58 years after it opened as a luxurious Sheraton Inn on Binghamton's West Side, workers have started to methodically demolish the abandoned structure.

Asbestos was removed from the seven-story building at 50 Front Street over the last few months.

The demolition work is starting on the east side of the structure, a few yards from the Chenango River.

The six-acre site is to be cleared for a $20 million residential and commercial complex planned by Newman Development Group.

Company vice president Jeff Smetana said the new building is expected to have 122 apartments. Most of the units will have one or two bedrooms but a few will have three bedrooms.

The developers also expect the complex to have several commercial tenants, which could include a restaurant or professional offices.

Smetana said construction of the new structure could get underway late this summer. He said the building could be ready to open in January 2019.

PHOTO GALLERY: View images of the old Sheraton Inn building on June 2, 2017.

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