The Newman Development Group broke ground last week on a student housing project in Downtown Binghamton.

The privately developed $12 million housing project, which will be called the Twin River Commons, will be located on Washington Street next to the University Downtown Center.

Jeffrey Smetana, vice president of Newman Development Group, said the project is a right step toward the revitalization of the Binghamton area.

“TRC will bring several hundred new residents into the Downtown business district, which will have a very positive impact on the city,” Smetana said. “The new apartments will be a great enhancement to the [Binghamton University] Downtown Center that is next door and will create activity for many of the under-utilized community assets, like the Riverwalk and Confluence Park.”

Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan said he feels optimistic about the new student living community.

“Our future depends on bringing sustainable development to our urban core, and that’s exactly what these projects do. Newman Development’s project involved cleaning up a polluted site, and the projects at 20 Hawley St. and the Midtown Mall both entail adapting formerly vacant buildings,” Ryan said. “We’re looking forward to working with Downtown’s newest student residents, as well as the many other residents and businesses who give the area new life.”

But not everyone is in agreement. Some say there are problems that need tending before more projects can be built.

“They want to see Downtown come back to life at any expense, you’re not going to bring Binghamton back from the way it was before because before we had jobs. We do not have jobs. We had tremendous industries here before and we don’t have them anymore,” said Ellie Farfaglia, the head of the Binghamton Landlord Association.

Farfaglia added, “So anything as far as the city is concerned that is coming into Binghamton, just breathing bodies is fine for Downtown, but what about the rest of the city? They’re just giving too many places permission to become student housing at the risk of putting other people out of business and having all of these empty homes.”

The Newman Development Group remains confident that it can overcome any difficulties.

“Building in an urban area always presents challenges, but we have an excellent construction group and they are already well under way with site work, footings and foundations,” Smetana said. “So, we don’t anticipate any significant problems and expect the building construction to be completed next summer, well in advance of the August 2012 opening.”

This housing project will hold 371 beds in 127 apartments with a few different floor plans, and is expected to open in August 2012. Students can go to University Plaza for a tour of a full-scale model of the two-bedroom apartments that will be in the Twin River Commons.