#ILoveDowntownSyracuse Because we were born and raised here and it makes our hearts happy to see it start coming back to life.
#ILOVEDOWNTOWN SYRACUSEBECAUSE of all
the awesome local businesses nearby, the amazing people who run them & the great service! #ILOVE DOWNTOWNSYRACUSE BECAUSE of the history, the culture, the community, and the growth! Proud to be Downtown 162 years and counting!
#ILove Downtown Syracuse Because it's my home.
#ILOVEDOWNTOWN SYRACUSEBECAUSE it embodies the city's culture. There are also good places to shop and eat.
#ILoveDowntown SyracuseBecause it is looking toward the future and growing stronger with local businesses!
#ILoveDowntown SyracuseBecause, simple or complex, a coffee outing or a festival, there is much to do. It's simply inspiring.
#ILoveDowntownSyracuse Because of the food, drink, and good company. Architecture ain't too shabby either.
#ILoveDowntown SyracuseBecause of the public art, the great restaurants, and the history.
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2013 Downtown Committee of Syracuse Annual Report
Message from the Downtown Committee of Syracuse
This is one of the most exciting years for Downtown Syracuse in recent memory. People are optimistic and excited about what’s happening here in a way they haven’t been for a long time. Downtown has always been at the forefront of our community’s consciousness, but at times in the past, we’ve been frustrated at how slow change has been for downtown to become the strong urban center we envision. But for the first time in a long time, Downtown Syracuse is beginning to look like the Downtown Syracuse we’ve envisioned. Tangible signs of progress surround us. New retail businesses and office tenants are locating downtown. Residential demand continues to be nearly at capacity. And longtime downtown businesses are renewing their commitment to the city center. This has been a year of transformation for Downtown Syracuse. Amidst all this positive change, we’re focused on the future. While we remember the downtown that was, we’re busy creating the downtown that will be. From any point downtown, you don’t have to walk more than one block to see the transformation underway. Think about the past few months alone: • • •
What was a parking lot just over a year ago, is now the Inns at Armory Square, set to welcome more than 90,000 guests, annually, into Downtown Syracuse. Centro opened its $18.5 million new Transit Hub. In a one-block radius in the heart of downtown, Pike Block, Merchants Commons and White Memorial Building
represent more than $38 million in redevelopment activity and all have residents moving in. With all of the positive changes underway, it’s no surprise that there’s a growing sense of optimism in Syracuse. Nothing speaks more to the value of a neighborhood than a waiting list to get in, and Downtown Syracuse boasts a 99% residential occupancy rate. Projects like the Grange Building, White Memorial Building, Merchants Commons, Pike Block, Sibley’s Building, the Residences at Walton and Creekwalk Commons fill this demand. These projects are happening because of a commitment to downtown by developers who took a gamble on downtown when success wasn’t guaranteed. This personal commitment is key to our revitalization, and the reason why this community so excited about the direction downtown is headed. We’re also fortunate to have university leaders who understand the value of a strong Downtown Syracuse and see beyond the “traditional” borders of a college campus. Instead, they look for opportunity to integrate with the dynamic world around them, and they’re doing it successfully. Syracuse University, SUNY Oswego and SUNY Upstate Medical University are seeking innovative ways to link students more closely with the city center. Just as important, arts and cultural attractions anchor the downtown experience. Each year Downtown Syracuse welcomes 2.5 million visitors to our museums, musical and theater performances, festivals and other events.
