In the face of an ongoing housing crisis, these data centers wreak havoc on the quality, affordability and sustainability of housing in the United States.

With a shortage of almost seven million affordable homes in the United States and over 70 percent of low-income households spending more than half of their income on housing, demands for governments to incentivize the construction of subsidized housing have never been higher.

Although local governments, especially in urban areas, have made efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing, a lack of sweeping change at the federal level remains. For instance, the Housing Crisis Response Act of 2023, the largest legislation proposed to address the issue that sought to invest over $150 billion into affordable housing, was never passed.

Moreover, without significant government intervention, the American housing crisis will continue to worsen as developers are unlikely to invest in affordable housing projects that are not considered profitable investments without federal incentives.

Despite the overwhelming need for affordable housing in America, federal and state governments have instead decided to incentivize the construction of data centers, offering them large tax breaks and direct investments. Data centers not only consume vast amounts of land that could theoretically be used for housing, but they also demand five million gallons of water per day, equivalent to the amount consumed by a town of up to 50,000 people, making them ecological nightmares.

Since these data centers require so much water and energy, homes close to data centers bear the consequences instead of those building them. They have limited access to potable water, experience more frequent power outages and are subject to increased noise and light pollution.

Georgia couple Beverly and Jeff Morris live 400 yards away from Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta data center and have spoken about the havoc this data center has wreaked on their home. Their kitchen sink doesn’t produce water beyond a few drops tainted with sediment, their toilets do not have enough water to flush and the couple says they can no longer sleep at night because of how bright their home is. The Morris’ have had to spend tens of thousands of dollars to add a well for drinking water access and to replace ruined toilets, faucets and other fixtures.

In a video interview, Beverly stated, “It is overwhelming because you really feel like you are up against this huge wall that you can’t penetrate. There’s nothing that you can do, and they don’t care.”

In Georgia specifically, data centers with an investment value of $15 million are eligible for tax abatement. So, while Zuckerberg receives a tax break, residents across the entire state of Georgia, not just those in proximity to the data center, experience bill increases and devastation to their quality life. For the Morris’, their electricity bill went up by $150 a month after the data center began operation.

It is telling that these massive data centers are specifically being built across regions in rural America that already face economic strife, especially when it comes to housing. Construction costs tend to be higher in rural areas, making it even less appealing for developers to build subsidized housing, which is already considered a bad investment.

Despite their heavy environmental toll, some struggling regions have embraced AI data centers as lifelines of economic investment. Morrow County, Oregon, for example, handed Jeff Bezos a staggering $1 billion in tax breaks over 15 years to secure his data centers.

While it is true that data centers create jobs and bring investment to rural communities, their effect on housing cannot be ignored. Even though urban areas face the greatest challenges when it comes to a lack of affordable housing, these issues are now trickling into rural areas at the same time as these data centers are popping up.

It might be pure coincidence that data centers and a rural housing crisis developed at the same time, but there is no denying that data centers only stand to make housing development and affordability more difficult in rural areas.

It is truly devastating that at a moment when America urgently needs affordable housing, resources are instead being funneled into data centers that divert investment and potentially erase the very possibility of building these homes.

Antonia Kladias, a senior majoring in biochemistry, is Pipe Dream’s opinions editor. 

Views expressed in the opinions pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece that represents the view of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the Staff Editorial. 

This is how I see the United States: a large, substandard city. In an era where everyone can benefit from high-density housing complete with good public transport, the United States continues to fall short.

The United States is missing two things that go hand in hand — affordable housing and public transportation. This is the consequence of a decades-old city planning culture that defines the stereotype of the American city.

There is an entrenched and unchanging cultural norm that people must, by all means, own a car and a large house and drive from that house to their jobs and every other place in that car. This issue is worsened by the fact that cars are also becoming larger, wasting more space and resources.

This is less of an issue in urban areas due to the increased accessibility of public transportation. However, these places are few and far between in the United States.

The sprawling suburban housing is unsustainable, inefficient and cruelly unethical. When car ownership becomes a societal expectation, being unable to afford one becomes a barrier in life. Without being able to walk, cycle or take the bus to a place from home, people without cars are less likely to find jobs, less likely to find opportunities for advancing themselves. They are essentially left out of recreation and socializing opportunities.

Root causes of psychological issues, such as the decline of third spaces and increased social media addiction, are directly linked to the way in which city planning isolates people to their houses and commutes.

Perhaps the saddest aspect of this entire issue — that being a car-dependent society has created phantom barriers against growth and development — is that the United States wasn’t always like this. The old metropolises, like Chicago, New York City, Boston and Philadelphia, were the last vestiges of the time before cars, when people had an incentive to use public transportation because of its availability, accessibility and scope.

To me, the solution for city planning is clear: cities must be organized not around a small center and sprawling suburbs, but blocks that can concentrate people efficiently while leaving more space for recreation.

