The city of Binghamton may dramatically reduce parking requirements and make other zoning changes to encourage the building of more housing.

Mayor Jared Kraham said he is proposing reforms to cut red tape and limit restrictions to encourage the development of residential projects.

The mayor said the city is doing all it can obtain more state and federal support for things like low-income housing tax credits, subsidies and grants to spur more residential development activity.

Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham discussing proposed zoning changes on August 15, 2024. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham discussing proposed zoning changes on August 15, 2024. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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Kraham said it's also important for the city to remove regulations that may serve as barriers for new housing projects.

The mayor is calling for the elimination of all parking requirements for affordable or senior housing projects.

Another change would permit the city planning commission to waive up to 75 percent of the existing parking requirements for all types of developments. Kraham said that would make it less expensive to build new businesses and housing.

The mayor said the proposed legislation also would reduce restrictions on townhouse and condo development.

This city-owned property on Dickinson Street once was a 30-car parking lot for a nearby Philadelphia Sales store. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
This city-owned property on Dickinson Street once was a 30-car parking lot for a nearby Philadelphia Sales store. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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Kraham discussed the legislation for reporters on an empty city-owned lot on Dickinson Street. A two-family house once stood on the site until it was demolished in 1957. That's when Philadelphia Sales acquired the property for a parking lot near its Clinton Street store. The city has owned the parcel for almost 25 years.

The mayor said the site might be appropriate for the development of attached townhouses. He said the changes would make it easier for multiple townhouse developments to be on the same lot.

The zoning reforms also would facilitate the subdivision of larger lots for housing.

Any changes to the existing regulations must be approved by city council.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: Binghamton's mayor outlined the proposed changes during a news conference in the First Ward on August 15, 2024.

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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.

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