The former Davis College campus on Riverside Drive has sat vacant for years, but within a matter of months, it will be home to dozens of Binghamton-area working professionals.
The property, which previously served as a Christian-centered education school, was purchased by Adam Weitsman for $3.7 million in 2019 before making its way to current owner Dave Drew, who bought it for $4.5 million in 2025.
Drew’s vision for the property includes brand new one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments as well as communal spaces including a restaurant/cafe, post office and full-scale basketball court.
According to Drew, the ambitious project, which cost over $15 million, will be finished on June 1 — nearly a year after it was announced.
Riverside Gardens project nears completion in Johnson City
For Drew, Riverside Gardens offers the opportunity to create not only high-quality housing but an accessible and open community.
“Riverside Gardens is really a village within the village of Johnson City — it’s really its own mini village,” said Drew. “We’re prepared to offer our residents and those who work here really unmatched types of amenities in the area. We’re on 16.5 acres of land, have a ton of green space, a ton of riverside area.”
Due to its location, Drew said Riverside Gardens is the perfect offering for a wide variety of prospective residents. Its proximity to Guthrie Lourdes Hospital and UHS Wilson Medical Center makes it perfect for healthcare workers, while the short drive to Binghamton University means students or faculty could also call the apartment complex home.
The property’s many amenities and self-contained nature mean it could be the perfect home for retirees, which Drew said could ultimately free up real estate in the area — a key focus for local municipalities in recent years. Accessibility is also a core focus, with elevators installed to make getting to and from apartments significantly easier.
The project’s $15.5 million price tag was supported by a $500,000 New York State grant and $500,000 in funding from Broome County’s Economic Development Fund. It also received a 20-year Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreement from the Broome County IDA/The Agency.
What to expect at Riverside Gardens
In total, it will consist of 75 mixed-use units, including 66 market-rate apartments.
Offerings will range depending on price and size, with studio apartments starting at $1,450 a month and luxury loft-style apartments starting at $2,650 per month. For larger groups, two-bedroom units start at $1,750 while three-bedroom ones begin at $2,175 and furnished, shared units are available for $800 per person.
Each unit will feature granite countertops, new appliances and internal heat and air conditioning. According to Drew, life at Riverside Gardens is designed to feel like true luxury living, from the design of each unit to the external amenities.
Outside of the existing post office, which has remained open through construction, Drew highlighted various amenities and businesses that will call Riverside Gardens home. A former library is likely to be turned into office space, while the former Broadway Cafe will become a restaurant/cafe located next to the most visually striking of the three — an NCAA regulation-sized indoor basketball court currently used by interstate athletics to host basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer tournaments.
While a specific business has not been announced as of April 13, Drew said news regarding the restaurant space’s future is not far off. Visitors should expect the space to be home to a cafe/restaurant-style business, which will offer coffee drinks as well as a full sit-down menu.
With the property’s opening just around the corner, Riverside Gardens has begun pre-leasing outreach to interested community members. For more information or to submit an application, visit riversidegardensjc.com.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Riverside Gardens apartments a ‘village within a village’ at former Davis College
Reporting by Riccardo Monico, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
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