Work has begun on a multi-million-dollar project to develop several dozen apartments at what had been an office building in the heart of downtown Binghamton.

The Centre Plaza building at Chenango and Henry streets had housed offices and some commercial establishments over the past half-century. But the complex became mostly vacant after the Covid-19 pandemic.

A view of the Centre Plaza building from Chenango Street on March 26, 2024. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
A view of the Centre Plaza building from Chenango Street on March 26, 2024. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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Chenango Holdings LLC acquired the building last June for $2.1 million. Developer James Slocum received a special use permit to convert the place into 63 apartments with a total of 87 bedrooms.

The apartments are to be located in the upper portion of what had been an eight-story office tower.

Inside the Centre Plaza lobby on February 8, 2024. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
Inside the Centre Plaza lobby on February 8, 2024. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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Slocum has said that while the interior of the building will be remodeled for the project, no changes are planned for the exterior.

The Binghamton Vet Center is expected to remain on the street level of Centre Plaza. The Cave nightclub - which operates in the basement of the complex - also won't be affected by the residential conversion project.

Slocum has said he expects it will take about 12 months to renovate the building.

Centre Plaza was home to the WNBF and WQYT radio studios from 1973 to 1983.

A sidewalk on Henry Street was closed for the Centre Plaza construction project on March 26, 2024. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
A sidewalk on Henry Street was closed for the Centre Plaza construction project on March 26, 2024. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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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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