VIEWPOINT: How Ability to Reimagine & Reinvent Drives our Community Forward

As we have adapted to new work styles it’s clear that to cultivate a strong city center, we need to re-imagine our downtown as a place beyond the office. Our focus is on building vibrant communities that are great places for people to visit and to live.

With the disruptions created by COVID-19, it’s easy to overlook the progress we’ve made and how a series of strategic investments, from many community partners, has forged our path to recovery by creating spaces that attract people to our downtown. 

While the pandemic changed many things, it did not diminish downtown Syracuse’s place as a social hub and the role it plays in bringing people together.

 As we collectively adapt and continue to re-emerge from the pandemic, downtown’s reputation as a place where people connect will become even more important in our community’s path forward and future growth. 

In the last year, more than $52 million in building redevelopment and infrastructure investments have been completed. We have seen 24 new businesses open, and housing continues to transform downtown’s landscape. Notably, the growing number of affordable units means downtown’s convenience and amenities are accessible to more people. We expect 2023 will be a milestone year as downtown will surpass 3,000 housing units.

Every downtown neighborhood is experiencing growth. Here is a snapshot:

• In Hanover Square, a $23 million investment in the former M&T Bank Building will result in a mix of 121 residential units, office and retail space, and a grand event space highlighting the former bank’s historic lobby.

• City Center is bustling with construction activity. Fronting three city streets, this $37 million investment by Hayner Hoyt will transform the feel of the neighborhood, bringing new companies to the heart of downtown. 

• One block south, a $17.4 million plan to build 75 apartments and commercial space has been announced for Symphony Place. 

• In Armory Square, more than $4 million will be invested into the Bentley Settle Building to create 30 one and two-bedroom apartments, called the Bentley Lofts, which are coming in the summer of 2023.

Cathedral Square is also bustling:

• quitable announced plans for a $65 million investment in its campus, enhancing the landmark property 

•  A $2 million-plus plan has been announced to add 27 apartments and fresh retail spaces to the Jefferson Building.

• The historic Mizpah Towers will see a more than $4 million investment.

• At the Carnegie Building, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon has committed $4 million to bring new life to the historic structure.

• And CenterState CEO’s plans for an expansion of the Tech Garden are in the works.

To support our evolving district, Onondaga County and the City of Syracuse will invest in infrastructure, including Walton Street sewer improvements and conversion of South Clinton Street between Jefferson and Tallman Street into a two-way road, enhancing connectivity between neighborhoods. 

In total, downtown Syracuse will see more than $230 million of investment activity over the next two years. Businesses are taking note of this activity and see the attraction of a downtown location. Downtown Syracuse has seen a net gain in businesses in 2022, activating vacant spaces. 

In Clinton Square, new downtown tenant, ChaseDesign, moved into The Post from Skaneateles, intentionally diversifying its workforce. By the end of this year, VIP Structures will move its headquarters into the ground floor. 

Our economic-development team continues to field requests for information on downtown properties, connecting prospective businesses with available space.

This level of investment does not happen by accident. It’s the result of numerous partners sharing a vision and building a vibrant downtown Syracuse. 

Thanks to a pandemic-relief grant from SEDCO, 50 “Downtown is Open” flags line downtown’s streets. This award also allowed us to support 22 new marketing initiatives developed by downtown businesses to raise visibility of the variety of experiences available downtown.

Over the holidays, 40 retailers, restaurants, and other businesses helped make spirits merry by transforming their windows into engaging winter scenes. This year, a record 3,300 people experienced the annual Window Wonderland Walk.

Contests like Challenge ‘22, underway now, encourage support of local businesses and connect participants to the many places and spaces that make downtown Syracuse a destination. 

New spots to shop, dine, browse, and indulge fuel downtown’s appeal. Investments such as the 52 new hotel rooms at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown provide a home base for visitors to enjoy the amenities our district has to offer. 

Downtown’s cultural institutions used the pandemic pause to expand the ways they serve our community, including the following initiatives:

• In June, the Everson Museum of Art unveiled a new installation, “Faceted Wrap”, which enlivens the connection between floors. 

• The Erie Canal Museum, which TripAdvisor has ranked the #5 Top Museum in New York state, has used creative partnerships to bring history to life and build off its location next to the Empire State Trail, incorporating cycling events into its programming. 

• In April, the MOST celebrated the opening of the new National Grid ExploraDome, a state-of-the-art planetarium and theater space; and in August, dedicated its refreshed DinoZone exhibit 

• And, at the Onondaga Historical Association (OHA), spirited “Ghost Walks” beckoned visitors to learn about historical figures and events in Central New York.

This year marks the 50th season of the Downtown Farmers Market in Clinton Square. Every Tuesday through Oct. 11, visitors will find locally grown fruits, vegetables, plants, baked goods, and — thanks to funding from Onondaga County and CNY Arts — live, lunchtime musical entertainment. 

Thanks to Mayor Ben Walsh and the support of the Syracuse Common Council, the Syracuse Festivals Fund boosted the economic recovery of businesses, with funded events anticipated to bring more than 200,000 visitors into the heart of our community this year. For example, a new concert series, Hanover Thursdays attracted thousands to the Square, driving traffic to local businesses.

Calendars continue to populate with more events and these engagement opportunities reinforce downtown’s role as the social center of our community. 

The next few years will bring significant investments in public spaces, transforming how we experience the center of our city. 

• Downtown’s southern district, where nearly $100 million in development has taken place over the last five years, is part of the city of Syracuse’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative award. Planning is underway to enhance connections and build a stronger commercial district just west of downtown.

• Looking ahead, the center of our city will start to have a different feel. New York State issued its Record of Decision, clearing the way for the “Community Grid” to replace a portion of the aging I-81 viaduct structure in the coming years. 

The opportunities that come with this — to re-connect neighborhoods, create new jobs, and revitalize the area — represent a long-awaited moment in our community. And the results will drive our community on an incredible path forward. 

Continuing to build on the collaborations, investments, and opportunities to engage is central to our vision of a vibrant and connected downtown Syracuse. 

As we emerge from the pandemic, we appreciate the power of this shared vision and the individual roles we play to ensure success. 

Working together is how we’re driving positive change and how downtown Syracuse has come back strong.            

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Merike Treier is executive director of the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc. In this role, she leads a team to support a dynamic, vibrant downtown and promote future growth through economic development and revitalization initiatives, marketing and events, security, and environmental maintenance. Treier is also president of the Downtown Syracuse Foundation, Inc. and currently serves as board president for The Gifford Foundation. Contact her at MTreier@DowntownSyracuse.com.