A downtown Binghamton building that served as a furniture store for more than 80 years is getting a new lease on life.
Developer Josh Bishop plans to convert much of the former Ellis Brothers store at 159 Washington Street into apartment units.
Bishop acquired the four-story building about a month ago. Ellis Brothers moved out of the Washington Street building last fall, shortly after the company began operations in a renovated building at Court and Hawley streets.
The former Ellis Brothers store at 159 Washington Street is vacant. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
Bishop outlined his plans for the Washington Street site to members of the City Planning Commission on Monday.
The commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the project on May 13 at 5:20 p.m.
Bishop said his vision for the building is somewhat similar to the plans Yaron Kweller had for the site several years ago. The original project was scrapped after work on the new Ellis Brothers store took longer than expected.
Bishop plans 30 residential units with a total of 36 bedrooms. The previous proposal called for a total of 58 bedrooms.
One- and two-bedroom apartments are currently planned for the second, third and fourth floors of the building. Street level can be used for general retail or restaurant type stores.
Bishop said he hopes construction work can begin this summer. He said the first apartment units could be available by late fall.
It's unclear what will become of the Ellis Brothers sign, which remains on the property, which has been in the family since the 1930s. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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