Patrick appointed to SUNY Oswego College Council

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OSWEGO, N.Y. – Christine Patrick of Fulton has been appointed to SUNY Oswego College Council by New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul for a five-year term. The College Council is mandated by New York State Education Law, which provides for the establishment of a local council to supervise the operations and affairs of each state-operated […]

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OSWEGO, N.Y. – Christine Patrick of Fulton has been appointed to SUNY Oswego College Council by New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul for a five-year term.

The College Council is mandated by New York State Education Law, which provides for the establishment of a local council to supervise the operations and affairs of each state-operated institution of the State University.

Patrick is a graduate of SUNY Oswego, having earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education. Her career is grounded in social work and service to the community. She climbed the ranks as a caseworker, senior caseworker, grade B supervisor, and ultimately to director of services for the Oswego County Department of Social Services — a position she held from 2013 to 2017.

“I am pleased and proud to be a member of the SUNY Oswego College Council,” Patrick said in a release. “I am looking forward to contributing to this worthwhile body and to promoting SUNY Oswego.”

Patrick currently serves as a commissioner on the Fulton Fire and Police Commission. She is a member of the Towpath Towers Senior Housing board, and a past member of the Fulton Library Board and the Child Protective Advisory Council. Patrick is also a graduate of the Leadership Oswego County civic-leadership training program.

“We look forward to the many contributions we know Christine will make and the added perspective she will bring to the College Council,” said SUNY Oswego Officer in Charge Mary C. Toale.

Each state-operated campus of the SUNY system has a College Council, appointed by the governor. The SUNY Oswego College Council is mandated by Article 8, Section 356 of the New York State Education Law, which provides for the establishment of a local council to supervise the operations and affairs of each state-operated institution of the state university. The councils function subject to the general management, supervision and control of, and in accordance with rules established by the state university trustees.

North Country small-business owner appointed to Thousand Islands Commission

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ALEXANDRIA BAY, N.Y. — A North Country business owner, Michael J. Chavoustie was recently confirmed by the New York State Senate to serve on the Thousand Islands State Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commission. Chavoustie owns and operates two small businesses in Jefferson County: French Town Market and Cup of Joy Cafe, both located in

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Marvin School Apartments in Clinton sold for more than $1.4 million

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CLINTON, N.Y. — The Marvin School Apartments, a 16-unit apartment complex at 7 1/2 Marvin St. in Clinton, has been sold. G2N2 Properties LLC sold the property for $1,430,000 to an undisclosed buyer, according to a release from Hemisphere Holdings Corp. Richard L. Will, president of Syracuse–based Hemisphere, brokered the sale. The transaction closed on

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Barclay Damon adds Porcello as partner

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Barclay Damon LLP announced that Joe Porcello has recently joined its commercial litigation, intellectual property litigation, and insurance coverage & regulation practice areas as a partner. His primary office location is in Syracuse. Porcello has nearly 15 years of global law-firm experience. He comes to Barclay Damon after more than three years

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Salina 1st project targets 2024 completion

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — More than three years after its groundbreaking event, construction work on the Salina 1st project at 1081 S. Salina St. in Syracuse is underway. The construction site — just south of downtown Syracuse — is located across from the 5G manufacturing facility of JMA Wireless. Project partners Emanuel Henderson, Eli Smith, and

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — More than three years after its groundbreaking event, construction work on the Salina 1st project at 1081 S. Salina St. in Syracuse is underway.

The construction site — just south of downtown Syracuse — is located across from the 5G manufacturing facility of JMA Wireless.

Project partners Emanuel Henderson, Eli Smith, and Gail Montplaisir describe Salina 1st as a “catalytic,” mixed-use, community-development project. The 52,000-square-foot facility will include residential, retail, light industrial, and incubator/shared-office space, per a project news release.

E. Smith Contractors of Syracuse and Taurus Renovation & Construction are overseeing the construction effort, Montplaisir tells CNYBJ in an email. Construction on the Salina 1st project is scheduled to be completed by 2024.

