Projects and Initiatives
This administration has taken a proactive and comprehensive approach toward achieving our progressive vision for the City of Binghamton, and we always remain consistent with our Mission Statement. And in keeping with Mayor Ryan's pledge of full transparency, we have created this special page to catalogue the wide range of Projects and Initiatives recently completed or currently underway in the City:
Each listing includes a brief summary of the Project or Initiative, with a link to a dedicated page and more details.
Mayor Ryan wants to provide the residents the tools and information needed not only to stay involved, but also to hold this administration accountable. We welcome the opportunity to serve the community with excellence and integrity.
Thanks for staying engaged and informed.
Summary: Mayor Ryan has prioritized transparency since taking office, and it's in keeping with this commitment that we introduce the Open Government Video Series. The Series will highlight constituent resources related to four topics central to City operations, including Finance, Civic Engagement, Housing Renewal, and Infrastructure. Each topic will be covered by a different video installment. MORE
Lead Department: Mayor's Office
Staff Contact: Andrew Block, Executive Assistant to the Mayor, 772-7001, awblock@cityofbinghamton.com
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Summary: The 2010 Interactive Budget Module is a dynamic new tool that gives users a chance to allocate tax dollars across needs and services and see how their decisions impact the tax levy.Users will need Microsoft Excel to download and use the tool. Technical support is available, and the City can make arrangements for constituents to use the public computer kiosk in City Hall if needed. MORE
Lead Department: Mayor's Office
Staff Contact: Andrew Block, Executive Assistant to the Mayor, 772-7001, awblock@cityofbinghamton.com
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Summary: A vital community requires quality affordable housing, and Mayor Ryan has prioritized enhancing affordable housing options through a variety of resources. Read on for more information about the City's affordable housing opportunities, including the First Time Homebuyer Program, the Housing Repair Program, and the Affordable Homes & Heating Guide. MORE
Lead Department: Planning, Housing, & Community Development
Staff Contact: Steve Quinn, Housing Coordinator, 772-7028, srquinn@cityofbinghamton.com
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Summary: In February 2009, the federal government passed the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA), dedicating $787 billion to reinvigorate the nation's faltering economy, create family-supporting jobs, rebuild and upgrade core infrastructure, and strengthen our social safety net. As with all opportunities to stabilize City finances while sustaining services, Mayor Ryan directed his staff to be proactive in brining ARRA funds back to Binghamton. The City has already received several formula allocations and grants, and we're poised to utilize additional funds to further advance our comprehensive, focused community development approach. MORE
Lead Department: Mayor's Office
Staff Contact: Andrew Block, Executive Assistant to the Mayor, 772-7001, awblock@cityofbinghamton.com
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Summary: The 50/50 Curb & Sidewalk Assistance Program provides financial assistance to property owners seeking to construct or reconstruct sidewalks and curbs along their properties and within City right of way. The City will rebate the contractor up to 50% of the cost for such work, as based on a maximum unit price established each year by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. All contracts are to be negotiated between the property owner and the contractor. MORE
Lead Department: Engineering
Staff Contact: Phil Krey, City Engineer, 772-7007, ptkrey@cityofbinghamton.com
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Summary: By taking just a few simple measures, citizens can conserve water and reduce their costs, often considerably. To aide in this effort, the City of Binghamton offers the Water Conservation Program, which includes both informational resources and conservation reviews by Water-Sewer Department officials. MORE
Lead Department: Water-Sewer Department
Staff Contact: Ed Zyskowski, Water Meter Supervisor, 772-7210, ejzyskowski@cityofbinghamton.com
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Comprehensive Water Reform
Summary: Broome County raised concerns in Spring of 2008 about the City's annual practice of rolling delinquent water/sewer bills to the tax levy, and Mayor Ryan decided to tackle overdue, comprehensive reform of water operations and billing to increase efficiency and improve delivery of services. The reform package, the result of six weeks of thoughtful research and analysis from a Water Reform Project Team, was unanimously approved on June 2, 2008 by City Council, and a summary of the changes are now available for review. MORE
Lead Department: Mayor's Office
Staff Contact: Andrew Block, Executive Assistant to the Mayor, 772-7001, awblock@cityofbinghamton.com
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Partnership for Change
Summary: The Partnership for Change is a joint-initiative of the Mayor's Office and City Council, announced during the Mayor's 2008 State of the City Address, that aims to address four of the most pressing issues of municipal finance. Each Commission includes representation from the administration, City Council, city unions, and the community. MORE
Lead Department: Mayor's Office
Staff Contact: Andrew Block, Executive Assistant to the Mayor, 772-7001, awblock@cityofbinghamton.com
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Smart Government Reform Initiative
