To maintain an inviting night atmosphere on Exchange Street at Court House Square in Binghamton, New York, lighting fixtures include mini-wash LEDs (Cast, CEWL8LED1) and architectural floodlights (Lithonia Lighting, Aeris ASF1). Photos by chuckhauptphoto

Economic disinvestment, years of neglect, aging and failing infrastructure, a lack of pedestrian features and poor walkability were problems for downtown Binghamton, N.Y. The city's gateway was seen as an ideal economic stimulus for this small upstate town, and became part of the new mayor's platform for revitalizing the district.

The city had updated its comprehensive plan in 2003, completed a public visioning process in 2004, and commissioned the National Trust Main Street Center to conduct an assessment of the downtown in 2005. This data, together with development pressures from more than 750 student housing units proposed in downtown, also encouraged the process. The gateway project area encompassed five blocks in the heart of downtown, including the Courthouse Square, and extends from the eastern gateway to the Chenango River. The square consisted of a skewed intersection that was unsafe for pedestrians due to excessive crossing distances and poorly sequenced traffic signals. The need to stimulate reinvestment in the area by improving safety and aesthetics was apparent.

???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+

The courthouse square and roundabout features active and passive pedestrian zones, defined by concrete walkways for the former and brick pavers for the latter. Street tree plantings include "Imperial' honeylocust, Magyar maidenhair, katsura and Japanese zelkova. New bike racks (Keystone Ridge Designs) encourage alternative transportation downtown.

The project was formally initiated with receipt of a transportation grant in 2005, which funded much of the project's $2.7 million price tag by the end of construction. After a successful competition, HAAS Landscape Architects and Shumaker Consulting Engineering & Land Surveying, PC, met with city officials and initiated survey and design concepts. The team was retained in 2006 by the city of Binghamton to explore multiple design alternatives for the corridor. A design report on the preferred changes was prepared, and included environmental screenings, and alternatives that included a one-lane roundabout, costs, and other supporting documentation. Visuals, including photo-realistic simulations, were prepared for two public and numerous design committee meetings.

HAAS Landscape Architects (HLA) was the lead throughout the design effort and shared the responsibilities for public information sessions. HLA provided design development, construction documentation, submittal reviews and limited construction support services. Also considered within the context of the project were Complete Streets policies, sustainable stormwater initiatives and more amenities. HLA lobbied strong for the use of natural materials, including clay brick, granite and steel, since the entire project was located within the Court Street Historic District. Maintenance needs were reviewed with the Binghamton City Parks staff to ensure the sustainability of the plantings, pavements and site amenities.

???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+

More than a decade of planning and construction in Binghamton, N.Y., led to the rebuild of the city's primary entryway, an area encompassing five contiguous blocks in the heart of the downtown district that includes the courthouse square, which now features a traffic roundabout with articulated crosswalks and splitter islands for snow storage.

Project Challenges
The Association of Vision Rehabilitation and Employment (AVRE) and the Independence Center had a strong voice in requesting safe street crossings and clear pedestrian zones.

Form, function and the clear definition of edges became major design objectives for these improvements, including curbed planters and heavy steel traffic bollards with double chains. The decision to incorporate a traffic roundabout was not made without criticism. To win over the community, case studies were carefully researched and the public was informed of the safety benefits, including an online video with testimonials from another upstate city in New York that installed a similar sized rotary in its downtown. The roundabout is 14???(R)???AE?-feet wide, including a raised curb or "truck apron" that provides enough room for tractor-trailer trucks. Most vehicles drive on the traditional pavement in the one-lane traffic circle, which is meant to slow down traffic as a safety measure.

???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+

Cast iron tree grates with 5' x 5' and 4' x 6' profiles (Neenah R-8713, R-8811) were added to extend the site's existing design theme and improve pedestrian safety. Total tree plantings and varieties of species were tripled on Court Street by the renovation, and add welcomed shade outside new student housing. Sidewalk planting beds were raised 20 to 30 inches to avoid underground vaults and utilities.

Features & Amenities
The removal of overhead cables, poles and traffic signals in the Courthouse Square provided a significant visual change to the core of downtown, enhancing the architecture of the historic district and reducing the long-term maintenance costs of the many traffic signals at the intersection. Tree plantings and species variety were tripled on Court Street, even though locations had to be selected carefully to avoid sidewalk vaults and a heavy network of existing utilities.

Increasing green space and species diversity were also primary considerations of the city's Shade Tree Commission. Perennial plants and seasonal bulbs were installed as self-propagating species that can survive salt spray and provide continuous blooms. Tree plantings consist of species indigenous to the northeast and were selected based on their urban characteristics.

