PRESS RELEASE
CITY OF SYRACUSE EXTENDS DEADLINE FOR CITY HALL ASPHALT ART PROJECT
City encourages artists to make their mark on picturesque plaza for pedestrians
Syracuse, N.Y. – The City of Syracuse, in partnership with Adapt CNY, has extended the window for artists to submit their proposals to transform the area in front of City Hall into a vibrant and welcoming plaza for pedestrians. The deadline for artists to create and submit an asphalt art design has been extended to May 20.
“We know that with spring comes the opportunity for more public art projects. We are extending the deadline to encourage local artists to make their mark and create a mural design for City Hall that truly resonates with the Syracuse community,” said the City’s Public Art Coordinator Kate Auwaerter. “We hope artists and residents alike are eager to see the area in front of City Hall transform into an inviting place where conversation, activism, leisure, and civic engagement thrive.”
The winning artist will receive $3,500 and will receive technical assistance with executing the project from the City and Adapt CNY. The City and Adapt CNY will also purchase all mural-related supplies for the installation based on the budgets provided by the winning artist. While preference will be given to artists from the Central New York region, artists outside of the region with strong ties to Syracuse are welcome to apply and will be considered.
Artists can learn more about the process and submit their designs at http://bit.ly/syrplaza-application. Designs should be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on May 20. The City Hall Plaza mural installation is anticipated to be completed before the end of 2022.
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JOIN THE WORLDWIDE CELEBRATION OF MUSIC ON JUNE 21
Performers can sign-up here: https://syracuse.makemusicday.org/
You’re invited to the party! Syracuse joins more than 1,000 cities in 120 countries from around the world for the global celebration of Make Music Day on June 21, 2022.
Join us for this annual celebration of making music as we once again hit the streets of the Salt City and produce city-wide interactions with all sorts of musicians.
WHAT IS MAKE MUSIC SYRACUSE
Make Music Syracuse is a unique, diverse, and inclusive worldwide musical celebration bringing communities together with community events that are open to anyone wanting to participate.
This will be an all-day event with performances at many different spots throughout Syracuse!
MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS TO REIMAGINE CITY HALL PLAZA
Asphalt Art mural project aims to revitalize Downtown Syracuse with brighter, safer place for community gathering
Syracuse, N.Y. – The City of Syracuse, in partnership with Adapt CNY, is seeking design proposals from the community to transform the patch of asphalt in front of Syracuse City Hall into a vibrant and welcoming plaza for pedestrians. The Reimagining City Hall Plaza project is funded through a $25,000 grant from the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art Initiative, which aims to improve street safety through community engagement, art, and design. Local artists are invited to create and submit an asphalt art design by May 6.
Located at 233 East Washington Street, City Hall is a grand structure that serves as a popular destination for pedestrians, community gatherings, ceremonies, and celebrations in Downtown Syracuse. At one time, the area featured an inviting and walkable plaza of raised flower beds. Today, the entrance consists of a rectangular patch of asphalt that merely serves as a driveway for vehicles. With this public art project, the City aims to once again provide residents and pedestrians with a vibrant and unifying place to gather downtown and foster a shared sense of community and civic pride.
“Public art has the power to reimagine streets, improve public safety, attract visitors, inspire people, and enhance neighborhoods,” said Mayor Walsh. “As we continue investing in our city infrastructure, we are also excited about creating brighter, safer, and more welcoming streets in the process. We believe including public art projects in our efforts to bolster city infrastructure will result in a safer, more vibrant urban landscape for residents and visitors alike.”
The goal of the asphalt art mural project is to remove vehicle traffic from the formal entrance of City Hall and reimagine the front plaza into a permanent public space for dialogue and inclusive civic engagement. Artists must consider these themes in the design of their proposals. A design committee will narrow down all submissions to three finalists. The public will be invited to view finalists’ presentations and participate in installing the asphalt mural.
“Public participation will be a vital component to this project,” said the City’s Public Art Coordinator Kate Auwaerter. “Whether they want to submit a design, vote on the winning design, or help set up the art installation itself, members of the public are encouraged to provide their input throughout this process.”
The winning artist will receive $3,500 and will receive technical assistance with executing the project from the City and Adapt CNY. The City and Adapt CNY will also purchase all mural-related supplies for the installation based on the budgets provided by the winning artist. While preference will be given to artists from the Central New York region, artists outside of the region with strong ties to Syracuse are welcome to apply and will be considered.
Artists can learn more about the process and submit their designs at http://bit.ly/syrplaza-application. Designs should be submitted no later than midnight on May 6. The City Hall Plaza mural installation is anticipated to be completed before the end of 2022.