Summary: The Smart Government Reform Initiative is the Mayor's commitment to a City Hall that is responsive, accessible, transparent and efficient. From significant IT upgrades to successful consolidation efforts, this initiative spans a wide range of management reforms that are realizing positive results in our daily operations and the delivery of services. MORE
Approximate Time Line: Ongoing
Lead Department: Mayor's Office & Data Processing
Staff Contact: Andrew Block, Executive Assistant to the Mayor, 772-7001, awblock@cityofbinghamton.com
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Greening Binghamton
Summary: Mayor Ryan promised to prioritize sustainability when developing City policy and practices, and a range of "green projects" are now underway. MORE
Approximate Time Line: Ongoing
Lead Department: Planning, Housing and Community Development
Staff Contact: Amelia LoDolce, Sustainable Development Planner, 772-7028, anlodolce@cityofbinghamton.com
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Restore NY Program
Summary: The Restore NY program is a three-round state initiative that aims to remove blight, strengthen residential corridors, leverage private investment, and facilitate commercial development. By securing the state's largest grants in Rounds 1 and 2, the City has targeted more than 70 blighted properties for demolition, rehablitation, and reconstruction. In May 2008, the City submitted a $5.3 million Round 3 grant to redevelop 50 additional properties. MORE
Lead Department: Planning, Housing and Community Development
Staff Contact: Tarik Abdelazim, Director of PHCD, 772-7028, tabdelazim@cityofbinghamton.com
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Blight Prevention Initiative
Summary: Neighborhood blight and vacant properties depress market values, pose serious safety hazards to children and families, and drain local tax dollars. Learn more about the Mayor Ryan's award-winning approach to blight prevention, which includes vacant property registration requirements, dedicated resources to enforce the law, and organizational reform. MORE
Approximate Time Line: Announced at 2007 State of the City Address; all three elements were successfully implemented by December 2007; enforcement and efforts ongoing
Lead Department: Office of Building, Code and Construction
Staff Contact: Keith Heron, Vacant Property Officer, 772-7010, kwheron@cityofbinghamton.com
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NYSDOT Projects
Summary: NYSDOT projects, which are funded by the Federal-aid transportation program, provide us the opportunuity to maintain, rehabilitate, reconstruct, expand and otherwise improve our highway and bridge network. It helps ensure that our residents, businesses, and visitors have a safe, efficient, balanced and environmentally sound transportation system that meets the needs of the traveling public, while promoting and supporting economic growth. Current projects include the Front Street Gateway, Court Street Gateway, Front Street Reconstruction, Exchange Street Bridge Rehabilitation, and the Susquehanna North Bank River Trail. MORE
Approximate Time Line: Ongoing
Lead Department: Engineering
Staff Contact: Phil Krey, City Engineer, 772-7007, ptkrey@cityofbinghamton.com
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2009 Streets Program
Summary: The annual streets program is a comprehensive approach to asset management that strives to utilize our limited resources in the most cost-effective manner while balancing a range of maintenance needs. Work done under this program includes street reconstruction, pavement profiling, sanitary sewer, catch basin and manhole repair, curb and sidewalk replacement and water main replacement. MORE
Approximate Time Line: Spring - Fall of 2009
Lead Department: Department of Public Works, Engineering
Staff Contact: Phil Krey, City Engineer, 772-7007, ptkrey@cityofbinghamton.com
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Southside Commons
Summary: South Side Commons is a partnership with Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, South Side merchants, property owners & residents to create a municipal common area within the heart of the Southside Business District. The “South Side Commons” would provide residents, business patrons and visitor’s with clean, safe, interconnected pedestrian access to buildings (front and rear), parking for cars & service vehicles, an outdoor green space, and include as well signage, banners and artwork that would reflect the vitality and creativity of the South Side. MORE
Approximate Time Line: Fall/Winter 2009 - Design; Spring/Summer 2010 - Construction; Summer/Fall 2010 - Completed
Lead Department: Department of Planning, Housing, and Community Development
Staff Contact: Tarik Abdelazim, Director of PHCD, 772-7028, tabdelazim@cityofbinghamton.com
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Brownfield Development Initiatives
Summary: The Brownfield Opportunity Area Program is a collaboration between the New York State Division of Coastal Resources and Department of Environmental Conservation. The Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) Program is designed to assist communities in fostering redevelopment and returning underutilized land into productive and catalytic areas while restoring environmental quality. The purpose of the BOA program is to establish a community based revitalization plan and implementation strategy to achieve brownfield redevelopment. The City currently has three BOA projects within its boundaries, two City-led projects - the First Ward Redevelopment Plan (Step 1) and the North Chenango River Corridor Redevelopment Strategy (Step 2) and one County-led project - the Brandywine Corridor Brownfield Project (Step 2). MORE
Approximate Time Line: Completion of the First Ward Pre-Nomination Study - February 2010; Announcement of project advancement anticipated in early summer 2010. Kick-off for North Chenango River Corridor Revitalization Strategy - Summer 2010.