There is clear proof that cities that blend businesses and housing generate more wealth and more vibrant communities. Both Europe and Asia provide plenty of examples that the United States can adopt, like London, Paris, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City.

The cheap excuse that the United States is so large that it can only afford to have large suburbs is only that — an excuse, not a logical belief. Planning and organizing cities is not about how much space there is to occupy, but about how effectively and wisely it is used for the benefit of its residents.

On this subject, I have a suggestion that is borderline heretical for the United States, but at the same time, a perspective that is necessary to consider. Countries in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union have all, in one way or another, adopted the idea of the “microdistrict,” a form of city planning that makes walkability a priority.

In a typical microdistrict with a radius of 30 to 200 acres, a person can live in their apartment and have access to a school, hospital, kindergarten, parks, cafes and other such services. Multiple microdistricts are then connected with avenues supporting bus and light rail networks, and clusters of such districts form cities that are, in principle, easy to travel through and live in.

Space-efficient neighborhoods like these are necessary for the rapid development of affordable housing. Microdistricts can solve the United States’ fundamental problem of single-family homes disconnected from opportunities for employment and recreation.

With the right changes to the principle, the idea of high-density housing and accessible amenities can just be what America needs — cities that are for humans, not vehicles.

Adopting a microdistrict style of housing means increased access to employment and recreation and less dependence on car ownership. Developing high-density housing and public transport decreases the costs of home ownership and daily commutes, making life more affordable for those who don’t have the means for detached housing. Designing space-efficient communities is a tested city planning method that can mitigate the primary issue of home ownership becoming less and less accessible to people in this country.

Because of this, a fundamental cultural shift in city planning and an emphasis on lessening car dependence are vital for social and economic development in the United States. Housing developments must emphasize the idea of grouping people and creating space for jobs, amenities, green areas, education and welfare.

Deniz Gulay is a junior double-majoring in history and Russian. 

Views expressed in the opinions pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece that represents the view of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the Staff Editorial. 

Continuing an annual tradition, here are just some of the worst housing experiences students have faced. Responses have been lightly edited for clarity.

“Secondhand smoke”

Freshman year, my randomly assigned roommates were obsessed with smoking weed in the dorm. When I got COVID-19, I asked if they could stop for a couple of days — and they said no.

“Sticky situation”

My roommate knocked on my door one morning, asking if he could use my bathroom. He then clogged the toilet and was unable to plunge it. My anxiety spiked when he placed the dirty plunger, sopping wet, directly onto my tile wood floor.

“Everything but the bathroom sink”

While I still lived at College-in-the-Woods, I went into the bathroom one night and the entire sink was clogged with someone’s Friday night vomit. The vomit stayed there for two days until cleaning day on Monday.

“Third wheeling”

Two of my roommates started dating when we lived together and would fight right outside my door in the living room at least once a week. Like, half the time they would hook up in one of their rooms after (also right next to my door). It was like I was a ghost haunting one of the couples from “90 Day Fiancé.”

“Living at Stonebridge”

When we moved in, there was lingerie on the floor and a mousetrap on the ceiling. They said we had to clean it ourselves. Eventually, we had to withhold rent to fix our moldy ceiling leak and then they threatened to evict us (even though they agreed to the rent withholding).

They kept the security deposit even though they returned it months past. I looked them up and there’s an active case against them because they didn’t pay contractors over $20,000, so I don’t think I’ll get my deposit back.

“House of Horrors” 

Arriving in the United States as an international student is already overwhelming — new country, new culture and endless uncertainties. For me, what should have been an exciting start quickly turned into a housing nightmare that lasted my entire first year.

Before I arrived, my friends and I signed a lease for a specific property. However, when we landed, the landlord shocked us by saying the house wasn’t ready. He placed us in a temporary apartment instead, insisting we pay rent for it and promising the original property would be ready within a month.

That first month passed, and when we asked about moving into the place we had actually signed for, he delayed it by yet another month. The temporary unit we were stuck in was in terrible shape — broken windows that let in freezing air, nails sticking out of the stairs, and a visible layer of dust coating everything. It was so dirty and unsafe that we had to scrub and clean the entire apartment ourselves just to make it livable.

By October, after repeated promises, the landlord finally admitted the original property wouldn’t be ready anytime soon. But since it was already mid-semester, most decent housing options were gone, leaving us with no choice but to stay.

When we signed a full 10-month lease for the temporary place, we even provided the landlord with a detailed list of problems to fix — cracked windows, missing furniture, holes in the walls. Most of these issues were ignored.

Battling the Cold and a Broken Home 

As winter approached, our situation worsened. The house was unbearably cold, and we had to wear puffer jackets inside. Our lease included utilities, yet when we repeatedly complained about the freezing temperatures, the landlord dismissed us, saying, “It’s just your first winter — you’re not used to the cold.”

When his electricity bill suddenly spiked, he finally sent someone to check the heaters. The technician confirmed the heaters worked fine — the real problem was the cracked windows that couldn’t keep the heat in. Even with this proof, the landlord delayed fixing them and only replaced the windows after January, once the harshest part of winter had already passed.

