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Developers announce more than $1 billion plan to redevelop Great Northern Mall property
CLAY, N.Y. — The Hart Lyman Companies and Conifer Realty, LLC on Thursday revealed the next step in their plans to “radically redevelop, rename, and redefine” the Great Northern Mall property in the town of Clay. The project is described as a “more than a $1 billion investment,” per the announcement. Hart Lyman and Conifer […]
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CLAY, N.Y. — The Hart Lyman Companies and Conifer Realty, LLC on Thursday revealed the next step in their plans to “radically redevelop, rename, and redefine” the Great Northern Mall property in the town of Clay.
The project is described as a “more than a $1 billion investment,” per the announcement.
Hart Lyman and Conifer Realty have released renderings that include new housing, medical facilities, professional offices, a Clay Community Center, hotels and retail, dining and entertainment options.
The firms say they’ve submitted a site application to the Town of Clay following consultation with town and county leaders.
Hart Lyman Companies is headquartered at 500 Plum St. in Syracuse’s Franklin Square area while Conifer Realty is based in Rochester.
The planned development of the 215-acre property will include a walkable town center, entertainment district, health and wellness campus, and a residential community — all located just a few miles from the planned Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU)campus in Clay.
The project plans at the former Great Northern Mall include more than 600,000 square feet of retail, community, grocery, restaurant, and entertainment space; over 790,000 square feet of medical and office space; more than 750 hotel rooms; and several mixed-use clusters, each featuring 300 to 500 new housing units with “options for all members of the community who wish to call Clay home.”
Hart Lyman and Conifer Realty contend “it will provide residents throughout the Syracuse MSA (metropolitan statistical area) with a recruitment tool for area businesses to address our area’s housing shortage and accommodate expected growth from the [Micron] project.”
Construction is set to begin in the fourth quarter of this year, depending on finalizing permitting and approvals.
“This project is transformative for the Town of Clay and our region,” Guy Hart, Jr., managing partner of the Hart Lyman Companies, said in the announcement. “Our goal is to reverse decades of sprawl and segregation between housing and lifestyle amenities that isolate people from each other, stifle a sense of community and building relationships between neighbors. It will enable our community to redevelop a blighted mall into a truly unique and dynamic environment. Over the many months since we acquired the property, we brought on a best-in-class team of professionals to design an ambitious project. This site doesn’t just provide housing, it provides better housing and a recruitment tool for healthcare institutions, businesses that locate here and anyone who points to the inspiration it evokes. By providing housing, a new Town of Clay Community Center, medical facilities, and hotels, we will establish a premier site for Central New York that will accommodate future growth and create a unique living environment.”
Sam Leone, president of Conifer Realty, called it a “significant milestone” in the effort to “transform” Great Northern Mall.
“With our partners at Hart Lyman, and in collaboration with local leaders and stakeholders, we are on an exciting journey to revitalize this space into a vibrant community hub that will help to breathe new life into our region,” Leone said. “This project is not merely about revitalizing a mall; it’s about providing much needed high-quality, housing supply and choices and laying the foundation for a thriving community that meets the evolving needs of our area and fosters growth and prosperity for years to come.”

Public meeting set for March 19 in Clay to discuss environmental impact of Micron project
CLAY, N.Y. — The Buffalo district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will host a public meeting to gather comments on Micron Technology’s (NASDAQ: MU) proposed plan to build a semiconductor-manufacturing campus at the White Pine Commerce Park in the town of Clay. The session is set for March 19 from 7-9 p.m.
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CLAY, N.Y. — The Buffalo district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will host a public meeting to gather comments on Micron Technology’s (NASDAQ: MU) proposed plan to build a semiconductor–manufacturing campus at the White Pine Commerce Park in the town of Clay.
The session is set for March 19 from 7-9 p.m. at the Clay Town Hall at 4401 Route 31. The doors open at 6:30 p.m., the presentation begins at 7, and the public–comment portion starts at 7:30, the USACE said.
USACE, as the lead federal agency under the National Environmental Policy Act, has determined the proposed project “may significantly affect the quality of the human environment” and will prepare an environmental–impact statement to assess “potential social, economic, and environmental impacts,” per its meeting announcement.
The USACE says agencies, organizations, and members of the public can present comments or suggestions regarding the range of actions, alternatives, and potential impacts to be considered in the environmental–impact statement.
NBT Bank Stadium unveils two new hospitality areas for the upcoming Syracuse Mets season
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Mets on Wednesday said NBT Bank Stadium will have new hospitality options this upcoming season. The Piazza Rooftop Lounge is
New Energy New York’s Battery-NY names its first executive director
VESTAL, N.Y. — Battery-NY, part of the Binghamton University-led New Energy New York (NENY) initiative, has named its first executive director. NENY selected British engineer

