Binghamton officials are expected to order an emergency closure of the Collier Street parking garage.

Sources say plans are underway to close the crumbling structure at the end of this month.

Three months ago, Mayor Richard David announced more than 40 percent of the city-owned parking facility would be closed forever because of dangerous conditions.

That move eliminated 220 of the 535 spaces which had been available to people who work and shop downtown.

When David ordered the closure of the top levels of the parking ramp, he said the city hoped to be able to keep the lower levels in use through 2018.

But when asked about the current condition of the garage on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program last Tuesday, the mayor was less certain that goal could be met.

During the broadcast, David said the city was continuing to monitor conditions in the structure. He said he would order the garage to be closed if it was in the interest of public safety.

The mayor was not immediately available Monday afternoon to discuss the plan to close the garage within three weeks.

Shutting down the facility will make downtown parking more difficult for workers, students and shoppers who have used it.

The closure will make development of a mixed-use project at Hawley and Washington Streets a higher priority. That project would make more than 300 parking spaces available.

Bob Joseph/WNBF News
Bob Joseph/WNBF News
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