Rats, Cardboard Repairs and Excuses 

Because of a large hole in the apartment, rats began entering and destroying our groceries — not once, but twice. Instead of calling a professional to fix it properly, the landlord sent his nephew, who tried to “patch” the hole using cardboard and paper.

When we questioned this absurd solution, the landlord casually claimed, “The rats probably just like the smell of Indian spices.”

The Roommate From Hell 

As if dealing with the property wasn’t enough, we also had to live with a nightmare roommate. She was 26 years old, but her behavior was unbelievably reckless.

She once clogged the bathroom toilet by flushing cardboard tubes, then refused to clean up. She left the electric stove on for 12 hours straight, creating a serious fire hazard. At one point, she insisted that eggs needed to be refrigerated or they would hatch into chicks. She also refused to take out the trash for eight whole months and didn’t even know what day trash pickup was.

The most shocking incident was with her pressure cooker. She argued that because her pressure cooker was “new technology,” it didn’t require water. We had to carefully explain that pressure cookers only work by creating steam from water — otherwise, they could be extremely dangerous.

On top of all this, she repeatedly lied to our landlord about us, blaming us for things we didn’t do. Eventually, we caught her red-handed and had to show the landlord video recordings, pictures and chat screenshots to prove our innocence. Even the landlord eventually had to move her out because she became a serious safety risk to the household.

The Final Straw: A Snake in the House 

In the last ten days of our lease, things hit rock bottom. A snake appeared inside the house because the landlord had never maintained the grass or yard. When we reported it, his response was disturbingly casual:

“Don’t worry, the snake won’t do anything — it’ll just kiss you and go.”

A Legal Battle for My Deposit

When our lease finally ended, the landlord refused to return my security deposit. I had to send a formal legal notice before he finally paid it back, over a month later.

Looking Back 

This entire experience taught me how vulnerable international students can be when navigating housing in a new country. Between false promises, unsafe living conditions, a toxic roommate and a dismissive landlord, my first year was filled with constant stress.

I am deeply relieved to be free of that property and that landlord now. By sharing my story, I hope to warn other students to ask tough questions, document everything, and never settle for unsafe or unfair treatment.

While searching for housing can be stressful, it is critical to understand your rights and responsibilities as a tenant to mitigate stress and protect yourself from unlawful treatment by landlords.

What’s in a lease?

Leases are legal contracts between a tenant and the landlord containing the terms and conditions you must abide by while staying in the residence. These documents should be written in plain, easy-to-understand language while avoiding jargon and fine print.

In addition to monthly rent, some landlords make tenants pay the cost of some utilities in the lease. Utilities may include gas, electricity, water, sewage and trash services, so it is important to understand if you have to pay for these services on your own.

Other key aspects to look for in your lease include amenities. Some landlords may advertise that their property is close to campus and comes pre-furnished. Depending on your needs and resources, you may desire a rental unit that comes with furniture and is located near a Broome County Transit or Off Campus College Transport bus stop. However, it is likely that the more amenities a rental unit has, the greater the cost will be.

One way to save money as a student renter is by seeking out spaces that share practical and communal amenities, rather than luxury perks like gyms. Off-street parking and in-unit washers and dryers are commonly sought after by tenants. If you decide to rent a space that lacks these amenities, you should seek out nearby laundromats and parking garages.

Most lease agreements are for a one-year term, and it may be difficult to find a landlord willing to rent for less than a full year. Because many students travel during the winter or summer months, it can be cost effective to find an apartment that will permit you to sublet your apartment for part of the lease term.

Landlords’ rights and responsibilities

Despite owning the property, your landlord does not have the right to enter the property at any time during your leasing term. Leases should include a section titled “right to entry,” which outlines when your landlord may enter the premises. New York law requires landlords to provide you with notice at least 24 hours in advance before entering for showings or inspections

For emergency repair requests, landlords are required to respond as soon as possible. As a tenant, you are allowed to withhold rental payment to make repairs on your own if the cost of the repair is reasonable and the issue raises “a danger to the life, health or safety” of those living there. Landlords have up to one week after you notify them to make nonemergency repairs.

A rent payment cannot legally be considered late unless it is received more than five days after your rent is due. The landlord is required to give their tenant notice if a rental payment is late, and failure to do so will allow you to raise this as a defense in court. It is possible to be evicted for not paying rent, but your case can be dismissed if all money owed is paid before a warrant of eviction is executed.

If you leave before the lease ends, landlords must make a good-faith effort to fill the vacancy, providing legal protections for tenants looking to move out before their lease expires. You are not liable for the remaining payments if the landlord finds a new tenant who will pay the same or higher rent.

For tenants living in housing that is not rent stabilized, your landlord must return your security deposit within two weeks of your move-out date. An itemized receipt must be provided if the landlord took money from the security deposit to fix any damages. If they do not, you are entitled to receive your full security deposit back, regardless of whether there is damage in the apartment or house.

