Binghamton Rejects Student Housing Expansion

The city board of Binghamton rejected a plan to expand the student housing complex at 20 Hawley Street, and the decision will likely terminate a multimillion-dollar project. A developer had plans to make room for another 180 college students at the downtown apartment building, but the plan hinged on gaining approval for the new tenants to park their vehicles at the city-owned Collier Street garage. At a meeting on Tuesday, the Binghamton Zoning Board of Appeals voted 4-to-1 to overturn the prior ruling that would have allowed for the parking. The board cited city codes that controlled access to the garage as one of the main reasons to vote down the proposal. The expansion project likely would have exceeded $10 million if it were to have gone through.