Crowley Factory Lofts moving forward on South Side. What we know about latest developments

How would you like to wake up to views of the Susquehanna River, and maybe have your morning coffee from a rooftop patio?

Crowley Factory Lofts is betting on strong demand for just that sort of new, upscale housing option on Binghamton’s South Side.

The project will transform the former Crowley Dairy building at 135 and 149 Conklin Ave. into 48 market rate apartment units on the second and third floors, plus commercial space on the ground floor.

Developers partnered with the City of Binghamton on a $2 million Restore New York grant in support of the project, and another box was ticked in August when the Broome County IDA approved a 20-year PILOT agreement including tax exemptions up to around $2.4 million.

While a few details remain to be ironed out with the city’s planning and zoning departments, project leadership is busy finalizing construction timelines, rent prices, commercial tenants and final design plans.

Here’s what we know.

When will Crowley Factory Lofts start accepting tenants?

Developer Jon Korchynsky hopes to break ground on construction around Jan. 1, 2024, preceded by some demolition and environmental work over the next few months.

Once construction begins, renovations are expected to take another 18 months to complete. That would put a grand opening sometime around June 2025.

Crowley Factory Lofts will start signing up tenants in the months before the building officially opens. The project is expected to cost around $13 million and support upwards of 100 construction jobs.

How much will rent cost at Crowley Factory Lofts? How big are the units?

Crowley Factory Lofts will feature 12 basic one-bedroom apartments, 18 one-bedroom apartments with a study, or home office, and 18 two-bedroom apartments.

Korchynsky said the basic one-bedroom units will start at about $1,200 per month, with the two-bedroom units starting around $1,700. The two-bedroom apartments with large waterfront views will be more expensive, likely ranging to around $2,200, Korchynsky said. The apartments will be marketed primarily to young professionals and families.

One-bedroom units average around 750 square feet, while the two-bedroom units span 1,100 square feet on average. The apartments will cover over 44,000 square feet in total.

What will the rooms look like? What about common areas?

Korchynsky said all of the units will boast “higher end finishes” and their own appliances, including a washer and dryer.

“The bathrooms will probably be tile surrounded, walk-in showers. Countertops are definitely going to be granite or quartz,” said Korchynsky. “A lot of the units are going to be pretty good sized. Most of the units are going to have either an island in it or a peninsula for extra seating in the kitchen area.”

Residents will have access to a fitness center on the first floor, and other common areas are in the planning stages.

“On the backside of the building we have this one area we are going to try to incorporate a veranda with like an outdoor grilling area for residents,” said Korchynsky. “I’m still exploring options to maybe do a rooftop patio as well.”

Historic photos: Southern Tier Throwback gallery: Broome County architecture

What will the exterior of the building look like?

The Crowley building was constructed in the early 1900s. The H.P. Hood Dairy Company purchased it in 2004 before exiting Binghamton in 2012. Mountain Fresh Dairy acquired the property in 2013 and attempted to revive the plant, but shut down in 2017.

The exterior of the building will remain largely the same, keeping the Crowley name on the smokestack as well as the signature Crowley sign atop the building.

“We’re going to keep as much of the historic integrity of the building as we possibly can, even down to the interior,” said Korchynsky. “We have a lot of subway tile in that building. I plan on keeping that and incorporating that into the buildout.”

What about the commercial tenants?

Site plans include roughly 10,000 square feet of flexible commercial space available to rent, plus an additional 14,000 for parking and storage. Korchynsky said the space has drawn some interest for offices and warehousing, but "nature will take its course" in the coming months and determine what enterprises choose to locate operations at Crowley Factory Lofts.

“I think this is going to revitalize the South Side,” IDA board member Richard Bucci said when the board considered the project. “The spinoff impact over there is going to be substantial. I think it’s going to be a great project for the South Side of the city of Binghamton.”

The first floor also includes 59 indoor parking spaces for tenants, and exterior parking will feature a gated entry.

This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Crowley Factory transformation update on Binghamton's South Side