Connective Corridor

Syracuse University hosted a series of public sessions in 2005 and 2006 to gather ideas, concerns, and other information to help inform the design teams involved in the Connective Corridor Design Competition.

The sessions also explored ways in which the community can work together to assist development of the project. More than 300 people attended the meetings, including area residents, university students, community and business leaders, public officials, and city youth.

The 2005/2006 sessions were sponsored by National Grid and led by competition advisor Casey Jones. In early December 2005, two all-day sessions were held to discuss four main topics:

• Economic and community development
• Arts and culture in the community
• Transportation, technology, and services
• Landscape design and public space improvements

Based on suggestions expressed during the December sessions, Syracuse University hosted two additional sessions in February 2006 for residents in city neighborhoods and youth in the city’s school district:

• Residents and representatives from neighborhood groups provided ideas for how the project could tap into each of the neighborhoods in the city and become a family-friendly environment. They also suggested ways the Connective Corridor could attract visitors to the University Hill and downtown Syracuse.
• In partnership with the Syracuse City School District, more than 50 students from each of the city’s high schools attended a session as part of a field trip to tour the Syracuse University campus. The students developed ideas to make the Connective Corridor a place for people of all ages.

The sessions were recorded with the assistance of Syracuse University students. Ideas from the public sessions, as well as suggestions submitted through surveys and comment forms provided on the Connective Corridor website, were included in materials provided to design teams involved in the competition.