July 18, 2024
The Erie Canal Museum
In Attendance:
Betsy Elkins, Resident; Bill Elkins, Resident; Javier Zavaleta, Resident; Alice Lim, City of Syracuse; Kevin Race, City of Syracuse; Dr. Eric Saxon, Cuse Chiro; Mike Blowers, Resident/Gere Building/The Effect Group; Heather Schroeder, Downtown Committee Economic Development; Sarah Tietje-Mietz, Downtown Committee Marketing and Events; Taylor Westerlund, Erie Canal Museum, Development and Membership.
Prep work for Hanover Thursdays in August
• Updates on planning shared:
◦ Sweet Praxis opening special hours (5pm- 7 pm) and having outdoor seating.
◦ Two street food vendors: Across the Hall Café and Stories. Mike helping to facilitate location and coordination (possibly in front of his building?)
◦ Other restaurants operate as usual
◦ Wayfinding signage to be set up. A-Frame signs to be used, borrowed from Downtown Committee
▪ Downtown Committee will need to know how many needed and by when. Email Sarah Tietje-Mietz at stietjemietz@downtownsyracuse.com with info.
◦ The idea of expanding footprint of event, including more businesses in Hanover Sq., possible street closures, and future fundraising brought up
Unveiling/Dedication of the Memorial Garden
• Betsy brought up that the garden needs more work and attention.
◦ Suggestion of setting up a watering schedule with Parks to ensure receives enough attention, and will ask city to set up a plan
◦ Suggestion of exploring native plantings in garden
▪ Betsy and Bill to set up meeting with Josh Wilcox at Parks to address
• Timeframe for unveiling: Fall
◦ More outreach is needed to get more supporters and people involved, as well as reach out to relatives of those memorialized
◦ Downtown Committee will help expand list of other business owners in Hanover Square to be contacted
Business News
• Community Bank going in State Tower
◦ Mike to get progress report by next meeting
• Kara Anne’s has work already being done on the interior. Will sell clothing, house goods, items for children and pets, etc.
◦ Owner is also a resident
• Koolakian building fully rented
• New gallery in Bank Alley
• New tea and cocktail shot to open in former 210 Tea space
• Inka’s: Still under construction
• 809: No updates
• 300 East Washington: No updates on any of the potential businesses to go in, and visible construction still going on in interior of building
◦ Alice and Kevin of City to check on this
• Board and Bar had changed up menu offering more options
• Peter Muserlian may be opening around 100 apartments in building (building name?)
Other News:
• New funding period for TNT coming up
◦ Dr. Eric asked that everyone bring new ideas and suggestions for projects to next meeting
Next Meeting: 4:30 PM Thursday, August 15 at Hanover Thursday.