SYRACUSE — More than $290 million of development activity has been announced or is underway in downtown Syracuse. This past year, 24 new businesses opened, bringing new cuisine, new experiences, and new energy to key downtown corridors between 2024 and 2025. In total, downtown Syracuse is home to 260 storefront businesses. Those figures were part […]
SYRACUSE — More than $290 million of development activity has been announced or is underway in downtown Syracuse.
This past year, 24 new businesses opened, bringing new cuisine, new experiences, and new energy to key downtown corridors between 2024 and 2025. In total, downtown Syracuse is home to 260 storefront businesses.
Those figures were part of the State of Downtown report that Merike Treier, executive director of the Downtown Committee of Syracuse Inc., delivered during the organization’s annual meeting held June 18 in the ballroom of the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center at Oncenter.
The organization provided CNYBJ with a copy of Treier’s remarks from the meeting.
Projects listed
Examples of ongoing projects include a $2.6 million upgrade at the Upstate Medical Arena at The Oncenter War Memorial that seeks to improve seating and accessibility.
In addition, CenterState CEO’s $32 million INSPYRE Innovation Hub was scheduled for a Sept. 18 formal opening, described as New York’s largest entrepreneurial incubator.
West Onondaga Street will have projects targeting pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure as well as new gateway treatments, thanks to a $3 million project of the City of Syracuse and funding from New York’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI).
The projects also include new housing opportunities. The property at 250 Harrison St. is getting 30 new apartments through a $13 million redevelopment with support from both the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County.
The Allyn Family Foundation’s $46 million redevelopment of the Chimes Building into 152 mixed-income apartments and new commercial space is ongoing.
And, at downtown’s southern gateway, the new Syracuse STEAM High School remains under construction, even as it has opened to welcome 250 new students to the area (STEAM is short for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics).
Elsewhere, Sun Development & Management Corporation has plans to build a new $87 million, 245-room hotel at the site of Lemp Park and the Warren Street parking garage.
One block south, a $1.5 million grant was secured to support the redevelopment of the Jefferson Building into 27 apartments and retail space. And work continues at the Mizpah Towers to convert the historic structure into a mix of spacious apartments, a performance venue, a café, and office suites.
On that same block of Montgomery Street, the Onondaga Historical Association (OHA) is underway with a $5 million project to expand its research center, add capacity to host events, and improve the care of its collections.
In addition, the City of Syracuse in partnership with the Syracuse Firefighters Memorial Fund will invest $400,000 to improve Fayette Firefighters Memorial Park with new landscaping and commemorative bricks around the belltower.
Fronting the park, Douglas Development will invest $25 million into 420-430 East Genesee St., redeveloping two vacant buildings into 57 apartments.
Work also continues at Hanover Square Park where the City of Syracuse is using a $1 million investment for a more resilient fountain façade, improved lighting, and more seating.
Across Warren Street, Hanover Development will convert the former City Hall Commons Building into a mix of 39 market-rate and affordable apartments. The renovations will introduce commercial space in the glass atrium.
On Clinton Square, VIP Structures plans to spend $17.6 million to add 72 apartments to The Post. This work is scheduled to finish next spring.
In Armory Square, plans are in place for the demolition of the Clinton Street Parking Garage and a $23 million investment to build the Clinton at Armory Square, a new construction project that will add 88 apartments and 3,000 square feet of retail space.
Investments continue into downtown’s cultural anchors.
The Landmark Theatre completed a $1.5 million restoration of its 97-year-old auditorium. When patrons returned in September, they were greeted with a restored stagehouse to enjoy this season’s lineup.
In addition, the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (The MOST) received a $2.8 million grant to renovate space in its eastern wing for new STEAM educational space.