???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+

Well-defined crosswalks provide strong contrast and easy access across 11-foot travel lanes, and widened sidewalks accommodate caf????(R)???(C) seating and local performers. Round glass fiber reinforced concrete planters (Highland Products, Aurora series) were added throughout the streetscape for additional visual interest.

Powder coated black iron site amenities, including benches, trash receptacles, bollards and chains were selected to continue the patois of existing period light poles and the historic use of wrought iron. The steel wickets around the curbed and raised planters added character and prevent foot traffic and vandalism from impacting the plant beds. Clay brick paving and recycled granite curbing and wall caps were selected for their durability and the ability to reflect the city's history. Much of the recycled granite for the curbs came from the existing street demolition, and was also used in the lower planters. Recycled granite slabs from a recently demolished city park also were recycled into the caps for the raised planters. Reuse of these products helped with maintaining the budget.

???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+

Seating nodes with custom benches (Natural Structures) are separated from traffic with recycled granite curbing and generous planting beds. Clay brick pavers chamfered with lugs (Belden Brick Co., "City Line' series) surface the gathering areas between concrete sidewalks and the street.

Back-in parking was employed successfully to increase on-street parking for merchants. Raised and flush splitter islands were added to direct traffic and additional safety zones for pedestrians. Large precast concrete planters were used to highlight the center island of the roundabout and are illuminated with recessed LED lighting. The center pot was also modified to accept a large evergreen tree and lighting during the Christmas holiday.

???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+

Layered planters in the roundabout include six circular pots on pedestals (Highland Products, Wausau Tile) filled with colorful seasonal plantings, and lower tiers contain bird's nest spruce, boxwood and fountain grasses.

Since the project's completion, new investments within the gateway corridor include a commercial green roof, three student housing development infills into vacant structures, numerous restaurants with sidewalk cafes, two microbreweries, boutique shops, and a brick paved plaza with a performance stage, named Peacemakers Plaza for a statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The project carried on through many years of delays, budget cuts and staff changes at City Hall. The strong emphasis on pedestrian safety and historic character were maintained throughout the design and construction work.

???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+

Tree species known to hold up well in the urban environment and indigenous to the northeast were selected for Court Square. The trees in the raised planter are Cercidiphyllum japonicum "Katsura', with "Morton' Acolade elms (foreground) in the pavement protected by grates. Shrubs in the raised planter include "Green Mountain' boxwood, "Pinky Winky' hydrangea, Liriope muscari ("Lily' turf) and periwinkle.

_________________

Project Team
Owner
City of Binghamton, Richard C. David, Mayor
Civil Engineer
Shumaker Consulting Engineering, & Land Surveying, PC
Construction Supervisor: Steve Gardels
Project Engineer: Vernon Myers, P.E.
Project Manager: Joseph Bayer, P.E.
General Contractor
Barrett Paving Materials, Inc., Liverpool, NY
Landscape Architect
HAAS Landscape Architects
Project Designer: Jessel Champoux, RLA
Project Manager: Michael Haas, RLA
Landscape Contractor
North Country Garden Center, Inc.
Survey & Environmental
Shumaker Engineering and Land Surveying, PC

???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+

Powder coated black iron site amenities were selected to continue a historic use of wrought iron, matching existing period light poles with modern bollards and chains, benches and trash receptacles.

Vendors
Benches, Bollards & Trash Receptacles
Natural Structures
Bicycle Racks
Keystone Ridge Designs
Brick Pavers & Planters
The Belden Brick Company, Canton, Ohio
Cast Iron Tree Grates
Neenah
Directional Lighting Fixtures
Cast LED Mini Wash Light
Lithonia Lighting Aeris Architectural Flood Light
Ornamental Fences
Ameristar
Planter Pots
Highland Products Group
Wausau Tile
Recycled Granite Curb and Planter Caps
Provided by City of Binghamton

???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+

Magnum riveted ornamental steel fences (Ameristar) keep pedestrians out of planter beds edged by curbs of recycled granite, which was provided by the city of Binghamton following the demolition of the existing street. Hameln dwarf fountain grass fills one side of the planter.

Plant List (Partial)
Trees
Accolade Elm
Aristocrat Pear
"Imperial' Honeylocust
Japanese Zelkova
Katsura Tree
Magyar Maidenhair Tree
Sargent Cherry
Winter King Hawthorn
Shrubs, Vines & Ground Species
Bird's Nest Spruce
Crimson Pygmy Barberry
Green Mountain Boxwood
Hicks Upright Yew
Hydrangea
Lily Turf "Big Blue'
Knockout Purple Meidiland Rose
Periwinkle
Pink Knockout Rose
Pinky Winky Hydrangea
Sargent Juniper
Stonecrop

???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+

A performance space named Peacekeepers Plaza was added to the western edge of the project in a large unused plaza to encourage activity and private investment downtown. HAAS Landscape Architects worked closely with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission to incorporate the statue.