State of Downtown report details vibrant activity

Nearly 30 new ground-floor businesses began operations in downtown Syracuse in the 2023-24 fiscal year.

The firms included seven new retail shops, eight personal-service locations, and 14 new food and beverage spots. That’s according to the State of Downtown report that Merike Treier, executive director of the Downtown Committee of Syracuse Inc., delivered during the organization’s annual meeting on June 20. Downtown Syracuse has had an increase in retail occupancy, with the rate surpassing 80 percent for the first time since 2010. Since then, the downtown area added 240,000 square feet of additional retail space to its commercial offerings. The Downtown Committee in May launched a resident survey, which sought data on downtown-resident demographics and housing preferences. The survey found those living downtown speak 16 languages and represent 19 countries and five continents. “These perspectives are important as we build towards an inclusive downtown,” Treier said in her report.

Development projects

Downtown development projects included City Center in the former Sibley’s department store building. The Hayner Hoyt Corporation held a formal-opening event in October 2023. The redevelopment was made possible thanks to public and private partners who “saw the potential of this space and came together to drive this project forward,” according to the report. A few blocks away, the Allyn Family Foundation announced plans to renovate the historic Chimes Building through a $40 million development to bring 152 mixed-income apartments online, “building on the energy created by the Salt City Market,” the report stated. Across South Salina Street, the apartments at Symphony Place began lease-up this past spring. The $17.5 million project offers 75 residential units and two floors of commercial space. In her remarks, Treier went on to say that additional revitalization and foot traffic will bolster southern downtown, “thanks to the vision and partnership of New York State, Onondaga County and the City of Syracuse.” Across from Centro’s hub, Central New York’s first STEAM School is under construction and will open in 2025. STEAM is short for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Through partnerships, internships, mentoring and job shadowing, the program will help prepare students for jobs in the high-tech manufacturing field. New York State has committed $71 million to the effort, along with Micron’s $10 million commitment to this and other K-12 programs. The $32 million Tech Garden expansion is well underway. The project will include space for 35 resident startups, 100 virtual startups, a fresh façade, and major tech enhancements. The Tech Garden expansion is set to be completed in 2025. On Montgomery Street, a $2.2 million project to improve accessibility at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is underway. The project’s second phase includes a partnership with A Tiny Home for Good to create permanent apartments to support those facing chronic homelessness, per the report. On the southern end of this block, a $7 million project is underway at Mizpah Towers. Cerio Law offices moved into the commercial space on the second floor. The project involves work on an event space, several apartments, and a restaurant. Throughout this neighborhood, a $232,000 grant from New York State allows the Downtown Committee to support building-renovation projects and façade improvements at Mizpah Towers, Noble Cellar, Acropolis Center, and the Redhouse, according to the Downtown Committee. Elsewhere, City Hall Commons, near Hanover Square, is slated for a $17 million conversion by Hanover Development to add 40 apartments and retail space. Across Warren Street, the City of Syracuse plans to refresh Hanover Square, an effort that includes an updated fountain design, expected to be completed in the summer of 2025. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon is leading the charge for new hotel rooms downtown. In June, he announced plans to seek a developer to build a more than 200-room, full-service hotel adjacent to the Everson Museum of Art, which is located at 401 Harrison St. To incentivize more growth at this critical juncture in the area’s hospitality industry, the county is also offering grants to expand on and build new hotels to support efforts to attract major events, and to fill a need that will be driven by Micron’s plant in the town of Clay. Starting this fall at Fayette Park, Douglas Development will renovate 420 and 430 E. Genesee St. into a mix of 57 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments through a $25 million investment. In addition, The Clinton at Armory Square is breaking ground in spring 2025. This $20 million development will create 88 apartments, 3,000 square feet of retail space and onsite parking at the site of the current Clinton Street Garage, per the report.