Lead Department: Planning, Housing, and Community Development
Staff Contact: Caroline Quidort, AICP, Assistant Director of PHCD, 772-7028, cpquidort@cityofbinghamton.com
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River Trails Commission
Summary: The Binghamton River Trails Commission is an umbrella organization committed to systematic coordination of resources, development and use of the City's waterways within the framework of the Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan (LWRP) and the downtown revival. Based at City Hall, the BRTC partnership include stakeholders who represent commercial, cultural, recreation, and environmental interests in the future of our waterways and our community. MORE
Approximate Time Line: Ongoing
Lead Department: Economic Development Office
Staff Contact: Mary Ellen Mauro, Economic Development Specialist, (607) 772-7161, memauro@cityofbinghamton.com
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Main Street Initiative
Summary: A partnership among the City, business owners, and other community partners to further develop Binghamton's downtown commercial district. MORE
Approximate Time Line: Ongoing
Lead Department: Economic Development Office
Staff Contact: Joel Boyd, Assistant Director of Economic Development, (607) 772-7161, jcboyd@cityofbinghamton.com
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Binghamton WiFi
Summary: A public-private partnership offering free internet service in a one-square mile hotspot in downtown Binghamton. MORE
Approximate Time Line: State grant awarded Spring 2007; Phase I buildout complete 3/08 and service active; Final Phase II complete by 8/08
Lead Department: Economic Development Office
Staff Contact: Merry Harris, Director of Economic Development, 772-7161, maharris@cityofbinghamton.com
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Summary: As with many American cities, annual HUD grants - CDBG, HOME, and ESG - are central to Binghamton’s development efforts. Mayor Ryan has utilized these funds to drive the City's Restore NY programs, Blight Prevention Initiative, commercial loan programs, as well as a host of other vital projects, initiatives, and services. Through all these efforts, the City has used the grants to leverage additional investment, and to restore balance across its budget structures. MORE
Approximate Time Line: Ongoing, including Fiscal Year 2008/2009
Lead Department: Planning, Housing & Community Development
Staff Contact: Tarik Abdelazim, Director of PHCD, 772-7028, tabdelazim@cityofbinghamton.com
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Neighborhood Development Project Fund
Summary: The $70,000 Neighborhood Development Project Fund was proposed and approved as part of the Community Development Block Grant budget (FY33) to fulfill Mayor Ryan's pledge of providing engaged residents a more direct role in determining how community dollars are invested in their neighborhood. The first deadline for mini-grant applications was in March 2008, and the City was happily surprised to receive more than 30 competitive applications that exhibited a great deal of collaborative spirit and creativity. MORE
Approximate Time Line: Approved as part of the FY33 CDBG budget and again in the FY34 budget; implementation ongoing
Lead Department: Planning, Housing and Community Development
Staff Contact: Tarik Abdelazim, Director of PHCD, 772-7028, tabdelazim@cityofbinghamton.com
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Binghamton Neighborhood Assemblies Project (BNAP)
Summary: Neighborhood Assemblies are forums in which City residents play a lead role in "restoring the pride" in Binghamton by sharing their concerns, hopes and needs, and then working in conjunction with City government and community partners to achieve positive change. MORE
Approximate Time Line: Ongoing
Lead Department: Planning, Housing and Community Development
Staff Contact: Tarik Abdelazim, Director of PHCD, 772-7028, tabdelazim@cityofbinghamton.com
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Fresh Cycles Youth Program
Summary: Fresh Cycles offers youth ages 5-21 lessons in basic bike maintenance, academic tutoring, and a host of other constructive activities free of charge. Youth who complete 10 weeks of bike maintenance workshops can earn a free bike. Enrollment is ongoing, but space is limited. Adults and young adults are encouraged to take part as mentors. Fresh Cycles is located at the recently re-dedicated Officer Lee E. Barta Community Center on Binghamton's North Side. MORE
Important Dates: The program is now open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Lead Department: City Youth Bureau
Staff Contact: Ana Shaello-Johnson, City Youth Bureau Director, 772-7001, ashaello-johnson@cityofbinghamton.com
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Summary: In response to the American Civic Association Tragedy of April 3rd, the City used this page to communicate updates and resources to family members of the victims, our community members, and media representatives. MORE
Staff Contact: Andrew Block, Executive Assistant to the Mayor, 772-7001, awblock@cityofbinghamton.com
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