BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — A derelict century-old opera house in upstate New York could become home to pledges, rather than sopranos.

A contractor in Binghamton says he wants to transform the Stone Opera House into a frat house.

Gary Rittenburg has asked the city planning commission to give him a special use permit to transform the building on Chenango Street into multiple dwellings, a communal kitchen and a bathroom.

The idea is to attract fraternities at Binghamton University that use off-campus properties for housing.

The opera house closed in 1978 after becoming a movie theater known as “The Riviera.” It was built in 1892.

The Preservation League of New York has added it to a list of endangered places for 2010.