Mapping the Future

In keeping with its mission as a public university, Binghamton University is a determined catalyst for economic growth in the Southern Tier.

In recent years, the focus of this growth has been investment in the new 15-acre Health Sciences campus in Johnson City. The full-scale renovation of former industrial plants has sparked complementary projects to revitalize Main Street. These investments are drawing both people and professional projects to the Southern Tier and generating a far-reaching impact. But responsible growth is as important as effecting change. Enter a multidimensional research project documenting the University’s impact on Johnson City that may have its own national ramifications.

The Johnson City Revitalization Project is a story mapping project that records and analyzes changes to Johnson City, tracking them in innovative new ways. Led by Distinguished Service Professor of Geography John Frazier, this work is broad and deep, incorporating more than a half century of data, from demographics and land use to zoning and building values.

Student researchers have added anecdotal evidence — scores of interviews with local residents and business owners to record not only community history but also their perspectives on the impacts of the new campus. All this information, along with drone footage of every street, is incorporated into ever-evolving maps that paint a vivid picture of the Johnson City story. This trove of information is available to all [hyperlink: https://jc-redevelopment.binghamton.edu/], and will provide a record of Binghamton’s influence on the city’s present and its future.

Moreover, the project will provide a roadmap for institutions nationwide seeking to expand while remaining good stewards of their communities. “We want this to be a demonstration project of how revitalization should be done.” says Frazier. “The literature on gentrification is negative and this project offers the opportunity to do it right and set an example.”

To have a conversation about investing in curricular innovation, like the Johnson City Revitalization Project, please contact Rebecca Benner, Associate VP for Advancement and Campaign Director, rbenner@binghamton.edu.