Older IBM buildings in NY state may face demolition

A demolition project involving five buildings that once housed operations for multinational firm IBM could be closer to happening, according to reports from outlets in New York.

WNBF-TV in Binghamton is among the outlets reporting in early November that the New York State Historic Preservation Office is nearing a decision to approve the former IBM buildings for demolition.

The TV station cites the mayor of Endicott, New York, where the buildings are situated on an IBM campus that is winding down operations, as having had contact with the preservation office. Endicott is in eastern New York’s Broome County, near Binghamton.

According to the WNBF report and a June guest column in the Press & Sun-Bulletin, the five buildings targeted for demolition are abandoned, and a real estate developer has expressed an interest in redeveloping the 10 acres of land on which the structures sit.

Photos accompanying the reports portray the buildings as multistory manufacturing or warehouse buildings with brick or concrete exteriors.

The Press & Sun-Bulletin column, authored by Endicott's former Mayor Linda Jackson, indicates Milwaukee-based Phoenix Investors took possession of the buildings and abandoned campus in the second half of 2021.

That firm lists a 137,000-square-foot industrial building with IBM signage displayed in the portfolio section of its website. Another nearby structure is listed as offering 59,000 square feet of space and having metal and steel frame walls.

The Press & Sun-Bulletin writeup says Phoenix first explored renovating the buildings, but, “After seeing the decay and dangerous condition of these buildings as a result of years of neglect, Phoenix was forced to make the decision to have these buildings demolished and make way for new buildings.”

Although the developer and officials express support for the demolition, reports indicate the New York State Historic Preservation Office has not finished its decision-making process and is awaiting photos that show the buildings so the preservation office can elicit opinions as to whether the structures have historic value.

Phoenix Investors describes itself as “a leader in the acquisition, development, renovation and repositioning of industrial facilities throughout the United States.”