Tenants should always document any existing damages and communicate with their landlord upon moving in.

Last semester, Luca Cassidy ‘25, then-vice president for student success, collaborated with Binghamton University’s Student Tenants Union to create a survey allowing students and residents to rate their off-campus housing experience. The survey asks respondents to describe the physical condition of their residence and anonymously complete a host of questions about their landlord, including if they experienced harassment, retaliation or were given an unjust eviction notice.

In 2021, a different housing survey was released to document negative experiences students had with landlords. However, it only collected about 150 responses over three years, according to Nicole Burek ‘25, a former housing organizer for the Student Tenants Union. By contrast, the current survey received more than 400 responses in its first few weeks.

The VPSS office has now launched a website for students to see how others rated their experience living at a property. It features an interface similar to Google Maps, where you can search for a particular address or all properties owned by a specific landlord. If a student rated that apartment or house in the survey, a colored dot will appear at its location on the map. Each property is rated on a scale from one to five.

Survey responses for each address are also publicly available, allowing students to read reviews of the property and see what other tenants paid in rent.

In May, Burek told Pipe Dream that this website would help students looking for feedback on a particular address before signing a lease.

“Right now, the only way that you can do that is you can look up an address, and if you’re lucky, someone has said something about it on Reddit, the address or the landlord,” Burek said. “But it’s not always that people have responses. So to have 400 responses already is way more than what you would usually find on Reddit.”

To encourage people to complete the survey, Cassidy said he messaged every student organization on campus and gave out free Celsius drinks on the Spine. On April 28, the VPSS office asked students on Instagram to fill out the survey. The post was viewed thousands of times and received 361 shares, according to Cassidy.

Abigail Connors ‘25, a first-year master’s student studying human rights, is a director of policy in the VPSS office. Last year, she and Cassidy met with several student organizations and local officials about the initiative. One of the initiative’s long-term goals is to collect and display responses from community members who are not students, making the project a citywide initiative.

Connors said the office also spoke with Amanda Finch, the assistant vice president and dean of students, earlier this year about the initiative and is planning to schedule another meeting with her.

Kristina Donders, the current VPSS and a senior double-majoring in mathematics and political science, said she hopes to reach out to other SUNY schools next semester and potentially expand the initiative.

The VPSS office has two interns in the geographic information sciences program who help make the website and survey user friendly. Rui Zheng, a senior double-majoring in environmental science and geography, created the address and landlord search feature within the interactive map. She said the initiative’s main goal is to increase renters’ awareness of bad landlord practices and prevent them from “signing themselves into potentially dangerous conditions.”

Meanwhile, Robert Sleight, a first-year master’s student studying geography, is conducting statistical analyses using the survey responses while creating user-friendly visuals.

“Finding off campus housing here can be a nightmare, and we’re no strangers to various horror stories we’ve heard regarding landlords,” Sleight wrote. “Our purpose here is to share the stories of the students in an environment that aims to create camaraderie among those with shared experiences and to arm potential tenants with the knowledge they need to choose housing that is fair and equitable.”

As many students begin considering their living options for next year, the VPSS office will continue encouraging students to fill out the survey and read other responses before signing a lease. The office plans to table around campus and display the survey on screens in the University Union.

“I do hope this project not only improves the lives of Binghamton students, but shows them they can make a difference,” Cassidy wrote in an email.

“There are a lot of problems out there, so I hope people learn that if they make friends, make community, and just do something, things will change,” he continued. “Everyday people doing small things change the world.”

The building was shut down over the summer for ongoing demolition work and asbestos abatement. The complete renovation will include replacements of the plumbing, electrical, mechanical and fire alarm systems and updated flooring, ceiling, lighting and furnishings. The construction will be similar to previous projects completed at Seneca, Cayuga and Onondaga Hall.

Built in 1973, Oneida Hall is among the oldest residence halls on campus, alongside buildings like Old Rafuse Hall, which was built in 1958 as part of the original Dickinson Community, now Old Dickinson. After undergoing its own renovations, Old Rafuse Hall reopened to students in 2024.

“It is one of the worst on campus in my opinion, because Binghamton has some pretty nice dorms overall,” Brigitte Tisenchek, a sophomore majoring in biology, said about Oneida Hall, where she lived last year. “In comparison with Dickinson or Mountainview rooms, it can’t even compete.”

This renovation is one of many construction projects across campus. A new 350-bed residence hall will be built between College-in-the-Woods and the rest of Mountainview College. Additionally, crews are preparing land for a new lecture hall, adding a 75,000-square-foot addition to the East Gym and erecting a new Chenango Room building that will house a Panera Bread.

Tisenchek said she believed the Oneida Hall renovation was necessary but was unsure how the University would approach it. She added that the construction around campus has become an “eyesore” that “takes away from the natural beauty of the area.”

