Local news- Press Release
City of Binghamton New York - Mayor Kraham Locks Down 34 North St 29 January 2024 ( news )
City of Binghamton , state New York ( By Press Release office)
Jan 29,2024
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Mayor Kraham Locks Down 34 North Street
Notorious Problem Property Locked Down Following Multiple Narcotics Arrests , Disturbances
( BINGHAMTON , N . Y . )
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Mayor Jared M . Kraham on Monday announced the lockdown of 34 North Street following months of police activity , including multiple narcotics arrests , and ongoing Code issues at the problem property .
Mayor Jared M . Krahamsaid: "34 North Street is a prime example of a problem property acting as a hub of illegal activity and upending quality of life for an entire neighborhood . This lockdown delivers much - needed relief and well - deserved peace to nearby residents . It sends another message to problem property owners that the City is serious about holding bad actors accountable and protecting the integrity of our neighborhoods . "
Last week , City Court Judge Daniel L . Seiden signed an order locking down 34 North Street for the next 12 months , effective immediately .
The property had been temporarily locked down since January 5 , pending a full hearing in City Court , which was held Thursday .
At Thursday ' s hearing , the property owners consented to the building ' s lockdown , agreeing with the City that "34 North Street is a public nuisance having an adverse impact on the immediate neighborhood and upon the City of Binghamton in general , " according to the signed court order .
A copy of the order is attached
.
The City has been working to have 34 North Street locked down for months . In September , the City sent the property owners a letter deeming the property to be a public nuisance under the City ' s Property and Building Nuisance Reform Law , commonly known as the "lockdown law . "
A copy of the letter is attached
.
The property had accrued a total of 46 lockdown points for incidents dating back to December 2022:
General Disturbance
—
4 points
General Disturbance
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4 points
Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance
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6 points
Noise Ordinance
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2 points
Noise Ordinance
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2 points
General Disturbance
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4 points
Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance
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6 points
Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance
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6 points
Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance
—
6 points
Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance
—
6 points
Despite the lockdown warning , police activity at the property continued .
In addition , the property had accrued numerous Code violations . In 2023 alone , the City ' s Department of Public Works responded to 34 North St . five times to clean up trash and garbage following citations by Code Enforcement . The property owners were billed $2 , 882 by the City for the service .
The property was deemed unfit for human habitation in November 2023 .
Under the court order signed last week , the property must remain unoccupied for 12 months , with a potential reassessment in September . The property owner can petition the City for earlier reconsideration if there have been no police calls to the location , no additional code violations and no complaints from surrounding neighbors .
The property owner will need to obtain a Certificate of Compliance stating the property is in compliance with all State and City building and housing codes prior to renting to any future tenant once the lockdown expires .
Mayor Kraham announced the return of the City ' s lockdown law in 2022 .
The lockdown law assigns properties points for different types of nuisance activity , with more serious crimes receiving higher point values . A building is deemed to be a public nuisance if it accumulates 12 or more points in a six - month period or 18 or more points in a 12 - month period , triggering a warning letter from the City to the property owner .
After receiving a lockdown warning letter , property owners have 30 days to meet with City officials , submit a corrective action plan and abate the nuisance . If an owner fails to do so , the City will file a complaint with City Court and ask for a temporary closing of the premises .
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