SUNY Poly lands research agreement with AFRL
MARCY, N.Y. — SUNY Polytechnic Institute and the Air Force Research Laboratory(AFRL) announced they have forged a new cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) to

Renovations at Rome affordable-housing project formally wrap up
ROME, N.Y. — The Rome Housing Authority and Boston–based Beacon Communities Development LLC recently celebrated the completion of a project to rehabilitate and modernize the Colonial II Apartments in Rome. The apartment complex will provide 74 affordable homes for seniors and people with disabilities, according to a news release from Gov. Kathy Hochul. The $40
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ROME, N.Y. — The Rome Housing Authority and Boston–based Beacon Communities Development LLC recently celebrated the completion of a project to rehabilitate and modernize the Colonial II Apartments in Rome.
The apartment complex will provide 74 affordable homes for seniors and people with disabilities, according to a news release from Gov. Kathy Hochul. The $40 million project received a $1 million award from the state’s Buildings of Excellence Competition, which works to advance net-zero carbon multifamily buildings in the state.
“The Rome Housing Authority is proud to be at the forefront of improving energy efficiency in public housing, which will help the state meet its clean energy goals while reducing utility costs for tenants,” Rome Housing Authority Executive Director Maureen Birmingham said in the release. “This multi-state renovation project has transformed and modernized Colonial II, making it a model for similar buildings statewide. I greatly appreciate all the work that went into this project and particularly thank the tenants for their patience and flexibility. The results have been worth the wait!”
Originally constructed in 1972 as a school and dormitory, the facility was converted to public housing in 1984. Prior to this project, the building at 310 Cottage St. had not been upgraded in decades and was rendered functionally obsolete.
Work on the project, which began in March 2022, converted 99 units of public housing into 74 apartments for seniors and those living with a disability, a release from Beacon stated. The one-bedroom units are available to residents with incomes at or below 50 percent of the area median income.
Improvements included electrified building systems, installation of geothermal-sourced high-efficiency heat pumps to replace a gas boiler system, a small on-site solar field and connection to community solar. The project also increased unit sizes, replaced the brick façade with a panel system to improve temperature control and reduce energy usage, made structural upgrades to common areas including a new mailroom, and updated community room, created seven ADA-accessible units, and created two hearing and sight-impaired units.
The solar array is expected to provide 98 percent of the building’s energy.
Financing for the project included $2 million in permanent tax-exempt bonds, $16.6 million in federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits, and $12.5 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. Along with the $1 million through the Buildings of Excellence Competition, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority also provided incentives of $296,000 from the Multifamily New Construction Program and $194,740 from the NY-Sun Program. The Rome Housing Authority provided additional funding.
“This project stands as a testament to our collective commitment to providing safe, modern, affordable, and accessible housing for our residents,” Rome Mayor Jeffrey Lanigan said. “This was a transformative endeavor which will have benefits to this community for many years to come.”
People news: Berkshire Bank promotes Volytska to assistant VP
UTICA, N.Y. — Berkshire Bank announced it has promoted Khrystyna Volytska to assistant VP, relationship manager in its business banking unit, where she will manage

