned properties so he can develop a 36-unit micro apartment complex.

Charles Ackerman hopes to build the housing project on the vacant lots at 35 through 41 Charlotte Street.

Ackerman said his idea is to develop "ultra-low income" apartments that could help provide housing for those who are homeless. He said he is prepared to finance the project himself.

While Ackerman does not intend to seek grants from the state government or funds from non-profit organizations, he would seek a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement.

The apartment units would be tiny - only 150-square-feet in size. Ackerman said each would have a private bathroom, a "small but sufficient kitchen" and a private front door.

Ackerman noted Broome County spends about $7 million annually to provide motel vouchers to the homeless. He said there's a need to develop permanent housing for low-income individuals in the Binghamton area.

Ackerman said the Charlotte Street location has several advantages. He said it's within walking distance to the Price Chopper grocery store, a Family Dollar store, a walk-in health clinic and a BC Transit bus stop.

Ackerman described his plan as "a private market solution to what is a government failure" to provide adequate help to the homeless. He said the West Side site is "a perfect location" for this type of project.

Ackerman estimated the total cost of developing the complex would be around $1.4 million.

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