Downtown Committee of Syracuse honors three organizations during annual meeting

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The downtown lunch restaurant Darwin, the Hanover Square Association, and the Corbett Corner project were honored during the annual meeting of the Downtown Committee of Syracuse Inc. held June 23 at the Oncenter with 400 in attendance.

The event also included the annual State of Downtown report. In it, Merike Treier, executive director of the Downtown Committee, “highlighted the incredible growth” that the downtown area has had in the past year and provided a preview of projects that are currently in progress, the organization said.

Downtown Awards of Excellence

The Downtown Awards of Excellence recognized three organizations for their “commitment to growth” throughout downtown Syracuse.

The Downtown Committee recognized the Icon Companies’ Corbett Corner at 444 E. Genesee St. in Syracuse with the Urban Innovation Award. The award recognizes a “trailblazing activity that’s brought new attention — and energy — to a previously underdeveloped facet” of downtown Syracuse. The project at the corner of E. Genesee and S. Townsend streets includes 24 new studio and one-bedroom units, “resulting in a dramatic change to Downtown’s eastern gateway,” the Downtown Committee said.

In addition, the organization honored Darwin, a lunch restaurant at 110 W. Fayette St., with the Heart of Downtown Award. The award recognizes “efforts that positively impact the way people feel about downtown Syracuse.” The owners of Darwin, which has operated downtown for 12 years, chose to open in downtown Syracuse because “they wanted to be part of its resurgence,” the Downtown Committee said.

The organization also chose the Hanover Square Association for the Perfect Partner Award, which it gives to individuals, businesses, organizations, and initiatives “whose advocacy and commitment positively benefits downtown Syracuse and our community as a whole.” The Hanover Square Association was especially active throughout the 2021-2022 fiscal year. The group includes residents and business owners who “advocate for the neighborhood by organizing community events, beautification programs and ways that the district can connect,” per the Downtown Committee.