These travelers remind us of all we have to appreciate in Syracuse that we sometimes take for granted, whether it’s our world-class restaurants, unique retailers, family-fun at the MOST, or diversity of festivals that celebrate our heritage. The health of our local economy through downtown’s revitalization is something that community and business leaders recognize and are actively supporting. It’s the power of the downtown experience that attracts business. Thirty-seven percent of all jobs in the Syracuse region are located within three miles of downtown. Downtown provides an unmatched environment for collaboration that drives innovation and attracts companies that are focused on real business relationships. The commitment of local businesses gives downtown its strength. The key to our revitalization is the connection our business owners feel to downtown and commitment to delivering a product you can’t find anywhere else. To adapt to the changing environment, significant streetscape improvements are underway. Green improvements are changing the face of our streetscape, and transportation upgrades are making downtown easily accessible. These and other changes are indicators that people are taking pride and starting to truly value downtown as the heart of our city. There’s no greater measure of pride in a city than how residents value the condition of their public spaces. With more than $51 million in infrastructure investment being made in downtown’s public space, downtown is starting to live up to the large role it plays in our community’s collective consciousness.
Wonder what the cover’s about? In November, SyracuseFirst started an outpouring of downtown pride on Twitter by asking people to fill in the blanks. As you can see, #ILoveDowntownSyracuseBecause resonated with our local community.
Tweets belong to: (Clockwise from top of cover): @StrongHearts315 @KathrynBan @helloianjones @MikeIntaglietta @Chris__Malone @JamieRWhite @ErieCanalMuseum @alyssa_spring & in center: @stefnoble
Downtown is starting to look the way we’ve pictured it looking for years. Potential residents line up, waiting for a sneak peek of downtown’s newest apartments. And retailers are flocking to downtown to be part of our unique neighborhood. Employers recognize that the location of their business says a lot about their company, and they want to be at the heart of activity - not on the sidelines. And just as we’ve seen the face of downtown change, the Downtown Committee is excited to announce a facelift of our own. We’re thrilled to launch our new brand and to relocate our offices to Pike Block, reinventing ourselves just as Downtown Syracuse is transforming itself. The value of Downtown Syracuse to the rest of our region should not be underrated. People make a city and we are honored to have the opportunity to work with the many partners that are building Downtown Syracuse’s future. Thank you to all who are contributing to downtown’s revitalization, especially Mayor Stephanie Miner and her staff at City Hall. The commitments being made downtown signal the value we all place on a strong downtown and demonstrate what collectively we can accomplish in a community. With more than $207 million of investment underway, our momentum shows no sign of stopping. Syracuse is seizing the opportunity to change what’s around us - change the mindsets, and change our landscape. And knowing that we’re in this together is one of the reasons we’re so optimistic about where Downtown Syracuse is heading.
James V. Breuer, Chair
Merike L. Treier, Executive Director
Marketing & Communications
The Downtown Committee’s marketing and communications efforts promote all of the positive changes taking place in Downtown Syracuse, as well as the retail, restaurant and cultural offerings that make Downtown Syracuse unique. The Downtown Committee generates excitement and pride in downtown, as well as ensures that information about the district is easily accessible. The events organized and promoted by the Downtown Committee further highlight Downtown Syracuse as the center of our community.
Launch Of New Brand At the June 2013 Downtown Committee annual meeting, the Downtown Committee unveiled a new look, including a new logo. The rebranding coincides with the development boom taking place throughout Downtown Syracuse – downtown is undergoing a facelift and so is the Downtown Committee!
New Website
As part of its rebranding, the Downtown Committee revealed a new website featuring a more streamlined site map, compatibility with mobile devices, improved search functions for business listings and available properties, a digital version of the historic walking tour and an enhanced online calendar.
AmeriCU Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival
Syracuse Style
AmeriCU Dining Week (s)
Downtown Farmers’ Market
The 42nd Annual AmeriCU Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival, held July 27 - July 29, 2012, featured 160 artists from 27 states and Canada and drew 60,000 visitors to Columbus Circle.
The ninth annual AmeriCU Dining Week(s) ran February 15 – February 28, 2013 and featured 23 restaurants offering three courses for $25 or less. The promotion continues to be enormously popular, drawing more than 25,000 diners during the two weeks.
The Downtown Committee partnered with local fashion designer Lisa Butler to organize the second annual edition of Syracuse Style, an outdoor fashion show on Walton Street, highlighting fashions from two local designers and 15 downtown retailers.
