February 20, 2025

Elite Gaming

In Attendance:

Mike Blowers, The Effect Group, Inc.; Betsy Elkins, Resident; Bill Elkins, Resident; Sarah Tietje-Mietz, Downtown Committee; Bridget Rooney, Visit Syracuse; Ian Conroy, Elite Gaming; Rob O’Connor, Elite Gaming; Justin Hayward, Resident & JK Tobin

Updates

• Brewer Harris Projects had grand opening reception 2/14

• Fountain update: Josh Wilcox from Parks willing to come in to share more info with group and answer question

◦ Association would like this, and Sarah from DTC will reach out to have him join the next meeting

• Pantry Donations: EDR collected over 140 items for the pantry and Mike Blowers made a considerable donation of items.

◦ Question asked if we could challenge groups/offices to host drives to collect items to donate

◦ Question asked if we should reevaluate State Tower Location as donation site

New Business

• Issue of snow removal in Hanover Square not happening on weekends

◦ This impacts experience of visitors coming to all the restaurants and bars

◦ Question of enforcement of odd-even parking at night with the snow, as it gets very difficult to navigate the narrow streets, cars, and snowbanks

◦ Many crosswalks are not cleared

◦ CityLine suggested as a way to document and report excess ice and snow

◦ DTC asked if they can facilitate reminders or conversations with building owners about their responsibility of clearing ice and snow

◦ Question raised about whose responsibility bike lane is

▪ Has been like a river of ice, and no one sure who should salt/clear this

▪ DTC will look into who is responsible

• Issue of increase in trash around Hanover Square

◦ Trash collecting and blowing around streets and parking lots

◦ Many trash bins overflowing, especially in front of businesses and do not seemed to be emptied by bity enough

◦ Question of if it would be possible to set up communal garbage/recycling space in a corner of the nearby

◦ Question if grant money could be used to create this and fund a large skid holder for this

◦ Topic was asked to be put on next agenda, and that DTC look into if this is possible.

Other Updates/Items:

• Earth Day Clean Up

◦ Downtown Committee Event, Taking Place April 19

▪ ***NOW UPDATED TO APRIL 26***

▪ Everyone encouraged to sign up to participate

▪ Hanover Square would like to do a clean up as part of this, on the Friday before

▪ It was noted that this has happened in past, and that the Downtown Committee has assisted with this

▪ Sarah/DTC will look into this and update at the next meeting.

• Meeting Engagement

◦ Question if changing time would encourage more people to attend

◦ A survey could be sent to the mailing list to get info on best times, why people attend or do not, etc.

◦ Suggestion of creating a sub-committee to address this

▪ Reach out in person to residents, businesses, and building owners to remind them about meeting

▪ Create and distribute survey with questions related to meeting time and attendance to be distributed to mailing list

• SPD/DTC Security at Hanover Sq Association Meetings

◦ Bridget from Visit Syracuse asked if SPD rep could be invited to and attend these meetings to give safety updates and news, field questions and concerns

◦ DTC Director of Security Tom Campanie could also be invited to attend to share updates and take questions/concerns

• Elite Gaming

◦ Will have a grand opening in April, and bar will be open for evening hours

◦ They will be location for Syracuse Fashion Week Underground Fashion Show on April 5

Next Meeting: 4:30 PM Thursday, March 20, 2025 at TBD.