Mayor Kraham Kicks Off Latest Wave of Blighted Property Demolitions

Five Former Anzaroot Properties to be Torn Down in New Round of City Demolitions

(BINGHAMTON, N.Y.)—Mayor Jared M. Kraham on Tuesday visited 22 Clarke Street on the West Side to kick off a wave of six blighted property demolitions across the City, including five eyesores once owned by slumlord Isaac Anzaroot.

Mayor Kraham said: "Vacant, neglected buildings like these hurt entire neighborhoods, frustrating residents who live nearby and making our community less safe. With these demolitions, we're taking real steps to clean up some of the damage caused by our area's most notorious slumlord. Every resident deserves to live in clean, safe neighborhoods free from problem properties and blight."

The City will tear down the following properties in this wave of demolitions:

• 22 Clarke Street
• 58 Glenwood Avenue
• 114 Henry Street
• 193 Matthews Street
• 30 Thorp Street
• 31 Travis Avenue

The City acquired five of the properties through a major court settlement against Isaac Anzaroot, which also banned the downstate landlord from owning or managing property in Binghamton for the next 15 years.

Several other properties acquired by the City through the settlement will be demolished at a later date or rehabilitated, where possible.

The sixth property slated for demolition in this round, 58 Glenwood Avenue, was acquired by the City from Broome County following property tax foreclosure.

Gorick Construction, of Binghamton, is performing the demolition work at a cost of $239,475. It will be paid for with federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, set aside for neighborhood blight removal.

Following demolition, the properties will be held for potential redevelopment or incorporated into the City's Side Lot Program for purchase by adjacent property owners to maintain as green space.