Sophia Paone, an undecided sophomore, also lived in Oneida Hall as a freshman. While she said the building was “very old” and lacked several amenities, she loved its convenient location and “close knit community.”

“I have no problem with the renovation that is happening in the Oneida building,” Paone added. “I think it’s great because the building, compared to other CIW buildings, is extremely outdated and needed some TLC.”

Closing Oneida Hall has decreased the amount of on-campus housing available, according to Casey Wall, the University’s director of residential life and housing. Some freshmen must live in super occupancy housing, an arrangement where three students share a double room or three or four students are assigned to a lounge.

According to the Residential Life website, it is a “temporary configuration” while the office works to assign students to standard rooms.

“The demand for on-campus housing continues to be high, while continuing to renovate existing residence halls remains a priority for the university,” Wall wrote.

Oneida Hall offered suites and corridor-style dorms to about 320 students. According to the building’s webpage, it was designed to foster strong connections between first-year students, like social and academic lounges on every floor and a multi-purpose center that provided direct access to support staff.

“I met two of my best friends in Oneida and I’m so happy to have been in that dorm my freshman year,” wrote Paone. “I think it helped ease me into life at Binghamton University.”

Residential Life defines super occupancy housing as a temporary arrangement of three students in a designated double room, or three to four students in a lounge space. An extra bed and dresser are alloted to the room, and if the space allows, an extra desk, chair and wardrobe can be added. These super occupancy arrangements are designed to temporarily accommodate first-year students.

According to the ResLife website, these configurations are necessary due to high enrollment and the “very high percentage” of returning students choosing to live on campus. The University received a record-breaking 74,725 applications for the fall 2025 semester, with 61,200 first-year undergraduates applying, a 15.5 percent increase from last year. Over 3,160 freshmen enrolled in classes for the fall semester, a decrease compared to the 3,243 freshmen who enrolled in the fall 2024 semester.

“First year enrollment is not much different than last academic year and is not a driving factor,” Casey Wall, director of residential life and housing, wrote to Pipe Dream.

Wall said the ongoing construction around campus is responsible for the increased number of students in super occupancy housing. The renovation of Oneida Hall, a residential dorm building that housed first-year students in College-in-the-Woods, has decreased the number of available beds for freshmen on campus.

The building was shut down over the summer and is undergoing renovations to remove asbestos and install new flooring, ceilings and bathrooms. Construction is expected to be complete by the fall of 2026.

“The SOH we have been working our way through this academic year is directly correlated to the renovation project along with the continued demand for on-campus housing from students of all class years,” wrote Wall.

To accommodate the increasing demand for on-campus housing, a new residential hall will be built between Mountainview College and College-in-the-Woods. The project is expected to be completed by summer 2027 and will house about 350 students, alleviating some of the pressure on campus accommodations.

Angelina Ye, a freshman double-majoring in fine arts and business, has spent the first month of the fall semester in super occupancy housing in Old Rafuse Hall.

“Space is very limited in the room and you have to communicate and work with your roommates to make triple life work; this goes for what’s in the fridge, and sharing a desk, etc.,” Ye wrote in a statement to Pipe Dream.

Ye explained that her randomly assigned housing time slot was days after the housing portal opened, leaving her no choice but to live in a super-occupied room. She was told by her residential director that the situation was temporary and she would have to wait for standard housing to become available.

ResLife states that students in super occupancy spaces are the highest priority for being moved into standard rooms, with most typically relocated by the end of the fall semester. Students are assigned new living arrangements as soon as they become available, but those who wish to remain in their super occupancy housing are not required to move. The Reslife website claims that “that many students enjoy the arrangement so much, they choose to remain in a voluntary triple.”

However, not all students share this sentiment. Ye shared some of the struggles she faces in super occupancy housing, like using bunk beds and frequent power outages.

“Specifically in Old Rafuse, I feel that space is more limited when compared to dorms in new Dickinson, yet there are so many more triples in my building,” Ye wrote. “Every hallway has at least two triples in my building, which leads to problems of power outages.”

Grace Hall, the newest addition to the Mountainview College living community, will feature suite-style dormitories, 12 single-bed suites and several ADA accessible rooms. Construction is expected to finish in June 2027, with students moving into the building that fall. Once complete, the residence hall will be the first newly constructed one on campus since 2013, according to Casey Wall, the director of residential life and housing.

The demand for new housing is growing amid an unprecedented increase in students applying to Binghamton University. The fall 2025 admissions cycle saw a record-breaking 74,725 submitted applications, a 15.5 percent increase from last year

The building’s completion will grow the University’s residential capacity to over 8,000 beds.

“The demand for on-campus housing continues to be high, while continuing to renovate existing residence halls remains a priority for the university,” wrote Wall. “Residential Life along with many other campus partners including Facilities Management are involved in this project.”

Newman Architects is working in partnership with KBE Building Corporation to design and build the new space. Newman Architects leads several commercial and residential projects and has previously done work at other institutions of higher education like Yale University and the University of Connecticut.