City of Syracuse Press Release
PRESS RELEASE
SYRACUSE COMMON COUNCIL APPROVES MAYOR WALSH’S $2.1 MILLION PANDEMIC RELIEF PACKAGE FOR EDUCATION, THE ARTS AND PEOPLE FACING FINANCIAL STRUGGLES
OnPoint for College, CNY Arts and Home HeadQuarters commend Common Council and Mayor on American Rescue Plan Act investments
Council also approves ARPA funding for violence intervention assessment
Syracuse, N.Y. – Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said the Syracuse Common Council’s unanimous approval today of $2.1 million in pandemic relief proves how the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is helping people recover from COVID-19. The package of programs will enable Syracuse school students to make the transition to college, help arts and culture organizations bounce back from the pandemic and give individuals and families direct assistance in improving their financial health.
“As the country notes the one-year anniversary of ARPA in March, this latest package of assistance is another example of how the City of Syracuse is ensuring the aid we received is helping people,” said Mayor Walsh. “Our people need ARPA help as badly now as we did one year ago. I appreciate the Common Council’s careful review of our investments. With these new investments, we will get more assistance to students aiming for a college education; the arts and culture sector; and individuals and families who are working to regain their financial footing.”
Three longstanding community agencies experienced at delivering help directly to Syracuse residents and organizations will receive funding to expand or implement programs:
- Recruitment of City High School Students for College - $350,000 for OnPoint for College, the program that helps school children access higher education, to increase outreach to City of Syracuse students from lower income and communities that are historically underrepresented in higher education.
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Arts and Culture Recovery Fund - $1.25 million to bolster non-profit arts and culture organizations and professional artists in the City of Syracuse, which are being hard hit economically by the COVID-19 pandemic. The new Arts and Culture Recovery Fund will be created and managed by CNY Arts to assist arts disciplines including architecture, dance, design, music, theater, media, museum activities, visual arts, folk art and arts education.
- Free Professional Financial Counseling for Syracuse Residents - $411,000 for the Syracuse Financial Empowerment Center to provide free, professional, one-on-one financial counseling to City of Syracuse residents. The Syracuse Department of Neighborhood and Business Development administers the program in partnership with Home HeadQuarters.
Sam Rowser, Executive Director of On Point for College, said, “The COVID pandemic presents significant challenges to aspiring college students in underserved populations in our community, including limits on internet access and computer availability, difficulties securing post-secondary opportunities when campuses and offices were closed, as well as creating strains on the mental wellness of young people. On Point for College greatly appreciates that the Syracuse Common Council and the Office of the Mayor are up to meeting these challenges through their approval of pandemic relief funding for the work that On Point does in providing college and career access and success services, and we are so grateful for their support through today’s funding approval.”
Steve Butler, Executive Director of CNY Arts, said, “Arts and culture institutions in Syracuse continue to suffer under the lingering effects of COVID-19. Every dollar of lost revenue has a direct impact on local artists and on the many businesses that rely on arts and culture to prosper. The arts bring us together and help define our city and its heritage. Thank you, Mayor Walsh and Common Council, for your tremendous support for Syracuse’s amazing arts community and the creation of this program to fund arts organizations and artists impacted by the pandemic. CNY Arts is deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve by administering these funds, which will help our arts sector, build our local economy and improve quality of life for residents and visitors alike. We look forward to working with the City, its tremendous staff, and elected officials in the months ahead.”
Kerry Quaglia, Chief Executive Officer for Home HeadQuarters, said, "Every day, we see firsthand the challenges our community members are facing from the lingering impact of the pandemic including a seemingly never ending cycle of debt. The free financial counseling from trained Syracuse Financial Empowerment Center counselors is truly one of the greatest services Syracuse provides its citizens. Home HeadQuarters commends Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh and the Common Council for approving pandemic relief funding to support the Syracuse FEC."
In addition to the education, arts and financial empowerment spending, the Common Council Monday also approved $71,102 for violence intervention. Under the direction of the Office of the Mayor and the Department of Neighborhood and Business Development, Tillmon Training and Consulting will conduct a Community Violence Intervention Assessment and produce a report on ways to improve city and community efforts. Tillmon is a national training and consulting firm specializing in violence interruption, mental health and assisting people in reentry after incarceration.
The City of Syracuse will receive $123 million in ARPA funding. It has already activated more than $74 million in pandemic relief spending, including investments in children, families and neighborhoods; infrastructure and public spaces; jobs and economic opportunity; and government response and resilience. More information on pandemic relief spending is available on the City’s ARPA Dashboard.
