It’s among the Syracuse DRI projects SYRACUSE — The Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse is expanding its footprint with a new, mixed-use building in an $11.6 million project. A groundbreaking event was held on Oct. 9 for the upcoming Mission Exchange Building project, which is part of the city’s Downtown Revitalization […]
It’s among the Syracuse DRI projects
SYRACUSE — The Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse is expanding its footprint with a new, mixed-use building in an $11.6 million project.
A groundbreaking event was held on Oct. 9 for the upcoming Mission Exchange Building project, which is part of the city’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). It features a two-story building with 25,000 square feet of warehouse space on the first floor, 12,000 square feet of commercial space, and 12,000 square feet of office space on the second floor.
The new Mission Exchange Building will allow for faster processing of donations dropped off by the public. The Rescue Mission will relocate its administrative offices to the new building and create an all-encompassing campus for its operations, the state said.
“We are grateful to Governor Hochul, the New York State Department of State and the City of Syracuse for their support through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. This investment will help us to transform inactive land into a vibrant space that connects the Southwest Gateway with Downtown Syracuse, while expanding our Social Enterprise operations,” Dan Sieburg, CEO of the Rescue Mission, said. “The Mission Exchange Building will feature retail storage, a new 3fifteen thrift store, and second-floor offices for our Rescue Mission team, all thoughtfully designed to put love into action for the people we serve.”
The Mission Exchange Building is part of the Rescue Mission’s plan to develop and build an eight-acre campus in Southwest Gateway, where many of its clients live and work. The project is located at 240-248 West Onondaga St. in Syracuse, which is within the area under development as a brownfield opportunity area (BOA) through a BOA planning grant also funded by the New York State Department of State.
“The Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse has long been a cornerstone of compassion and support in Central New York, ensuring individuals and families find stability, dignity and hope,” New York Secretary of State Walter Mosley contended in the state’s announcement. “By supporting the Rescue Mission’s new facility, we’re investing in a project that gives back in every sense — revitalizing downtown Syracuse, supporting local jobs and expanding the mission’s capacity to serve people in need. This is the kind of impact we strive for through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.”
The Mission Exchange Building project was awarded $1 million from the DRI, as well as a $500,000 grant from Empire State Development’s Regional Council capital fund program. The City of Syracuse was named a DRI round 5 winner for the Central New York region in 2022.
Additional Syracuse DRI projects
Other projects identified by the Syracuse DRI include the effort to restore three vacant buildings — Trinity Church, Gillette House, and the Parish House — into a brewery, office space, and housing.
Another will provide interior and exterior enhancements to the Southwest Community Center, including a new façade material, public-restroom upgrades, and gym improvements.
Plans also call for building a Jubilee Workforce Center, a mixed-use building that will include a workforce-training center on the first floor and workforce apartments on the second and third floors.
The projects also include restoring the Whedon House mansion to include residential apartments, commercial space, and public space. They also include redeveloping the B&B Lounge, a former bar and restaurant, into a lounge space for a restaurant with housing units above the restaurant.