According to plans laid out by Newman Architects, the residence hall will be an L-shaped building with the main entrance at the inner corner. The building will use red and gray bricks in a similar style to other Mountainview buildings and will have unique design features “to express evolution over time and respond to its setting.” It will also be carefully constructed to cause minimal damage to its natural surroundings.

Looking to meet sustainability goals, Grace Hall will be fully electric and be equipped with a bike room to encourage students to lower their personal carbon footprint.

“With a deep respect for the ecological integrity of the site, adjacent to the forested campus edge, our design prioritizes conservation and an appreciation for nature,” Newman Architects states on its website. “By strategically positioning the building to the north, we are able to minimize disruption to the existing trees and preserve the site’s natural character.”

Parts of the forest between Marcy Hall in Mountainview and Oneida Hall in College-in-the-Woods will be cut down for the project.

The hall will be built on particularly hilly terrain, presenting an extra challenge in ensuring that the building is fully ADA compliant. To address this issue, accessible pathways will connect to the building and also allow students in Mountainview College to access the rest of campus, Wall said in a BingUNews article.

With the expanded beds, building the new residence hall will enable Hinman College’s existing residence halls to be renovated at a later date.

The University recently broke ground on other projects over the summer. Oneida Hall, which housed first-year students in College-in-the-Woods, was shut down for renovation to remove asbestos and install new flooring, ceilings and bathrooms. Renovations to the East Gym and construction at the Chenango Room are ongoing.

“For mayors or governors, the presence of cranes would be a sign of success, meaning there is an opportunity to continue to invest in your community — and a university is no different,” said Brian Rose, vice president for student affairs, in a statement to BingUNews. “Construction is a demonstration that the university can continue to invest in itself, and to make the experience for our students, faculty and staff stronger.”

However, LUMA is just one example of the thriving arts scene found off campus. Historic house museums, galleries and music spheres light the way downtown and serve as memorable weekend excursions for students.

From Front Street to the edge of Endicott, here are a couple of opportunities for students living off campus to dive into downtown’s art scene.

First Friday Art Walk [BOLD]

Just as the name hints, the first Friday of every month hosts a myriad of artistic events downtown. The First Friday Art Walk is a local tradition — it’s the perfect time to explore new exhibitions in the participating galleries, view pieces from local children and artists and walk through permanent collections. Hosted by the Broome County Arts Council at 223 State St., this event attracts visitors all over the downtown area.

Venues like Atomic Tom’s often have musical contributions to the festivities, while historic houses, art galleries and museums open their doors to tours and special activities. Take a walk while the weather is warm and find hidden gems on every corner. These Fridays make the restaurants bustle and Binghamton’s artistic spirit bright.

The Forum Theatre 

With a beautiful, classic interior and a broad range of performances every month, the Forum Theatre at 236 Washington St. is a drama lover’s dream. Whether it’s stand-up comedy, annual favorites like SerlingFest or renditions of Broadway classics, this theatre truly has something for everyone. t’s a great place to support actors and even catch the Binghamton Philharmonic and Tri-Cities Opera.

The theatre has a rich history in the performing and visual arts and upcoming events include music from iconic bands and movies. The events list is available online and new additions are added frequently, making it a local favorite that’s been putting on performances for over a hundred years.

The Bundy Museum of History and Art 

The Bundy Museum is a well-recognized name on the Binghamton University campus, but the extent of its programming is often underappreciated. The Victorian exterior is hard to miss on 127-129 Main St. The art gallery offers free admission, with photography and artistic exhibitions displayed within the historic home.

There’s also open mic nights for poets, comedians and musicians. Local bands perform on the regular and ghost tours are led through the halls, ushering in the Halloween season. From punk and metal to karaoke open mics, the Bundy Museum is always keeping its space alive and rocking — even if they’re hosting Binghamton Deathfest.

Roberson Museum 

Continuing with the museum theme, the Roberson is another gorgeous exterior with a vibrant arts scene within. This historic home at 30 Front St. is the perfect place to transport back in time and learn about the Roberson family through their belongings, while also discovering Binghamton’s history. One current exhibit, “Beaded Birds in Haudenosaunee Art,” combines often overlooked aspects of Binghamton’s local history and the construction of beautiful pieces on display.

The gallery frequently holds workshops in different artistic mediums. From beadwork to oil paintings, there are many ways to express yourself and learn some new techniques.

Whether you live in Newing College, Dickinson Community, College-in-the-Woods, Mountainview College, Hinman College or the Apartments, there are a variety of ways to get involved in your community.

Newing College

Newing College is known for its vibrant traditions and social community. Its oldest tradition is Newing Navy, hosted in the spring semester to celebrate the new season and featuring karaoke, games, dances and a bouncy house.

Promoting diversity and inclusiveness, Newing College is also home to the Lavender Living Community, an all-inclusive, supportive residential experience for LGBTQ+ students and allies. During Homecoming weekend, Newing College hosts several events for residents and alumni to chat or play a friendly game of co-rec volleyball and football.

