October 17, 2024

SideArm Sports, State Tower Building

In Attendance:

Betsy Elkins, Resident; Bill Elkins, Resident; Alice Lim, City of Syracuse; Kevin Race, City of Syracuse; Dr. Eric Saxon, Cuse Chiro; Mike Blowers, Resident/Gere Building/The Effect Group; Merike Treier, Downtown Committee Executive Director; Sarah Tietje-Mietz, Downtown Committee Marketing and Events; Lekia Hill, Community Bank; Jim Knittel, InArchitects, Steve Breitzka, EDR; Michael John Heagerty, Wildflowers.

Fall Philanthropy Projects

• Collections for non-perishable food items for the Little Pantry at St. Paul’s

◦ Will be getting bins for residential buildings

▪ Helps to also connect with residents we do not see at meetings

◦ Mike B. looking at U-Line for bins

◦ Betsy to make graphics/details to put on poster to go with bins

◦ Possible locations:

▪ Atrium, Sweet Praxis, State Tower Building, Treasury Building, Water St Bagel, Mike’s building.

• Merike/Sarah to help connect with State Tower Building

◦ Details to be addressed: who empties and brings bins over, who checks/cleans areas around bins?

▪ Might need volunteers to help with this

◦ Goal to make year-long, but start this fall

◦ How to get info out to area and keep fresh in minds?

▪ Reminders in Downtown Committee newsletter

▪ Update posters

▪ Move locations of bins each season?

▪

Memorial Garden Dedication

• Put off until later date: Spring or early June

• Get plaque made for it

◦ Arrange for event to take place after plaque has been made

◦ Merike suggested reaching out to Parks Conservancy about possible grant funding for this

◦ The Downtown Syracuse Foundation (501c3 arm of Downtown Committee) could help with this

TNT Funding

• More planters

◦ Suggested location: down Water Street

• Suggestion of public bathrooms

Other Updates/Ietms

• Community Bank donated $10,000 to Downtown Syracuse Foundation to support community-based initiatives in the Hanover Square neighborhood.

• Mike brought up Erie Boulevard section near Hanover

◦ Doesn’t always feel part of community, lots of dumpsters, snow removal not attended to as frequently, etc.

• Fountain Update:

◦ Work has started, timeline to finish is next August

• Syracuse Area Music Awards Community Champion Award honors Michael John Heagerty and Joe Driscoll for the Hanover and Westcott Thursdays

• Syracuse Urbanism Club:

◦ is now a Non-Profit

◦ Now Syracuse Urbanism Collective

◦ Hosting Smart Growth in CNY Conference on November 15 in McCarthy Mercantile

▪ Walking tours, presentations, conversations, etc

◦ Syracuse Urbanism hosting wildflower/pollinator planting in Perseverance Park on 10/27

▪ Free and open to sign up and join

◦ Javier, a Hanover Square Resident, has been working on wayfinding for creekwalk and a $3k grant was secured to help with this

▪ Looking to use eco-friendly pain on ground

▪ Points out info on neighborhoods near creekwalk

▪ Will be doing a weekend event to paint/install wayfinding in Spring

• Alice asked that if anyone notices problems or issues that need to be addressed throughout the City, to use to the Syracuse City Line

• J. Ryans in review for new business

• Amanda at Ice Cream Stand will be closing for season, but will still do Ice Cream Club

• Wildflowers expanding 200 sq ft

◦ Will add new vendors and cultural orgs to space

▪ Anticipated opening by Thanksgiving

• Lekia from Community Bank asked what Community Bank can do in neighborhood around holidays and beyond

◦ Suggestions welcome

Next Meeting: 4:30 PM Thursday, November 21