No Hope Seen for Binghamton Kmart Site Two Years Later

Residents of Binghamton's North Side for the second holiday shopping season are being greeted by an abandoned Kmart store with no sign that anything is going to change.

Kmart closed its Binghamton Plaza store exactly two years ago, leaving several dozen people without jobs just days before Christmas.

The large retail complex on West State Street bustled with activity for several decades after it opened in 1963. But the plaza now is mostly empty with only a few small businesses remaining.

Mayor Richard David has said the city was working with the property owner - Galesi Realty Corporation of New Jersey - to develop new concepts for the site.

But Galesi representatives have not responded to repeated requests to comment on what they plan to do with the plaza.

Councilman Conrad Taylor represents the neighborhood where the plaza is located. He said "the city needs to present a vision" for the site.

Taylor said city officials need "to do better at having an open conversation with North Side community about what the plans are for that property."

The 4th District councilman said he thinks "it would be a great idea" for officials to hold a meeting to for people in the neighborhood to discuss the future of the plaza site.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com

For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.