Old Ellis Furniture Home in Binghamton to Go Residential

A downtown Binghamton building that had been a furniture store for more than eight decades is about to get a new life.

Developer Josh Bishop plans to convert most of the former Ellis Brothers store at 159 Washington Street into apartment units.

Bishop acquired the four-story building about one month ago. Ellis Brothers moved out of the Washington Street building last fall, shortly after the company started operations in a renovated building at Court and Hawley streets.

Bishop outlined his plans for the Washington Street property to members of the city planning commission Monday.

The panel is to hold a public hearing on the project on May 13 at 5:20 p.m.

Bishop said his vision for the building is somewhat similar to plans Yaron Kweller had for the site a couple of years ago. The original project was scrapped after work on the new Ellis Brothers store took longer than expected.

Bishop is planning 30 residential units with a total of 36 bedrooms. The previous proposal called for a total of 58 bedrooms.

One- and two-bedroom apartments now are planned for the second, third and fourth floors of the building. The street level may be used for general retail or a restaurant-type business.

Bishop said he hopes construction work can start this summer. He said the first apartment units could be available by late fall.

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

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