Mayor Kraham Announces Property Demolitions

Mayor Kraham Announces Cluster of Blighted Property Demolitions in Center City

(BINGHAMTON, N.Y.)-Mayor Jared M. Kraham on Thursday visited 2 Fayette Street in Binghamton's Center City neighborhood to announce work has begun to tear down three more vacant, blighted properties formerly owned by slumlord Isaac Anzaroot.

Mayor Kraham said: "I'm keeping my promise to hold bad actors and slumlords accountable, and bring positive change to our neighborhoods. We took historic action to secure a settlement against Isaac Anzaroot and ensure he could not do further harm to Binghamton's neighborhoods. With this new round of property demolitions, we are realizing the promise of that settlement-cleaning up blight, creating opportunities for housing and delivering results for residents who have suffered the impacts of these derelict properties for too long."

In addition to the property at 2 Fayette Street, the City will also tear down 4.5 Fayette Street and 12 Rutherford Street in this wave of demolitions.

The properties had previously been hubs for narcotics, squatting and criminal activity.

Following demolition, the properties will be made available for redevelopment through New York State's Block by Block program, targeting the construction of affordable single-family homes.

Gorick Construction, of Binghamton, is performing the demolition work at a cost of $170,800, paid for with State Pro-Housing Communities grant funding and federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.

The City acquired the properties as part of a landmark court settlement against Anzaroot that also banned the downstate landlord from owning or managing property in Binghamton for 15 years.

Earlier this year, the City tore down five former Anzaroot properties acquired through the settlement.

Several others have been targeted for redevelopment, including 41 and 43.5 Clinton Street, where the First Ward Action Council plans to construct a new mixed-use building with 19 affordable housing units and ground-floor commercial space.

The former Anzaroot properties at 206, 206.5, 208 and 210 Henry Street will be sold in support of a new mixed-use affordable housing project at 180 Henry Street that includes 65 housing units and 4,300 square-feet of commercial space. The project awaits allocation of Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) by New York State.

Another former Anzaroot property at 181 Hawley Street is currently under redevelopment by the Broome County Land Bank as a two-family, affordable rental.