What is Binghamton like? (New York, Syracuse: rent, appliances, house)

[Tioga]

..targetsh, I find your outlook on the Binghamton "area" refreshing. I've actually been asked by a few realtors to go along on business calls to "help motivate" the potential buyer.(western Broome and Tioga countys). I have family in the planning/land use arena..both gov and comm. Table talk when together often involves the "state of upstate". A side note, the NY Times had an article a year or two back about the 3 most underrated areas to buy a home in the the US, which included the southern tier.

[bellafinzi]

Originally Posted by SWB

2.) Reinvent the downtown as a mixed-use area that could sustain 24/7 liveability. This could be accomplished also in several ways:

-I noticed many vacant upper-stories of commercial buildings in the Downtown Binghamton area during my photo tour that could very easily be turned into living space. A successful transformation of a once lackluster 9-5 commercial downtown into a thriving 24/7 residential neighborhood should incorporate people from all socioeconomic backgrounds---from struggling single mothers who work downtown as janitors and want to live in a 2-bedroom rent-controlled apartment to young professionals who want to live in modern lofts with city skyline views. Here are a few examples of potential:


While Boscov's Department Store is something that should be retained to keep Downtown Binghamton vibrant, notice how that narrow immediately-adjacent building and the red building furthest to the left (with the blue awning) are sitting idle. If you were to refurbish that narrow building into having one stylish loft apartment per floor, you'd have four loft apartments located above some sort of new business venture (let's assume some small service-oriented establishment to meet the needs of the new downtown residents, like a barber shop or a locksmith). That building on the left could house a downtown market on the street-level to cater to the day-to-day grocery needs of downtown residents along with perhaps an artists' studio on the second floor (with those big glass windows to showcase their work), along with either low-income rent-controlled apartments or studio apartments on the upper floors (let's assume there's room for four units altogether). Just from these two buildings, we've gained a service-oriented business, a market, and eight residential units---four geared towards upper-middle-class young professionals and four geared towards the lower-middle-class. Let's assume the following:

Four lofts = 6 new residents (2 singles, 2 couples/roomies)
Four rent-controlled units = 12 new residents (4 families of 3)

Just from these two buildings alone the downtown will have gained 18 new residents who will shop at the new market (with the blue awning), get haircuts at the new barber shop next-door, and buy their school clothes or luggage at Boscov's.


Here's another example:


This image shows a part of Court Street that is in trouble. The Subway appears to be the only functioning business out of six distinct storefronts I can identify. The Subway should stay right where it is---the more spots for downtown residents to grab a quick bite to eat for lunch the merrier. Just to the left of the Subway (in the same building) is another empty storefront that might be used to house perhaps a Dairy Queen, Baskin Robbins, or some independent ice cream parlor with sidewalk seating that could be used to cap off an Italian sub on a hot summer day. The second floor of this building could perhaps house four standard apartments geared towards the middle-class (let's assume this building is as deep as it is wide). The third floor has unique windows that would make for some awesome lofts (let's assume four of these types of units as well).

Four apartments = 9 new residents (1 family of three, 2 couples, 2 singles)
Four lofts = 8 new residents (1 family of three, 2 couples, 1 single)

Just from this one building with the Subway we could potentially gain one new ice cream parlor (or similar business venture) and 17 new residents, which, when combined with the new residents near Boscov's, would bring our total thus far to 35 new downtown residents that would help to increase foot traffic (which would reduce crime) and help existing businesses to flourish while new business ventures are established to latch onto the growing residential population.

In this same photo, let's focus on that gorgeous building in the center of the photo which has two vacant storefronts and three upper-stories. Depending on the depth of this building, it would be a perfect location for that potential joint-college bookstore I mentioned. I could see Borders or Barnes & Noble combining those two empty storefronts and installing an escalator inside to build a two-story bookstore---perhaps with the ground-level featuring a Starbucks and the main retail area and the second-floor featuring the college textbooks and a campus gear store. The building's third floor with its large windows would make it perfect for some sort of professional/office usage. The top floor looks ideal for small, reasonably-priced apartments that would not be rent-controlled but could attract people from diverse backgrounds (let's assume up to 6 apartments depending on the depth of the building).

Six apartments = 11 new residents (1 Family of four, 2 couples, 3 singles)

Just from this center building we have gained 11 new residents, bringing our current downtown tally to 46. We've also gained a new campus bookstore, professional office, ice cream parlor, barber shop, and market.

Next in the photo we have that "Phil's" building, where whatever business that was once housed there now looks to be defunct. Let's once again combine those two smaller storefronts into one larger storefront that could house a decent-sized ethnic restaurant (perhaps Thai, Greek, or Indian). If the restaurant is unique enough, it could easily draw in suburbanites to sample its flavor---suburbanites who would then saunter up and down Court Street to patronize our other new businesses. The second-story doesn't look quite as large as the other structures, so let's assume we'll have room for two apartments up there.