Dickinson Community 

Dickinson Community houses one of the most active community governments. The Dickinson Town Council helps organize many social events, such as Semi-Formal and Mutant Mania, a competition between all the community buildings in the spring, featuring athletic events like football, volleyball, frisbee and more.

Dickinson also has CoRE — Computer, Robotics and Engineering — a learning living community in O’Connor Hall. To all the football fanatics, Dickinson Community hosts co-rec football every fall, available for all students to participate.

College-in-the-Woods 

College-in-the-Woods is one of Binghamton’s oldest communities, and it fosters many cultural traditions. Casino-in-the-Woods, one of the oldest traditions at College-in-the-Woods, turns the dining hall into a fully functioning Casino featuring real games that allow players to win real money.

For a night filled with free snacks and live music, stop by the Woods Jam, a night where student bands perform for the community. Like other residential communities, College-in-the-Woods also has friendly sports competitions at its Woods Olympics, featuring volleyball, basketball and relay races as well as co-rec football outside of the event.

Mountainview College 

Mountainview College is known for Mountainview Jams, a space for students to perform or enjoy live shows. In the fall, students can enjoy a fall-themed gathering where they can paint pumpkins while sipping on cider.

The community also hosts Salamander Days, an event in the spring where yellow spotted salamanders slowly emerge from within the Nature Preserve, located just across the road. To celebrate this natural milestone, the Mountainview College community competes in a series of contests.

Hinman College 

Hinman College is filled with energy and spirit, home to the largest student council in Binghamton. Dorm Wars is a tradition in the fall semester where each building competes under a chosen theme in a variety of events. The spring is home to Hysteria, an annual competition similar to Dorm Wars that features games, performances and Hinman pride.

This living community also has its own theatre company — the Hinman Production Company — open to all students looking to get involved in musicals, plays and comedy showcases.

The Apartments 

While the Apartments may be a bit further from campus, the community still hosts several events throughout the year to foster community. The Apartments staff and student government host different social events during Welcome Weekend for new and returning students. During Family Weekend, Residential Life hides thousands of rubber ducks around the community for family and students to find and exchange for prizes.

One of the largest events hosted by the Apartments is its carnival at the end of the spring semester to celebrate a successful year. Featuring inflatables, games, food, photo booths and more, this event is open to all residential students.

No matter which living community you call home, the University makes it easy for you to get involved and make new friends. So step out of your comfort zone, check out events and see what your community has to offer — you might just find your new favorite school tradition.

4. Chenango Champlain Collegiate Center 

This dining hall serves as the home base for Dickinson and Newing residents. Beyond the daily rotating menu selections, C4 boasts Simple Servings, an allergen-free station, Kosher Korner, and its showcase — Serrano, a 100% Halal Chipotle-style build-your-own station.

Perhaps the most controversial dining hall among students, C4 might offer more than what meets the eye. Ignoring any alleged food poisoning stories, the options at C4 are fairly diverse and optimal for students with religious or allergy-based dietary restrictions.

Its low ranking, however, is attributed to the dim lighting, long, cafeteria-style tables and low ceilings that contribute to the dingy atmosphere. Even Nite Owl’s curly fries and milkshakes aren’t worth the mood-killing interior design.

3. Appalachian Collegiate Center

Similar to C4, a key benefit of Appalachian Collegiate Center is Nite Owl. Whether you’re on the hunt for a midnight snack or you had a late-night lecture, you can always make the uphill trek to Mountainview and swing by for all your after-hours needs.

Besides the typical Sizzle grill, salad bar, deli sandwiches and daily desserts characteristic of all of the University’s dining halls, Appalachian Collegiate Center also offers Simple Servings and its weekly rotating showcase station — arguably the only unique feature of its dining options.

What is unique, however, is the abundance of natural lightning as a result of the window panels lining every wall of the seating area. If you’re able to snag a seat by the window, you’re met with a photo-worthy view of sprawling trees, hills and campus spread out in front of you. They really do call it “Mountainview” for a reason.

2. College-in-the-Woods Dining Center

If you don’t live in College-in-the-Woods, you might not be as familiar with everything the Dining Center has to offer. Located off the beaten path, the walk to College-in-the-Woods might not be worth it for everyone.

Though the College-in-the-Woods Dining Center arguably has some of the traits that leave C4 atmospherically low, the bustling student life, music — shout out to whoever chooses those tunes, by the way — and communal tables make for a more comfortable coziness that’s great for an early morning omelet before a dreaded 8 a.m. lecture. It’s your only option, by the way, since despite lacking the Nite Owl hours of C4 and the Appalachian Collegiate Center, CIW opens at 7 a.m. sharp every weekday, an hour earlier than any other dining hall on campus.

The dining hall’s unique offerings include its weekly rotating Dinner at Ultimate and a showcase station. What the Dining Center lacks in variety, it makes up for in quality. Next time you hear word of its mac and cheese on the daily menu, stop by for a bite.