All three partners spoke during a June 2 event to announce the start of construction on the project for which they broke ground in 2019. Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh; Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens, who served as master of ceremonies for the event; Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon; Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO; and Me’Shae Brooks-Rolling, executive director of the Upstate Minority Economic Alliance were among the local dignitaries who also spoke during the event.

Salina 1st is the first all-minority-led commercial development in the history of Syracuse, per the release.

With an estimated investment of more than $10 million, the Salina 1st project seeks to “embrace, not displace” neighborhood residents and aims to “hire within the community.”

Spearheading the Salina 1st project are Emanuel Henderson of JHP Industrial Supply Co.; Eli Smith of E. Smith Contractors; and Gail Montplasir, a real-estate developer from Washington, D.C., working with Taurus Development Group.

It’s been “a long time coming,” Henderson said to begin his remarks.

“My vision for this project and why I invested in this project … it was simple. We needed to give back to this community,” he said.

Montplaisir and Smith graduated from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 small-businesses program together. In her remarks, Montplaisir said Smith invited her to Syracuse and during her initial visit, she met Henderson.

“But now, I feel like I’m really part of a community that is strong, is visionary, and is doing things that Syracuse has needed for a long time but didn’t have the overall support to do,” Montplaisir said. “Both of my partners have always worked for racial, financial, environmental, and energy equality and equity, and Salina 1st is the first step for all of us.”

Salina 1st will create renewable energy and is considered a net-zero energy project, meaning the amount of energy provided by on-site renewable-energy sources is equal or equivalent to the amount of energy used.

NYSERDA supported the Salina 1st project with a $1 million grant award through the Carbon Neutral Community Economic Development program.

Black Economic Development Fund

New York City–based LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) oversees the Black Economic Development Fund, a $250 million fund to help combat economic-development challenges in the Black community. The fund is providing the project more than $2.5 million, Montplaisir tells CNYBJ.

“It’s probably the largest institutional fund in the country with the word Black in the actual legal documents,” George Ashton, president of LISC Fund Management, said is his remarks at the June 2 event.

Empire State Development is assisting the project through a $1.3 million Capital Grant recommended by the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council (CNYREDC), per a May 22, 2019 ESD news release that followed the project’s groundbreaking event.

This long-term investment in the community has the potential to impact a number of areas, Me’Shae Brooks-Rolling, executive director of the Upstate Minority Economic Alliance, said in her June 2 remarks.

“[That includes] revitalizing the south side; stimulating economic growth in the local and regional Central New York economies; building workforce development and minority commerce,” Brooks-Rolling said.

Commercial tenants planning to move in upon completion include JHP Industrial Supply Company, Inc.; SGTR, a minority-owned construction company specializing in federal contracting; and E. Smith Contractors.

Moyer Carriage Lofts to offer apartments, commercial space

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The complex on Syracuse’s North Side that was once known for making carriages and cars will soon be filled with apartments. Construction is underway on the $55 million project to convert the four-building Moyer carriage and car factory complex at 1714 N. Salina St. in Syracuse into apartments and ground floor commercial

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The complex on Syracuse’s North Side that was once known for making carriages and cars will soon be filled with apartments.

Construction is underway on the $55 million project to convert the four-building Moyer carriage and car factory complex at 1714 N. Salina St. in Syracuse into apartments and ground floor commercial space.

It’s the complex with a building that’s known for the red-colored house on the rooftop.

The project will create 128 “affordable and supportive” apartments, including 50 homes reserved for individuals and families in need of supportive services, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced June 1.

Besides the 128 apartments, the development involves the adaptive reuse of the Moyer factory complex to create 3,670 square feet of commercial space.

Four interconnected buildings will undergo a gut rehabilitation, but exterior architectural details will remain intact.

The Moyer factory complex was built in 1881 but has been vacant since 2005.

State financing includes $3.6 million in permanent tax-exempt bonds; federal low-income housing-tax credits that will generate $18.2 million in equity; and $10.7 million in subsidies from New York State Homes and Community Renewal, per Hochul’s office.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has facilitated the use of federal and state historic tax credits that will generate nearly $12 million in equity.

