Binghamton Eyestore To Be Demolished

After more than ten months, the apartment complex at 259 Main Street is coming down. For the better part of the year, the building with broken windows and fire damage has been an eyesore in Binghamton. Construction workers began tearing it down Monday morning. The city of Binghamton is enforcing the demolition, as state law requires properties destroyed by fire to come down in a certain amount of time. Binghamton Building Inspector Mark Tanner said the property owner is the one in charge of knocking it down and hired Gorick Construction to do the work. During the demolition, Binghamton code enforcement officials will be on site to supervise. Tanner said it took longer than they hoped because the process involved a fire investigation, a police investigation, plus insurance paperwork. The February fire was ignited by a tenant cooking meth, according to Binghamton police. Daniel Kauchis was charged with reckless endangerment and arson. The demolition is expected to be complete by the end of Tuesday. Drivers should expect part of Main Street to be closed.