Burnett Calls on Kraham to Release More Info on Binghamton Plaza

Miles Burnett, the Democratic candidate challenging Republican Mayor Jared Kraham, is seeking additional details about what the city plans to do with the Binghamton Plaza site.

Kraham has announced that the city of Binghamton is preparing to make a formal offer  to the New Jersey owners of the North Side property.

The mayor on Friday said a third-party appraiser has set a value of $1.55 million for the parcels that make up the plaza site on West State Street.

Burnett on Monday said "before the city spends another penny to acquire this property," Kraham should tell North Side residents and business owners more specifics about what is planned for the site.

Burnett said residents "deserve to know what this entire project is going to cost taxpayers (and) how long the project is going to take."

Burnett said there also is a need for information on how the major demolition and excavation project affect the health and safety of nearby residents.

Kraham said the formal offer to pay "fair market value" for the plaza site will be "one of the final steps in a long legal process to get the property under public control" after the owners "left it to crumble."

The mayor has said said the land could be used to expand park space, to provide access to the Chenango River and for possible private development.

Environmental issues could affect any future use for the property. The city has used the site as a municipal landfill for years before the Binghamton Plaza was built.

Operators of the remaining businesses at the plaza continue to express frustration about the lack of specific information about a case that will affect their future.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: Mayor Kraham discussed the eminent domain process at the Binghamton Plaza more than a year ago - on June 6, 2024.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.