Additionally, the site participated in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s brownfield-cleanup program and became eligible for $6.4 million in tax credits upon the project’s completion.

The New York State Office of Mental Health is administering more than $1.2 million in annual operating funding for the 50 supportive units. The City of Syracuse also contributed $500,000 in HOME funds.

“We believe this project will be a catalyst for positive change across the community, while providing safe, affordable housing to those that most need it,” Ryan Benz, managing member of Redev CNY, LLC, said. “The CNY of tomorrow needs to be inclusive and affordable; and Moyer Carriage Lofts will be one of many examples of equitable opportunities for all.”

The development team is a joint venture between Housing Visions and Redev CNY LLC.

“Housing Visions is excited to partner with our local team to undertake this high impact development at Moyer Carriage Lofts,” Ben Lockwood, president and CEO of Housing Visions Unlimited, Inc., said. “The project preserves an important piece of Syracuse history, provides high quality development on the Northside, and will house residents in come of the best apartments Syracuse has to offer.”

Oswego Health COO Backus to lead organization in 2023

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OSWEGO, N.Y. — Oswego Health will use the remainder of 2022 to prepare for a leadership transition beginning in January. The health-care system’s board of directors has chosen Michael Backus as the next president and CEO, effective on Jan. 1, 2023. He’ll succeed the retiring Michael Harlovic, who has led of Oswego Health as president

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OSWEGO, N.Y. — Oswego Health will use the remainder of 2022 to prepare for a leadership transition beginning in January.

The health-care system’s board of directors has chosen Michael Backus as the next president and CEO, effective on Jan. 1, 2023.

He’ll succeed the retiring Michael Harlovic, who has led of Oswego Health as president and CEO since 2017.

Backus, who joined Oswego Health in 2020, has been serving as COO and executive VP, working with Harlovic and the system’s senior-leadership team, per Oswego Health’s June 1 announcement.

“We’re confident in Michael Backus and his ability to take Oswego Health to the next level and provide the quality of care this community deserves and needs,” Ed Alberts, vice chair of the Oswego Health board of directors, said. “Lifelong resident, a local leader, and someone who is beyond vested in this community, Backus will not only offer a smooth transition for staff but continue to advocate and position Oswego Health as a leader in local health care.”

Backus called it “the honor of my professional life” to succeed Harlovic as president and CEO of Oswego Health.

“I thank the board of directors for their confidence in not only me but our entire senior leadership team. Most importantly, I thank the employees of Oswego Health as throughout the past two years I’ve seen us rise to many challenges and I am every day impressed by the heroism of our caregivers,” Backus said. “Ensuring they have the resources they need — the infrastructure, the teammates, and the work/life balance health care heroes need right now — is the job of our leadership team at Oswego Health and will continue to be at the forefront of our efforts.”

Harlovic and Backus will continue to work together to “ensure a smooth transition” throughout the remainder of 2022.

“Though his career in health care spans nearly 40 years, Michael’s leadership and forward-thinking has never been more evident than throughout the past two years as he’s helped guide not only the health system but this community throughout the pandemic,” Atom Avery, chairman of the Oswego Health board of directors, said. “His ability to take on significant challenges and responsibilities, combined with his foresight for growth and resources has positioned Oswego Health as a strong, independent health system, one in which our community needs.”

Repairs on Oswego Harbor breakwater, lighthouse foundation set for this summer

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OSWEGO, N.Y. — Construction is scheduled to begin this summer on a project to conduct repair work on the Oswego Harbor west arrowhead breakwater and the foundation of the Oswego West Pierhead Lighthouse. Dean Marine & Excavating Inc. of Michigan will do the repair work, which should finish by the fall. The Buffalo district of

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Dean Marine & Excavating Inc. of Michigan will do the repair work, which should finish by the fall.

The Buffalo district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on June 2 awarded the $4.75 million contract, the USACE said in a June 7 announcement.

The breakwater and lighthouse foundation have been “significantly damaged” by storms, wave action, and deterioration for more than 90 years, USACE said. Repairs will “ensure continued safe navigation” for commercial and recreational vessels between Lake Ontario and the rest of the Great Lakes.

