City of Binghamton Local Waterfront Revitalization Program Adopted: City Council, November 21, 2005 Approved: Acting NYS Secretary of State Frank P. Milano, December 23, 2005 Table of Contents Section I - Waterfront Revitalization Area ................................................................... 1 1.1 Regional Context .............................................................................................. 1 1.2 Waterfront Revitalization Area Boundary Rationale ........................................... 2 1.2.1 Land Side ................................................................................................... 2 1.2.2 Water Side.................................................................................................. 4 1.3 Waterfront Revitalization Area Boundary Description ........................................ 4 1.3.1 Land Side - General .................................................................................... 4 1.3.2 Land Side - Detailed ................................................................................... 4 1.3.3 Water Side.................................................................................................. 5 Section II - Inventory and Analysis............................................................................. 1 2.1 Historical Overview ........................................................................................... 1 2.2 Demographic Overview ..................................................................................... 4 2.2.1 Population Trends ...................................................................................... 4 2.2.2 Age Characteristics..................................................................................... 5 2.3 Economic Considerations.................................................................................. 6 2.3.1 Income Characteristics ............................................................................... 6 2.3.2 Employment Characteristics ....................................................................... 8 2.4 Housing Trends ................................................................................................ 8 2.4.1 Ownership Characteristics.......................................................................... 9 2.4.2 Occupancy Characteristics ......................................................................... 9 2.4.3 Housing Costs ............................................................................................ 9 2.5 Land Use Characteristics ................................................................................ 10 2.5.1 Existing Land Uses ................................................................................... 10 2.5.2 Existing Zoning ........................................................................................ 13 2.5.3 Land Side Ownership................................................................................ 15 2.5.4 Underutilized, Abandoned or Deteriorated Sites ........................................ 15 2.6 Water Use Characteristics............................................................................... 17 2.6.1 Existing Water Uses.................................................................................. 17 2.6.2 Water Side Ownership .............................................................................. 19 2.7 Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces ................................................................ 19 2.7.1 Facilities................................................................................................... 19 2.7.2 Programs.................................................................................................. 21 2.8 Cultural Resources ......................................................................................... 22 2.8.1 Facilities................................................................................................... 22 2.8.2 Programs.................................................................................................. 24 2.9 Historic Resources.......................................................................................... 25 2.9.1 Historic Structures ................................................................................... 25 2.9.2 Historic Districts ...................................................................................... 27 2.10 Scenic Resources.......................................................................................... 28 2.11 Environmental Resources ............................................................................. 30 2.11.1. Wildlife Management Areas .................................................................... 30 2.11.2. Significant Fish and Wildlife Habitats..................................................... 30 2.11.3. Wetlands ............................................................................................... 30 2.11.4. Water Quality ........................................................................................ 31 2.12 Development Considerations......................................................................... 31 2.12.1. Flood Hazard Areas................................................................................ 31 2.12.2. Soils ...................................................................................................... 32 2.12.3 Hazards to Navigation............................................................................. 33 2.12.4 Public Sewer and Water .......................................................................... 34 ii 2.13 Transportation Characteristics...................................................................... 34 2.13.1. Road Systems........................................................................................ 34 2.13.2 Air Service .............................................................................................. 36 2.13.3 Public Transit ......................................................................................... 36 2.13.4 Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation.......................................................... 37 2.13.5 Gateways................................................................................................ 38 2.14 Key Waterfront Revitalization Issues ............................................................. 38 Section III - Waterfront Revitalization Policies............................................................. 1 General Policy ........................................................................................................ 1 Economic Development Policies .............................................................................. 8 Waterfront Natural Resources Policies .................................................................. 12 General Environmental Policies ............................................................................ 18 Recreation and Cultural Policies ........................................................................... 21 Section IV - Proposed Projects.................................................................................... 1 4.1 Proposed Land and Water Uses......................................................................... 1 4.2 Proposed Concept Plan ..................................................................................... 5 4.2.1 Design Principles ........................................................................................ 5 4.2.2 Central Business District General Design Concept .................................... 10 4.2.3 Binghamton Plaza..................................................................................... 12 4.2.4 Sandy Beach Park .................................................................................... 14 4.3 Proposed Projects ........................................................................................... 16 4.3.1 Central Business District Improvements ................................................... 16 4.3.2 North Side Planning Projects..................................................................... 20 4.3.3 East Side Planning Projects ...................................................................... 21 4.3.4 West Side Planning Projects...................................................................... 22 4.4. Trail Enhancements ...................................................................................... 26 iii Section V - Local Implementation Techniques ............................................................ 1 5.1 Local Planning Initiatives .................................................................................. 1 5.2 Existing Local Laws and Regulations................................................................. 2 5.3 Additional Local Laws Needed to Implement LWRP............................................ 4 5.4 Other Required Public and Private Actions ........................................................ 8 5.5 Administrative Actions Necessary for Implementation........................................ 9 5.6 Local Management Structure and Procedures ................................................. 10 5.7 Financial Resources........................................................................................ 11 Section VI - State Actions and Programs Likely to Affect Implementation .................... 1 6.1. State Actions and Programs ............................................................................