Onondaga County officials are eager to see a Syracuse with improved economic development, better lighting, and clearer signage to direct people downtown.
Governor David Patterson allocated $1.55 million for the beautification of the “Civic Strip” project in downtown Syracuse on Thursday. The grant includes funding for new trees, benches, post signs, and lights.
The “Civic Strip” encompasses Harrison Street, State Street, Montgomery Street, and Jefferson Street, according to Administrator for Physical Services of Onondaga County Jean Smiley.
The grant for the "Civic Strip" comes from the federal Transportation Enhancement Program, Smiley said.
Smiley explained that the county applied for the funding last summer. The funding was applied for and received by Onondaga County.
The “Civic Strip” is part of the broader Connective Corridor initiative. The purpose of the Connective Corridor is to improve the relationship between Syracuse University and downtown Syracuse.
“The desired positive impacts of the “Civic Strip” are improvements in both the economic development and the comfort of pedestrians and drivers in this area,” Smiley said.
Smiley disagrees with some residents’ complaints that the area is “dark, scary and confusing to navigate.”
“That is more of a perception than a reality in terms of crime; in this area the crime is relatively low,” Smiley said.
The number of crimes may be low, but Smiley acknowledges that the primary issue is whether or not people feel safe.
“At night people are concerned about walking around,” Smiley said.
There will be even more people walking around once a new Westin hotel is built. Onondaga County hopes that building the Westin next to the Convention Center at 800 South State Street will help the economy.
The “Civic Strip” received support after the county determined that there would not be enough money to finish the project, Smiley said.
“I contacted Syracuse University and said let’s work together on this!” Smiley said.
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