During construction, the harbor’s federal navigation channel will remain open. However, the contractor’s equipment will be in a portion of the channel to complete repairs. USACE encourages commercial and recreational vessel operators to “proceed with caution” when entering and exiting the federal navigation channel.

“The repairs to the breakwater and lighthouse foundations are essential to ensuring safe navigation of Oswego Harbor well into the future,” Lt. Col. Eli Adams, commander of the Buffalo district, said. “It is very rewarding to work with our partners, including the Port Authority, on a project which will contribute significantly to the commerce and recreation of Oswego and the region.”

The project also has the support of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.), U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D–N.Y.) and U.S. Representative John Katko (R–Camillus), per the USACE.

USACE previously completed repairs to 1,100 feet of the west arrowhead breakwater’s lake side in 2018 and 2019.

Waterborne transportation facilitated by the harbor supports $4.3 million in business revenue; 20 direct, indirect, and induced jobs; and $1.4 million in labor income to the transportation sector, per the USACE.

Jefferson County hotel occupancy rises in April

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WATERTOWN, N.Y. — Jefferson County hotels again drew more overnight guests in April compared to the year-prior month. The hotel-occupancy rate (rooms sold as a percentage of rooms available) in the county increased 22.5 percent to 52.8 percent in the fourth month of this year, according to STR, a Tennessee–based hotel market data and analytics

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Onondaga County Bar Association honors Barclay Damon’s Langan with Distinguished Lawyer Award

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Onondaga County Bar Association (OCBA) has honored John Langan — chair and former managing partner of Syracuse–based Barclay Damon LLP — with its 2022 Distinguished Lawyer Award. OCBA presented the award at its 145th Distinguished Lawyer Celebration held June 8, per its announcement released the following day. Danielle Fogel, OCBA’s immediate

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OCBA presented the award at its 145th Distinguished Lawyer Celebration held June 8, per its announcement released the following day. Danielle Fogel, OCBA’s immediate past president, presented the award to Langan. The organization held the event at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown, according to the OCBA website.

In announcing the award, the OCBA said Langan’s “29-year career at Barclay Damon is marked by his commitment to the extraordinary growth and success of the firm … the transformative impact of the growth strategy created a seamless platform of offices in midsize and major-market cities across the Northeastern U.S. and Toronto.”

The announcement noted that during Langan’s tenure as managing partner, the firm grew from 60 attorneys in three offices to nearly 300 attorneys in nine offices and that he oversaw 11 separate firm-to-firm combinations ranging in size from 15 to 60 attorneys “as well as other large integrations,” Barclay Damon said.

Connie Cahill, succeeded Langan as managing partner of Barclay Damon on Jan. 1, 2021, when he became chair. In that role, which reports to Cahill, he focuses on the continued growth of the firm’s major-market offices in New York City, Boston, and New Haven, Connecticut.

“I’m deeply honored to receive this award and grateful to both the OCBA and to the attorneys and staff I’ve been so fortunate to call colleagues over the past several decades,” Langan said. “Even more than the expansion we’ve seen, I’m most proud of the inclusive and integrated culture we’ve worked together to build and of the strong inroads we’ve made in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and gender equity.”

“John’s legacy and impact on the future of our firm reach far beyond its extraordinary growth to the culture he’s nurtured,” Cahill agreed. “Barclay Damon is a firm that embraces change, and under John’s leadership, we learned to see change as an opportunity rather than a threat. This embrace of change includes our commitment to DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion], which is driven by John’s belief, and our firm’s belief, that the best course of action comes from synthesizing the widest array of ideas from the most diverse pool of talent.”

Langan joined as a trial attorney in 1993 when it operated as Hiscock & Barclay. It would later become Barclay Damon following the 2015 combination with Buffalo law firm Damon Morey. Langan eventually became part of a small management team that is “widely credited with saving the firm from potential collapse after losing a key client due to a merger.”

Langan became managing partner in 2001, the firm said.

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