1. Hinman Dining Center

If this ranking were based purely on variety, Hinman Dining Center would clear without a moment of hesitation. Beyond the classic stations available at every dining hall, its offered cuisine includes Noodle House, Grains Gone Great and brunch donut holes on weekdays. Outside of the dining hall area, the building also boasts the campus’ Starbucks location and upstairs, Garbanzo, a build-your-own Mediterranean spot worth the dent it makes in your dining dollars if you stop by too frequently.

Whether you’re looking to study, chat with friends or enjoy an outdoor view, there’s plenty of seating available at Hinman Dining Hall. Like the Appalachian Collegiate Center, the Hinman Dining Center is warmed by outdoor lighting. Even better, though, is the option to enjoy your meal on the rooftop, soaking up the sun — or whatever weather Binghamton chooses to have that day — and overlooking the Hinman College residential community.

The list below is designed to help you build your off-campus routine, whether you have a car or rely on public transportation.

Grocery Stores 

Wegmans (650 Harry L Drive, Johnson City)

Wegmans is a staple for off-campus students looking to find quality groceries. While somewhat distant from the Downtown Binghamton area, Wegmans is a great stop to find whatever groceries you need for your meal prepping schedule. It doesn’t match the affordability of ALDI or the accessibility to downtown living of Weis, but it makes up for what it lacks in variety and quality.

ALDI (560 Harry L Drive, Suite 50, Johnson City)

Located just down the street from Wegmans, ALDI serves as an affordable alternative to Wegmans and Weis. Equipped with everything you need to cook on your own, ALDI offers quality ingredients at a reasonable price. Just remember to bring a quarter — ALDI shopping carts can’t be unlocked without a coin!

Weis Markets (50 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 4, Binghamton)

Weis is a great option for grocery shopping for those living in Downtown Binghamton without a car. Walkable from most resident hotspots, Weis is one of the only truly accessible grocery stores for off-campus students living in downtown. While it’s not quite as affordable as ALDI, Weis is a convenient way to get carless groceries in a pinch.

Clothing 

Formal wear – Boscov’s (11 Court St., Binghamton)

Whether you’re prepping for an interview or getting suited up for your next job fair, heading to Boscov’s is a quick and convenient way to ensure you are dressed appropriately, no matter what the occasion.

If you’re looking for formal wear at any price, the department store is suited to fit your attire needs. It lacks firepower in the casual wear department, but as a student, Boscov’s can be a lifesaver if you ever forget your business clothes at home.

Casual wear – Oakdale Commons (601-635 Harry L Drive, Johnson City)

The Oakdale Commons shopping center has a variety of retailers, complete with casual clothing stores like Hollister and American Eagle. There aren’t many retail options in the Greater Binghamton area, so Oakdale Commons stands out as a solid hotspot for shopping if that’s on your to-do list.

Thrifted clothes – Goodwill NYNJ Store & Donation Center (3701 Vestal Parkway E., Vestal)

Thrifting has become more and more popular over the past few years, and there’s no more convenient a place to shop on a budget than the Goodwill off Vestal Parkway. It’s located just minutes away from the Binghamton University campus and is serviced by OCC Transport if you don’t want to make the walk. You never know what gems you might find on the racks at the unbeatable price of a local thrift.

Pharmacies

Walgreens (37 Pennsylvania Ave., Binghamton)

Walgreens is the closest chain pharmacy to Downtown Binghamton for all of your pharmacy and convenience needs. A simple and familiar option, there isn’t much better or more accessible for most off-campus residents.

Another option is the CVS on 249-253 1/2 Main St., Binghamton, but it’s an easy choice based on which is closest to you.

Household essentials and school supplies 

Target (3112 Vestal Parkway E., Vestal)

A tried and true option for any household necessities, Target is conveniently serviced by OCC Transport and has anything you need from quick groceries to furniture and decorations. At a slightly higher price than Walmart, you will find a huge selection of quality items at Target.

Walmart (2405 Vestal Parkway E., Vestal)

Located just down the road from Target, Walmart sells a similar variety of retail, grocery and hygiene items at a discounted price. While you might not find as many brand names or quality items at Walmart, they have you covered with the basics.

Best Buy (3209 Vestal Parkway E., Vestal)

While Walmart and Target have most of what you need to get back to school, Best Buy provides a more specialized tech-based shopping experience. If you’re looking for new chargers, a laptop or a home console for your new apartment, Best Buy can meet any of your tech needs. In the digital age, it’s an important staple of your school shopping experience.

Fitness 

Planet Fitness (4700 Vestal Parkway E., Vestal) or (10 Glenwood Ave., Binghamton)

Moving away from campus might mean you need to find a new way to get to the gym. Luckily, there are two Planet Fitness options located in the Greater Binghamton area, with one conveniently nested in the nearby U-Club lot.

For casual lifters and fitness enthusiasts alike, these are solid options if you’re looking for a pump while living off campus.