Construction underway on Water Street parking garage

BINGHAMTON — Construction has started on the Water Street parking garage in downtown Binghamton. The $25 million garage — located at the corner of Water and Henry streets and adjoining the Boscov’s department store — will include about 500 parking spots over five floors, the City of Binghamton said in a May 2 announcement. About 60 of the parking spots will be reserved two-hour parking spots for retail and restaurant patrons to support downtown businesses. The remainder will be available for monthly, overnight, and overflow retail parking. Crews in early May began to assemble 508 pieces of precast concrete that will comprise the new downtown parking garage. The precast assembly is expected to take about two months. Crews will then begin work on the garage’s interior, including electrical, mechanical, and plumbing.

“The new Water Street parking garage is a major and much-needed investment in downtown Binghamton’s infrastructure,” Binghamton Mayor Jared M. Kraham said in the announcement. “We’re replacing a crumbling eyesore with a brand-new parking facility that will support the small businesses driving downtown’s economic revitalization and deliver the safe, accessible parking residents deserve when they come downtown.” Water Street is expected to remain open to one lane of traffic for most of construction, with limited closures possible to accommodate crane relocation, the City of Binghamton said. William H. Lane, Inc., of Binghamton, is serving as the general contractor on the project. Unistress Corporation, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is handling the precast concrete assembly. The garage is expected to be partially open to the public by the end of the year, with project completion scheduled for early 2025, the city said. In 2022, Binghamton completed the demolition of a 52-old-year parking garage on the site following years of structural concerns.