Safety Concerns Surround Crumbling Deposit School

Residents of the village of Deposit are keeping a wary eye on a century-old abandoned school building.

The former elementary school on Second Street hasn't been used for more than two decades. Three months ago, part of the brick building's roof collapsed.

Mayor John O'Connor declared a state of emergency because of safety concerns regarding the crumbling structure.

Sidewalks and a portion of a street on one side of the old school have been closed as a precaution.

O'Connor says every five days, he signs an emergency order because of the potential hazards posed by the deteriorating building.

Speaking on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program, O'Connor said state and county officials determined a certain perimeter had to be established to maintain public safety in the event of additional collapses.

O'Connor said the building itself is in Broome County, although much of the remainder of the property involved sits in Delaware County.

The mayor said the site was sold nearly 20 years ago and has been unused since then.

O'Connor said there had been some talk of using the structure as a municipal building but that idea didn't move forward, so the school district sold the property to a private buyer.

The mayor said litigation involving the owner of the old school is ongoing, so there's little the village can do now to address the situation.

O'Connor said most pedestrians, including children walking to and from school, are using sidewalks on the other side of the street. But he said he's concerned for the safety of some people who continue to walk in the street next to the barricades that surround the abandoned building.