The Downtown Committee organizes the Downtown Farmers’ Market, held every Tuesday in Clinton Square from June to October.
Other highlights: Holiday Program
Preserve America
The Downtown Committee’s holiday program this year included the annual management of the decorations throughout the district, assistance with 40 Below’s Holiday Passport program and the creation and distribution of a holiday card for Hurricane Sandy victims in Hoboken signed by the public and presented to Buddy Valastro of the Cake Boss TV show at a December 2012 performance.
In June 2013, the Downtown Committee closed out its $150,000 Preserve America funding, a federal grant intended to promote the historic character of Downtown Syracuse. The Downtown Committee printed 97,000 brochures, aired 32,000 TV spots and enhanced several of its economic development programs through Preserve America funding.
Economic Development The incredible amount of development taking place in Downtown Syracuse is attracting new office and retail tenants and new residents. The Downtown Committee’s economic development staff works to recruit new companies and businesses to the city center and to retain the existing tenants to ensure downtown’s vibrancy. The Downtown Committee also collects market information and provides assistance to developers and property owners interested in redeveloping underutilized properties.
Retail Recruitment Be Downtown Syracuse Brochure
Great Business Begins Downtown
This year the Downtown Committee released Be Downtown Syracuse, a retail recruitment brochure presenting a wealth of demographic information in a visually dynamic and easily understandable format.
Be Downtown Syracuse
The Downtown Committee commissioned Solon Quinn Studios to create Great Business Begins Downtown, a TV spot featuring 14 Downtown Syracuse retailers, including Pastabilities owner, Karyn Korteling, pictured here. View the spot at www.downtownsyracuse.com.
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Office Recruitment
The Downtown Committee expanded its recruitment efforts to include an office recruitment campaign with the release of the Think Downtown Syracuse brochure this year, along with a companion video created by Daylight Blue Media.
Think Downtown Syracuse Brochure
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The brochure features testimonials from executives of eight downtown companies, as well as statistics highlighting downtown’s amenities.
The video features testimonials from downtown executives and employees, as well as imagery of the downtown district. Downtown Committee Board Member and National Grid Regional Executive Melanie Littlejohn, pictured here, is one of eight participants in the piece. View the video at www.downtownsyracuse.com.
Downtown Living Tour The 2013 Downtown Living Tour on Saturday, May 18 attracted 2,600 attendees, a record-breaking turnout. The event was headquartered at the Pike Block and the eight tour stops highlighted the development transforming Downtown Syracuse.
Other highlights: Historic Preservation Support
The Downtown Committee commissioned the creation of a Multiple Property Documentation Form for the Downtown Syracuse district to be used by property owners in the future to register their property as historic, so that they may take advantage of historic tax credits for their redevelopment projects.
Quarterly Office Reports
The Downtown Committee continues to produce a quarterly report detailing Downtown Syracuse’s office and retail market trends, a resource for prospective Downtown Syracuse tenants, property owners and developers.
Main Street Program
The Downtown Committee closed out two additional Main Street Grant programs this year, assisting with building and façade renovations. The Downtown Committee has supported, or is in the process of supporting, 34 redevelopment projects, totaling more than $43 million in downtown development investment with $800,000 in grant funding.
Environmental Maintenance
Downtown Syracuse’s physical appearance is rapidly changing for the better, with more than $51 million in infrastructure improvements currently underway in Downtown Syracuse. The Downtown Committee’s environmental maintenance staff ensures that downtown is attractive, clean and accessible. The beautification efforts undertaken by Downtown Committee staff enhance the revitalization occurring in the downtown district.
Earth Day Cleanup
The Downtown Committee partnered with the City of Syracuse’s Clean Up Cuse effort for Earth Day and had more than 150 volunteers fill more than 400 trash bags.
Tree Pit Pilot Program
The Downtown Committee is working with the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County to explore the use of permeable pavement in tree pits throughout the downtown streetscape.