A message from the Ctiy's Department of Neighborhood and Business Developement
Dear Northside Neighbors,
The City of Syracuse Department of Neighborhood and Business Development will host a community information meeting regarding the Kimberly Property, formerly known as the Franciscan Academy and Maria Regina College campus, on Wednesday, March 16 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will take place in the gymnasium at the Magnarelli Community Center at McChesney Park, located at 2308 Grant Boulevard.
Home Leasing, Inc., which has proposed to build affordable housing for senior citizens at the site, will participate in the meeting to provide information regarding its potential project. Mayor Walsh will also join the meeting to hear community input and discuss the future of the now vacant site at the corner of Court Street and Grant Boulevard. While the City does not own or control the property, we are interested in community input on what can happen there. Attendees are encouraged to submit questions in advance via email at: NBD@syrgov.net.
We want to answer questions and hear from as many in the neighborhood as possible.
Mayor Walsh 2022 State of the City Address
https://ourcity.syrgov.net/2022/01/2022-state-of-the-city-address/
SMTC to host Forum on Active Transportation, January 25
The Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council (SMTC) will host their next Forum on Active Transportation (FOAT) on Tuesday, January 25, 3:30-5:00 p.m. Will be held on Zoom and YOU MUST REGISTER IN ADVANCE TO PARTICIPATE. See their website for more details and to register: https://smtcmpo.org/planning-activities/bicycle-pedestrian/active-transportation-forum/
Guest speakers for this meeting will be Neil Burke (City of Syracuse DPW Director of Special Projects) and Paul Legnetto (Town of Camillus Highway Superintendent). They will discuss their respective municipal sidewalk snow removal efforts.
The meeting will also be live-streamed on the SMTC’s YouTube channel (but you will not able to ask questions through YouTube): www.smtcmpo.org/watch
The SMTC is the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Syracuse metropolitan area. Learn more about the SMTC at https://smtcmpo.org/about-us/ and sign-up for their email updates at https://smtcmpo.org/about-us/contact/.
Westside TNT 'City as Canvas' Fundraiser December 4th
https://delavanstudios.com/shop/holiday-open-studios-2021/
LeMoyne Area Neighborhood Development Strategy draft plan
Le Moyne College, the City of Syracuse, and the Town of DeWitt are asking for public feedback on the Le Moyne Area Neighborhood Development Strategy (LANDS) draft plan. The draft plan was developed from the results of a comprehensive community survey sent to residents in the neighborhoods around campus in both the City of Syracuse and Town of DeWitt. It covered topics related to transportation, housing, infrastructure, municipal services, economic development and overall quality of life in the area.
The next step in finalizing the plan is soliciting public feedback which can be submitted to the City’s Planning Division via the project web page (link below), by emailing planning@syrgov.net, or just responding to this email. The web page also includes a presentation discussing the draft plan, and preliminary strategies and project recommendations. The comments received will guide the project team as we prepare a final LANDS Plan by the end of this year. Comments will be accepted through Friday, December 3, 2021.
Links to project documents:
· Email comments to: planning@syrgov.net
Downtown Committee: Downtown Constituent Survey
Have you taken our Downtown Constituent Survey yet? Your feedback will help us shape future programming throughout Downtown Syracuse. Every two years, our team at the Downtown Committee produces a survey to assess how the community sees and views Downtown Syracuse. Whether you live, work, visit or own a business in Downtown Syracuse - we look forward to reading through your perspectives and insights.
What you share with us will help inform the programs and services that we deliver throughout the 82 blocks that comprise Downtown Syracuse. The survey should take less than five minutes to complete. It will close at the end of the day next Friday, November 19.
https://corexmsrstcp7grjnpz6.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8Bun47yOsYE2hIW
All completed surveys - with a provided email address - will be entered into a drawing to win a gift card valued at $25 or more. For an optimal view and survey taking experience, we recommend viewing the survey in Google Chrome. Please feel free to share the survey with your friends, Downtown neighbors and colleagues.
Near Westside Teen Research Project
The teen research team was formed in the spring of 2019 as a partnership between the Syracuse Peacemaking Project and the Center for Community Design Research at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. The project has been funded through a “Community Conversations” grant from Americorp (formerly known as the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)).
The primary question the team chose to investigate was, “How does crime and violence affect the lives of people in the neighborhood?” Their findings shine light on the stories and impacts that represent the perspectives and insights of participating neighborhood residents as interpreted by teenagers, whose lives are also significantly affected.
A narrated presentation in video format: https://youtu.be/ZjL9na-6Lh0
Facebook: The NWS Teen Research Project
Instagram: nws_teenresearch
On-line survey: https://forms.gle/dhQN3GAh3ExqptZo6