VIEWPOINT: Reinventing Downtown Syracuse

Downtown Syracuse is experiencing a transformation. Over the past few years, I have observed our city reinvent its landscape into a vibrant community filled with remarkable places for exploration and attractive real estate for residency. Our goal is to develop a flourishing downtown area that is diverse and welcoming to all. The revitalization of downtown Syracuse is a testament to the collaborative efforts of community partners, residents, business owners, and investors united by a common vision for our city center as a vibrant social hub and a connector of people. This shared commitment has been instrumental in establishing downtown Syracuse as a locale renowned for its memorable experiences. In the development pipeline, 13 projects totaling $129 million will meet the evolving needs of the downtown community, including a new doggy daycare and pet supply store, and more than 120 new housing units. An additional 400 residential units are planned or underway, creating the potential for downtown’s population to exceed 5,000 residents by the end of 2025. Investments continue at downtown’s southern and western gateways, where the Allyn Foundation announced plans to transform the historic Chimes Building through a $40-million development. This will bring 152 mixed-income apartments online, building on the energy created by the Salt City Market. Across the street, the apartments at Symphony Place began lease-up this past spring. This $17.5 million project offers 75 residential units, and two floors of commercial space. 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. Just south, across from Centro’s hub, Central New York’s first STEAM School is under construction and will open in 2025. Through partnerships, internships, mentoring and job shadowing, the program will help prepare students for jobs in our growing 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. Construction at the Tech Garden is well underway. Led by CenterState CEO, and supported by many New York State partners, this $32 million expansion will include space for 35 resident startups, 100 virtual startups, a fresh façade, and major tech enhancements. The Tech Garden is set to be completed next year. On Montgomery Street, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is underway with a $2.2 million project to improve accessibility. Phase two of the plans include a partnership with A Tiny Home for Good to create permanent apartments to support those facing chronic homelessness. On the southern end of this block, a $7 million investment is underway at Mizpah Towers. Cerio Law offices moved into the commercial space on the second floor and work on event space, several apartments and a restaurant are expected to begin this year. 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. Near Hanover Square, City Hall Commons is slated for a $17 million conversion by Hanover Development to add 40 apartments and retail space. To activate the ground floor in the meantime, CNY Arts has brought us “Art in the Atrium,” a gallery dedicated to showcasing the works of local artists. Across Warren Street, the City of Syracuse plans to refresh Hanover Square, including an updated fountain design, expected to be complete in the summer of 2025. One block south, the city solicited proposals to expand visitor and residential offerings downtown by encouraging the redevelopment of M. Lemp Park. The goal is to select a development team who will activate the corner. Onondaga County Executive McMahon is leading the charge for new hotel rooms downtown. In July, he announced plans to seek a developer to build a 200-plus room full-service hotel adjacent to the Everson Museum. To incentivize more growth at this critical juncture in our hospitality industry, McMahon will offer 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 planned plant in Clay. Starting this fall at Fayette Park, Douglas Development will transform 420 & 430 East Genesee St. into a mix of 57 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments through a $25 million investment. In Armory Square, The Clinton at Armory Square will break 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. Plans like this are part of Armory Square’s continuous evolution. This neighborhood has experienced renewed energy as new restaurants, shops, and experiences have come online. So far in 2024, nine new businesses have been announced for the neighborhood and the historic Bentley Settle building has been transformed into a curated arts experience; from Art Haus on the first floor, through to the Airbnb units located above. Additionally, the former Empire Brewing space is now home to the Whiskey Coop, which features a variety of whiskeys, fine spirits, and upscale comfort foods. Downtown’s power as a destination has grown thanks to a focus on experiences and amenities that attract visitors. The Landmark Theatre works with partners like Famous Artists to present major Broadway shows. The upcoming season will be a “can’t miss” and is projected to attract more than 100,000 visitors. The Redhouse Arts Center announced its upcoming season, with shows for everyone, including favorites like Hamlet and The Sound of Music. At the Onondaga Historical Association, Assemblyman Magnarelli secured a $3 million grant to expand the research center, increase the OHA’s ability to host events, and improve storage conditions for our county’s valuable archive collections. The Erie Canal Museum launched a series of walking tours in June to better connect people to our canal history. And in July, the Everson debuted its new café, Louise — an interactive dining experience where food is served on functional pieces of art from their ceramics collection. Finally, recognizing the important role arts and culture play in fostering our community’s identity and attracting visitors, the City of Syracuse and Common Council established the Syracuse Cultural Festivals Fund. These funds supported 22 nonprofit community groups in delivering cultural, celebratory events. Another $135,000 has been set aside to support festivals over the next year. The cumulative effect of these incremental projects and investments has generated a palpable momentum in the downtown Syracuse area. Businesses and individuals now view downtown as a valuable asset — a place to visit, discover, and as the community’s core. Our ongoing progress is a testament to our partners’ shared commitment to a vibrant long-term vision. Thank you for your work and dedication. We are grateful for your ongoing partnership.      

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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. Contact her at MTreier@DowntownSyracuse.com.