Two apartments = 4 new residents (2 couples/roomies)

These four new residents brings our downtown tally to an even 50, and we've only done several buildings along Court Street thus far. Finally, let's examine the last building visible in the photo, which is partially-obscured by the white van. You can't make out what's on the first-floor from this image, but let's assume that judging by the well-kept condition of the building that it currently houses some sort of business. Let's keep that business intact and utilize the upper two floors for a nice condo on each floor (the second floor has a nice balcony).

Two condos = 4 new residents (1 Family of three, 1 single)

Just from two of my photos we now have a slew of new business ventures that will cater to the needs of the growing downtown population, which is now at 54 (which might be higher or lower depending on the ratio and size of families in comparison to single people and couples/roomies).


Where will all of these new residents, shoppers, etc. park, might you ask?


Well, while I normally don't suggest this, I'd say tear down these crumbling buildings along Court Street and replace them with a parking garage that would offer both monthly and daily spots. (This is assuming that this image is of a current demolition of these buildings anyways and not of a rehabilitation, in which case I'd retract these plans for another alternative). Monthly spots would be offered discounts for residents, some of whom might even opt to forgo owning a vehicle in favor of riding those new trolleys (or buses) around the city or meeting all of their basic needs along a revitalized Court Street.

These are just brushing the surface of the ideas I have for Binghamton. Feel free to let me know what you think!

SWB, I think it’s great what you’re doing for Upstate NY cities!

Once upon a time you said this about Syracuse:

I visited Syracuse two years ago to check out Syracuse University, and I fell in love with the city. I hear nothing but bad about the city's crime rate, but my parents and I wandered off-campus into the city proper, and we felt very safe.
I don't want to seem demanding, but could you also post a few shots of Syracuse.... That city just seemed like it had so much to offer (but Scranton still feels like "home" to me!) ;o) Thanks!

SWB, I hope you'll consider a visit to Syracuse this summer. And don’t forget to bring along your camera!

[SteelCityRising]

Thanks, Bella, for the compliment! I really see no reason to do any photo tours of Greater Syracuse because you already have the downtown and a lot of the suburbs pretty well covered (and did a fine job if I do say so myself). I'd definitely love to do Corning at some point in 2008, along with perhaps Cooperstown, Cortland, and Oneonta. I've also been "hinting" at a new tour in New Jersey---perhaps Newton in Sussex County. There are also some more tours nearer to home I've been dying to finish---believe it or not I've barely scratched the surface of the Electric City's neighborhoods with my hundreds of photos of Scranton. I also hope to do a powerful black-and-white photo tour of both the nearly-abandoned Central Pennsylvania mining town of Centralia (where the ground still smolders from an underground mine fire), and one of Scranton's urban blight issues (which are thankfully becoming less commonplace now that some investors from NJ and NYC are discovering the city's affordable "flippers"). In the Fall I'll do a tour of Wyalusing, PA and potentially also the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, west of Wellsboro along beautiful U.S. Route 6 in the Northern Tier. I've also been meaning to finish my tour of my hometown of Pittston, PA---the world's quality tomato capital. I failed last year when I kept on getting stopped by passersby, one of whom was a long-lost friend whose car I hopped into as we hung out and caught up on old times instead of finishing my tour (it's not easy being the mayor!)

I think we Rust Belters all need to stick together. Some of the anti-Northern atittudes I'm reading on many of the boards in the South and Southwest are truly disconcerting, and I feel it is imperative that NY, PA, OH, MI, WV, etc. all band together to make ourselves viable relocation destinations again. My photos alone convinced at least several families to move into the city of Scranton from other areas, and I'm hoping that enough "Bingo Boosters" (such as Hartwick wherever he wandered off to), will pick up where I left off. Eventually Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas, etc. will run out of potable water, at which point we'll see more and more of our ex-patriates retreating northward with their tails between their legs.

Bella, continue your tours of Greater Syracuse. I'll continue mine of the communities of the Tri-State Area that are within 90-minutes of my home. Hopefully more will come forward to do tours of Rochester, Buffalo, the Capital District (which I'm still surprised doesn't have its own sub-forum, but I digress), etc. I'd also like to see tours of Harrisburg, PA.

[bellafinzi]

Originally Posted by SWB

Thanks, Bella, for the compliment! I really see no reason to do any photo tours of Greater Syracuse because you already have the downtown and a lot of the suburbs pretty well covered (and did a fine job if I do say so myself). I'd definitely love to do Corning at some point in 2008, along with perhaps Cooperstown, Cortland, and Oneonta. I've also been "hinting" at a new tour in New Jersey---perhaps Newton in Sussex County. There are also some more tours nearer to home I've been dying to finish---believe it or not I've barely scratched the surface of the Electric City's neighborhoods with my hundreds of photos of Scranton. I also hope to do a powerful black-and-white photo tour of both the nearly-abandoned Central Pennsylvania mining town of Centralia (where the ground still smolders from an underground mine fire), and one of Scranton's urban blight issues (which are thankfully becoming less commonplace now that some investors from NJ and NYC are discovering the city's affordable "flippers"). In the Fall I'll do a tour of Wyalusing, PA and potentially also the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, west of Wellsboro along beautiful U.S. Route 6 in the Northern Tier. I've also been meaning to finish my tour of my hometown of Pittston, PA---the world's quality tomato capital. I failed last year when I kept on getting stopped by passersby, one of whom was a long-lost friend whose car I hopped into as we hung out and caught up on old times instead of finishing my tour (it's not easy being the mayor!)

