Downtown Committee of Syracuse awards $470K in state funds to seven local projects

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc. has awarded $470,000 in funding “specifically targeting underdeveloped properties” along the 300, 400, and 500 blocks of South Salina and South Warren streets.

The Downtown Committee awarded New York Main Street grants to seven “revitalization” projects, the organization said in a news release.

The projects are part of a combined total of more than $11 million in investments in downtown Syracuse.

New York in December awarded the Downtown Committee a $500,000 grant through the New York Main Street program to “prioritize” commercial and residential developments in downtown Syracuse.

In total, developers submitted 15 applications. A selection committee awarded funding to seven properties.

“We’re excited to work with our property owners to connect these existing areas of vibrancy by stirring new activity in underdeveloped properties,” Merike Treier, executive director of the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, said in the release. “By converting vacancies into shopping and dining destinations, new residential addresses and offices, the New York Main Street program complements our mission to revitalize Downtown Syracuse and ensure downtown continues to be pedestrian friendly, accessible and attractive to the residents, employees and visitors who spend time in the center of our city.”

In the coming weeks, the Downtown Committee will meet with property owners who receive awards to discuss the scopes of their projects. Grant-eligible work will begin early this summer and finish by the fall of 2019, the organization said.

South Salina Street recipients

The grant recipients along South Salina Street include the building at 313 S. Salina St., which currently houses Dollar Wise. The $100,000 award will help pay for two new commercial units, eight residential units, and a façade renovation.

In addition, a $70,000 award will help pay for historic window replacement, as well as additional residential and commercial development at the Chimes Building, located at 500 S. Salina St.

The Downtown Committee also awarded $37,500 for a project at the Park Brannock Building, located at 321 S. Salina St., to create eight new residential units and one commercial unit, and to help pay for a façade renovation.

Another $37,500 grant will help a project at the neighboring building at 323 S. Salina St. Plans call for eight new residential units, one commercial unit, and a façade renovation. The buildings, to be known as the Whitney Lofts, will have 16 apartments between them.

In addition, a project at the Wilson Building, located at 310 S. Salina St., will receive a grant of $25,000 for the build-out of ground-floor commercial space.

South Warren Street recipients

The Downtown Committee awarded a grant of $100,000 for a project at the Jefferson Building, located at 401-407 S. Warren St., that will involve new commercial and residential units, along with a façade renovation.

The South Warren Street recipients also included a building located at 413-417 S. Warren St. that currently houses Tang Flavor on the ground floor. A project in that location will also get an award of $100,000 for two new residential units on the upper floors, along with a façade renovation.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com