UTICA — The City of Utica has made a number of new appointments to the steering committee that is guiding the development of a master plan for the reuse of the former St. Elizabeth Medical Center campus, according to a news release from Mayor Robert M. Palmieri. The campus was vacated in October when Mohawk […]
UTICA — The City of Utica has made a number of new appointments to the steering committee that is guiding the development of a master plan for the reuse of the former St. Elizabeth Medical Center campus, according to a news release from Mayor Robert M. Palmieri.
The campus was vacated in October when Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) moved all of its hospital operations to the new Wynn Hospital in downtown Utica. MVHS is working with Utica to develop a reuse plan for the site and is working with Oneida County to develop a reuse plan for the former St. Luke’s campus in New Hartford. MVHS and the city held a forum on Nov. 16 to solicit community input on the reuse.
“The initial opportunity for public comment into the plan was well received by the neighborhood and was a great start to the planning process,” Palmieri said in the release. “From the very beginning, I have maintained that the voice of the neighborhood will be a key component in the direction that this process takes. After speaking with many of the residents at the public meeting, the main concern revolved around representation of the neighborhood on the steering committee; these appointments address that concern, and I believe that the plan and the process will both benefit from the involvement of these individuals,” he explained.
The new appointees to the steering committee are County Legislator Timothy J. Julian (19th district), Common Council Representative-elect Joseph Betar, and south Utica homeowners Donald D. MacAnn and Ronald A. Cuccaro. Palmieri asked Julian and Betar to also name one additional property owner from the neighborhood to the committee. Palmieri and Councilmember Celeste Friend will serve as continuing members of the steering committee upon completion of their terms in office.
Existing committee members include Palmieri, Robert Scholefield from MVHS, Steve DiMeo of Mohawk Valley EDGE, Vin Gilroy of the Utica Industrial Development Agency, Brian Thomas from the city of Utica, John Furner from MVHS, Christopher Lawrence from Mohawk Valley EDGE, and Jack Spaeth from the Utica Industrial Development Agency.
The city is working with a consultant team led by Rupp Pfalzgraf to guide the master reuse planning process.