Hanging Flower Basket Program
The Downtown Committeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s popular hanging flower basket program expanded for the third year in a row, with 69 baskets added to the Armory Square neighborhood in partnership with the Armory Square Association. The Downtown Committee maintains a total of 220 baskets in the Cathedral Square, Hanover Square, Heart of Downtown and Armory Square neighborhoods.
Other highlights: 50-50 Program
New Equipment
The Downtown Committee and City of Syracuse participate in a cost-sharing agreement for streetscape maintenance items for the central business district. This past year, 27 new trees were planted and stumps were removed throughout the district. The Downtown Committee also furnished new trash cans throughout the downtown streetscape and repaired existing trash cans.
The Downtown Committee purchased several pieces of new equipment this year to better maintain the district, including a Chevy Silverado truck and a Kubota tractor with attachments to more efficiently maintain downtownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public spaces.
Main Street Streetscape
Keep America Beautiful
As part of its South Salina Street and Hanover Square-Montgomery streetscape improvement programs, the Downtown Committee added 13 new steel benches, 17 decorative steel trash cans, eight cigarette urns and hanging flower baskets to the district.
The Downtown Committee was awarded a Keep America Beautiful Cigarette Litter Prevention Program Grant to purchase ash receptacles and to reduce the negative impact of cigarette butt litter on downtown.
Security
Downtown Syracuse is one of the safest neighborhoods in Syracuse. The Downtown Committee’s security staff addresses quality of life matters to keep downtown a safe place to live, work and visit. The Downtown Committee security staff has a strong partnership with the Syracuse Police Department that allows for the investments being made in Downtown Syracuse to be protected, ensuring downtown’s continued vibrancy.
Program highlights: 423-HELP
423-HELP is available for all downtown constituents to call for prompt response to quality of life concerns. In the 2012-2013 fiscal year, the Downtown Security staff responded to 850 calls from the line.
Downtown Security & Information Center
The Downtown Security & Information Center provides visitor information out of a central location in the Galleries and houses the Downtown Committee Security officers and Syracuse Police Department’s officers assigned to the Central Business District.
Staffing Changes
In fall 2012, Officer Thomas Campanie became the Downtown Committee’s Director of Security following the retirement of Officer John Marcon, who founded the Downtown Committee’s Security Program in 1995. The Downtown Committee also added a part-time officer, in addition to the existing two full-time officers, to ensure complete coverage of the district.
Personal Safety Seminars
Personal safety seminars are available to all downtown businesses and their employees. In the seminars, Downtown Committee Security officers cover basic safety strategies to ensure employees feel safe in their downtown surroundings or any other environment they may find themselves in.
Partnership with Syracuse Police Department The Downtown Committee’s partnership with the Syracuse Police Department allows for prompt and proactive attention to address the complexities of the downtown district. In 2013, Officer Kevin Hamberger was permanently assigned to the district, joining Officer Jennifer Hardwich, two rotating Syracuse Police officers and the Downtown Committee security officers in patrolling the district.
Parking
The growing number of residents, companies and businesses locating in Downtown Syracuse requires sufficient parking options for these expanding demographics. The Downtown Committee maintains up-to-date parking information available to the public to ensure that sufficient parking information can be found.
Parking Information
The Downtown Committee maintains information for all public parking options in Downtown Syracuse on www.downtownsyracuse.com, on the CenterState Connect app and in brochure form. The Downtown Committee also operates two parking lots in Downtown Syracuse for event purposes.