Seven CNAs graduate from paid training program at The Manor at Seneca Hill
OSWEGO — Oswego Health announced that seven certified nursing assistants (CNAs) have graduated from the organization’s on-the-job training and paid-certification program at The Manor at Seneca Hill, a 120-bed skilled-nursing facility. Employees at the Manor can take advantage of a five-week, hands-on training program at the facility to advance their careers as CNAs, Oswego Health
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OSWEGO — Oswego Health announced that seven certified nursing assistants (CNAs) have graduated from the organization’s on-the-job training and paid-certification program at The Manor at Seneca Hill, a 120-bed skilled-nursing facility.
Employees at the Manor can take advantage of a five-week, hands-on training program at the facility to advance their careers as CNAs, Oswego Health said.
Seven employees participated in the latest edition of the paid-training program: Jestina Inman, Lataya Tunstall, Jason Rudick, Sarah Clements, Anthony Parker, Gabriela Campos Toro, and Haylee Klawonn.
The program consists of 240 hours of clinical, class, and lab training. While in the program, full-time employment is available for resident-care aides. The average cost of certification is $2,000 and the Manor provides this at no cost for those interested in beginning their career in health care, Oswego Health said.
Upon completion, employees are eligible for full-time employment and a $3,500 sign-on bonus. For experienced CNAs looking for a job, a $7,000 sign-on bonus is available, per the announcement.
The Manor is still recruiting CNAs as it begins to plan for the next paid-training program.
To learn more or to register for the course, call (315) 349-5300 or visit: www.oswegohealth.org/cna.
Hooters adds additional PAR Technology products to its lineup
NEW HARTFORD — PAR Technology Corp. (NYSE: PAR) announced Hooters of America, LLC, the franchisor behind the Hooters and Hoots Wings brands, has selected the company’s PAR Bring POS and PAR Data Central systems for 367 Hooters restaurants. The PAR products will enhance operational efficiency and order accuracy at the restaurants, PAR announced in a
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NEW HARTFORD — PAR Technology Corp. (NYSE: PAR) announced Hooters of America, LLC, the franchisor behind the Hooters and Hoots Wings brands, has selected the company’s PAR Bring POS and PAR Data Central systems for 367 Hooters restaurants.
The PAR products will enhance operational efficiency and order accuracy at the restaurants, PAR announced in a news release.
Hooters is an existing customer of PAR’s customer loyalty product, PAR Punchh, and sought to expand its existing tech stack.
“The Hooters team has loved working with PAR because its technology matches our company vision and where we believe the restaurant industry is heading,” Hooters CIO Jaff Caplan said in the release. “Simplifying our operations with one provider for point-of-sale, restaurant back office, and loyalty has also been a game-changer, streamlining our relationships and saving us valuable time.”
PAR Punchh helps engage and retain guests, supporting Hooter’s goal to drive lifetime loyalty. The Brink POS system offers a configurable, easy-to-use, and scalable point-of-sale system, while the Data Central’s inventory module offers the restaurant chain a single source for all its data to help elevate service by improving inventory accuracy, reducing food waste, and lower food costs.
Hooters of America, LLC is the franchisor and operator of 367 Hooters restaurants in 36 states and 18 countries. The first restaurant opened in 1983 in Clearwater, Florida.
PAR Technology, based in New Hartford, provides hardware and software products and services including point-of-sale systems, digital ordering, loyalty and back-office software, and drive-thru offerings to more than 70,000 restaurants in over 110 countries.

Community Bank System to pay Q1 dividend of 45 cents in April
DeWITT — Community Bank System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU) — parent company of Community Bank, N.A. — recently announced that it has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 45 cents per share of its common stock for the first quarter. The dividend will be payable on April 10, to shareholders of record as of March 15.
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DeWITT — Community Bank System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU) — parent company of Community Bank, N.A. — recently announced that it has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 45 cents per share of its common stock for the first quarter.
The dividend will be payable on April 10, to shareholders of record as of March 15.
The quarterly payment equates to an annualized yield of about 3.9 percent, based on the banking company’s current stock price.
DeWitt–based Community Bank System is a diversified financial-services company with total assets of $15.6 billion focused on four main business lines — banking, benefits administration, insurance services, and wealth management. Community Bank, N.A. is among the nation’s 100 biggest banking institutions and operates about 200 branches across upstate New York, northeastern Pennsylvania,
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