Cuomo details proposed $100 million Onondaga Lake Revitalization program

GEDDES — Gov. Andrew Cuomo today announced details of a proposed $100 million project intended to improve areas surrounding Onondaga Lake, including a concert pavilion, water taxis, and improvements in the village of Solvay.

 

Cuomo and Onondaga County Executive Joanne (Joanie) Mahoney announced details before a packed gymnasium at the Solvay-Geddes Community Youth Center.

 

The overall effort will include infrastructure investments to encourage new housing and business opportunities, brownfield-remediation projects, and enhancements to the lakefront, the governor’s office said in a news release.

 

The project will include $50 million for the construction of a concert pavilion and performance-arts center in the village of Solvay, across from the New York State Fairgrounds. 

 

Onondaga County would construct an indoor pavilion for up to 7,500 seats and a lawn area on a former landfill overlooking the lake.

 

In addition, the project would include $1 million for the creation of water-taxi docks at Onondaga Lake Park, the Syracuse Inner Harbor, and at the Honeywell boat landing to allow water-taxi travel to and from the performing-arts center, Cuomo’s office said.

 

The plan also calls for $500,000 for the purchase of five water taxis.

 

The proposal also targets improvements in the village of Solvay, including $10 million for housing projects within Solvay, according to the governor’s office. 

 

In addition, the plan includes $1.2 million to improve the intersection of Milton Avenue and Bridge Street in the Solvay business district, and $600,000 to make streetscape enhancements from Cogswell Avenue to Bailey Street in the village.

 

The proposal also offers funding to demolish blighted properties, and make improvements to homes and business facades.

 

The project additionally includes $7 million for streetscape improvements along Bridge Street in Solvay to link the New York State Fairgrounds to the lakefront, Cuomo’s office said.

 

The proposal makes available $20 million for infrastructure improvements such as improvements to wastewater-treatment facilities and brownfield cleanup to open manufacturing sites for future business development.

 

The Onondaga Lake Revitalization program also includes a second phase of projects.

 

Expected projects include $7.5 million for the reconstruction of Milton Avenue in Solvay, “which is in poor condition,” from the city of Syracuse to Camillus, the governor’s office said.

 

In addition, the program proposes $5 million for exterior improvements to the New York State Fairgrounds campus such as signage, streetscapes, and bicycle access.

 

The second phase would also provide $2.5 million for wastewater-treatment improvements to the New York State Fairgrounds that will incorporate green infrastructure and upgrade existing gray infrastructure.

 

Cuomo included $30 million in his state-budget proposal to support economic development and infrastructure improvements for the communities surrounding Onondaga Lake.

 

Besides the $30 million in state funding, resources from the federal government and local funds including a portion of Oneida Indian Nation casino payments will help pay for the project.

 

Cuomo on May 16 of last year announced an agreement between the state and the Oneida Indian Nation that will have the Nation paying the state an estimated $50 million a year in Turning Stone Resort & Casino revenue in return for a guarantee that no other casinos are built in Central New York.

 

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com