Financial Report
Budgeted Income & Expense for July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013 Total Income
0.2% 0.8% 10% 11% 12%
66%
Special Assessment
$807,504
Events
$141,009
Transportation Grant
$117,350 $138,955
Miscellaneous
$10,500
Interest Income
$2,360 $1,217,678 Total:
Total Expense 19%
5% 6% 8% 13%
19%
17%
13%
Administration
$229,840
Enivronmental Maintenance
$233,552
Marketing
$206,970
Various Grants
$158,955
Security
$152,288
Events
$104,835
Economic Development
$69,500
Transportation
$61,738 Total: $1,217,678
OFFICERS Chair: James V. Breuer, President, Hueber-Breuer Construction Vice Chair: Anthony Fiorito, President, Partnership Properties Treasurer: Stephen D. Fournier, President, Central New York District, Key Bank Secretary: Mark A. Russell, Partner, Eric Mower + Associates DIRECTORS Timothy Carroll, Director of Mayoral Initiatives, City of Syracuse Robert Doucette, President, Armory Development & Management; Partner, Paramount Realty Group William Fisher, Deputy County Executive, Onondaga County Jo Anne Gagliano, President, edr Companies Edward Koolakian, Owner, Koolakianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Menswear Melanie Littlejohn, Regional Executive: Energy Solution Services, National Grid Andrew Maxwell, Director of Planning & Sustainability, City of Syracuse Joel Shapiro, Owner, Mr. Shop Gregg Tripoli, Executive Director, Onondaga Historical Association EX OFFICIO MEMBER Robert M. Simpson, President, CenterState CEO STAFF Merike L. Treier, Executive Director Charles J. McFadden, Director of Operations Laurie Reed, Marketing Director Tom Campanie, Director of Security Lisa Romeo, Director of Communications Adria Finch, Economic Development Specialist Alexandra Pivovarova, Economic Development & Marketing Assistant Heather Hnatko, Assistant to the Executive Director Gary Peak, Security Officer David Kneer, Operations Staff Kevin Stanard, Operations Staff Jake Schrader, Parking Staff
Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc.
About the
The Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit, professional downtown management organization, representing all property owners and tenants within the central business district. The Downtown Committee undertakes programs to improve downtown’s image, strengthen its economic base, increase its attractiveness, and assure that it’s clean, safe, and accessible. The Downtown Committee sets the vision for downtown and communicates a positive message about the area’s growth and desirability. The Downtown Committee is an advocate for its constituents and a catalyst for improvement through policy, planning, programs, and projects. The Downtown Committee is at the nexus of the public and private partnership that brings about improvement and revitalization. As the steward of the Downtown Special Assessment District, the Downtown Committee plays an essential role in keeping downtown clean, attractive, safe, growing, dynamic, and exciting. The boundaries of the Downtown Special Assessment District are I-690 on the north; I-81 on the east; Adams Street on the south; and Onondaga Creek on the west.
Our economic development staff can: - Provide quarterly office & retail reports for Downtown Syracuse - Provide demographic information for Downtown Syracuse - List available real estate on our website - Create a list of potential spaces for your business based on your needs - Identify incentives and grant opportunities for your business or property - Act as a liaison with the City of Syracuse - Provide a comprehensive list of all parking lots and garages, operators and rates - Provide copies of our downtown parking brochure - Assist with locating parking for your business
Our marketing & communications staff can: - Assist with event planning & promotion - Help you to get involved with your neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business association - List your business on our website, brochures, mailing list, CenterState Connect mobile app - List your event on our online calendar - Promote your business through our social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter & email blasts - Generate media coverage for your business opening or new program - Coordinate promotions with downtown retail shops and restaurants - Provide you mailing lists of downtown constituents - Provide brochures with downtown information
Our security staff: - Patrols Downtown Syracuse Monday - Friday - Acts as a liaison between the business community and the Syracuse Police Department - Operates the Downtown Security & Information Center at 440 South Warren Street - Responds to calls from 423-HELP, a non-emergency number set up to address quality of life issues downtown - Offers personal safety seminars and security audits to downtown businesses
Did you ever wonder who helps property owners take care of downtown? Our environmental maintenance staff: - Flushes sidewalks in the warmer months - Provides litter control - Maintains trees - Tends hanging flower baskets - Repairs street furniture - Mows grass, cuts weeds, trims hedges - Removes gum from sidewalks - Removes graffiti
572 South Salina Street Syracuse, NY 13202 Address Service Requested
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