Cleaning crews are transforming Binghampton’s right-of-ways into cleaner, inviting spaces
By Andy Greenman
Dennis Bolden has been receiving a lot of praise this summer. The Portrait Solutions owner has been walking every inch of the Binghampton streets and sidewalks, removing waste alongside his crew. From tiny candy wrappers to bulky mattresses, they are addressing waste of all sizes.
Residents have noticed that illegal dumping zones have disappeared. Once littered sidewalks are now welcoming spots for dog walkers. Pedestrians can walk unimpeded along the sidewalk rather than marching in the street, dodging vehicles. Commuting through the neighborhood is getting safer.
This cleanup effort is part of the ongoing work of the CRA Block Crews—an initiative launched five years ago through the Uptown TIF District aimed at fostering a cleaner and safer environment. Local entrepreneurs were hired to maintain cleanliness from sidewalk to sidewalk, better known as the right-of-way.
If you take a stroll through the Bearwater, New Chicago or Smokey City neighborhoods in Uptown, you will notice the impact. This program is the model the community requested during the Binghampton Strategic Planning Workshop on March 27. An increase in TIF funding allowed for the new service to the neighborhood.
The Binghampton Strategy Report outlines a plan for a clean, activated, and attractive neighborhood. Residents believe that adding the block crew would “deliver the greatest benefits to the overall neighborhood,” as stated in the plan.
Last year, Safeways completed a Blight Survey. They documented broken curbs, hanging guidewires, illegal dumping, and everything in between. The Binghampton advisory committee and concerned residents all agreed that it was time to address these problems.
On July 1, Bolden and his crew joined Flash Services to tackle the 32.1 miles of right-of-ways in Binghampton. When I met Bolden and his crew on Princeton Avenue, they were busy clearing a mountain of trash. Faded leather chairs were stacked on top of scuffed tires filled with fast food wrappers, as charred fireworks littered the walkway. The initial visit to a street can be a little daunting; however, he assured me that things will get better.
“It’s a lot of trash, but this is the first wave of block crew,`` Bolden explained. ``It’s not going to look like this after three to four months.”
Portrait Solutions has been a part of the Block Crew in Uptown since its inception. With the added territory, Program Manager Kenny Halt shifted Bolden’s team to work in the most needed parts of Binghampton. After five weeks, they have successfully made it across every street in their section, removing up to 1,600 lbs. of waste in a single day. The neighborhood has taken note. BDC Business Hub Director and Binghampton resident Andy Kizzee has been impressed by the swift action.
``Mimosa Avenue has never looked like that, never. It looks fantastic,`` Kizzee stated. ``The walking path from Red Oak Apartments to Young's `{`Food Mart`}` is usually filled with litter on the curbs and sidewalks.``
As the temperatures decrease this fall, so will the amount of waste. Both block crews will continue to clean the right-of-ways through October. The program will resume next spring. Halt is excited about leading the efforts in Binghampton. “We’re trying to make a transformation. To make the right-of-ways look a little prettier and be easier to use.”