I think we Rust Belters all need to stick together. Some of the anti-Northern atittudes I'm reading on many of the boards in the South and Southwest are truly disconcerting, and I feel it is imperative that NY, PA, OH, MI, WV, etc. all band together to make ourselves viable relocation destinations again. My photos alone convinced at least several families to move into the city of Scranton from other areas, and I'm hoping that enough "Bingo Boosters" (such as Hartwick wherever he wandered off to), will pick up where I left off. Eventually Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas, etc. will run out of potable water, at which point we'll see more and more of our ex-patriates retreating northward with their tails between their legs.

Bella, continue your tours of Greater Syracuse. I'll continue mine of the communities of the Tri-State Area that are within 90-minutes of my home. Hopefully more will come forward to do tours of Rochester, Buffalo, the Capital District (which I'm still surprised doesn't have its own sub-forum, but I digress), etc. I'd also like to see tours of Harrisburg, PA.

Oh darn. I was hoping you'd hit the city neighborhoods in Syracuse.

A little off topic, but I've been perplexed about you for over a year now. Don't mean to put on the spot but I'm puzzled that you never post about Syracuse. Many times I've seen you suggest and speak about the Capital District, Rochester, and Ithaca, yet you never mention Syracuse. Do you not like Syracuse now that you're seen those other Upstate cities?

[Lioness181]

My husband and I will be moving to the area at the beginning of June for him to pursue his PhD at SUNY Binghamton. Is the town really as bad as most of these posts make it seem? From the limited research I've done thus far, it seems like a beautiful area. Housing seems pretty reasonable. Of course, we will be coming from Youngstown, OH so most anything would be an improvement. I'd love to hear some of the positives people can tell me about the area. Any interesting museums, restaurants, shops, etc? This is going to be my new hometown for at least 4 years! I need the scoop!

[upstate--uk]

^^Well, you need to check it out for yourself......you may notice that most of the extremely negative posts are written by only a couple of individuals. Here are a few more photos..Ostiningo Park, the Bundy Museum, storefronts downtown.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by Lioness181

My husband and I will be moving to the area at the beginning of June for him to pursue his PhD at SUNY Binghamton. Is the town really as bad as most of these posts make it seem? From the limited research I've done thus far, it seems like a beautiful area. Housing seems pretty reasonable. Of course, we will be coming from Youngstown, OH so most anything would be an improvement. I'd love to hear some of the positives people can tell me about the area. Any interesting museums, restaurants, shops, etc? This is going to be my new hometown for at least 4 years! I need the scoop!

I live about an hour south of Binghamton in Scranton, PA, but Bingo, home of Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling, impressed me in many ways. Scranton is undoubtedly further along in its revitalization efforts than Binghamton, yet if you go onto our forum you'll see just as many whiny naysaying pessimists. The entire Rust Belt is infected with these folks who couldn't cut it in the professional world and seek to displace their frustrations upon their hometowns. I personally think the Binghamton Area has a lot to offer, but then again I'm sure locals like Hartwick and lauri_25_ny (wherever those two wandered off to anyways) could give you some local insight.

Best of luck!

[Tioga]

Lioness181,
Give us some idea of your housing plans(rent/buy), intererests, etc.. From there we can offer some help. As I said in some post last year...It's what YOU make of it here. I've been around much of the US...work/travel/military at various times over the last 30 years. The southern tier (Binghamton and surrounding areas) are not the trip into the depths of hell that some whiners and complainers have made it out to be.

[Lioness181]

Thanks to all for the encouraging words and the beautiful pictures! The architecture in the area is beautiful. My husband and I plan to be in town by June 1st so he can start his research at SUNY. We're looking to rent a 2 bedroom apartment, and hope to pay not more than $800 including utilities. (also, pets are a must!) Is this reasonable in the area? I haven't done as much research as I should in the housing area but it seems that there are alot of houses split into apartments, which I like. He's going to be super busy so I need to know some things to keep myself occupied since I'm leaving all my friends and family behind. I enjoy live music, bookstores, movies, museums, pretty much anything to do with the arts. I love small shops, boutiques, etc. and I love exploring the outdoors (parks). I'd love to hear about some places that are off the beaten path that might be familiar to people that know the area. I can't wait to be a New Yorker!

[homeward bound]

No slur on Binghamton intended, but be sure to check out Ithaca as soon as you can. You'll likely find it very satisfying. It's a pleasant drive, too, in nice weather.

Best of luck on your move and hope you'll post about your experiences.