Iconic Syracuse is pleased to bring together two images this month that celebrate the rich legacy of creative placemaking and public spaces in Syracuse – particularly fitting as we start the summer season and celebrate outdoor gathering places.

June’s Iconic Syracuse installation at the gateway to Armory Square helps launch summer with a celebration of creative placemaking.  The project is a partnership between the Connective Corridor and OHA which pairs a photo from the OHA archives with a painting by a Syracuse University VPA design student.

This installation weaves some interesting connections. 

The vintage photo depicts a family standing by the fountain in Leavenworth Park, located just two blocks off the Connective Corridor’s western terminus.  It is paired with a contemporary painting by Jesse Handelman, a SU industrial and interaction design student, capturing a family playing in the fountain at Hanover Square.

How are these spaces connected?  In some fascinating ways.

Elias Warner Leavenworth, a Syracuse attorney and politician, is considered father of the city’s park system and established some of its first public spaces.  Fayette Park was obtained through his efforts.   A resolution he introduced procured Vanderbilt Square for the city of Syracuse.  Additionally he persuaded the railroad to plant rows of trees on each side of the railroad from Beech Street to the heart of the city. 

About 1860, Leavenworth Park was named after him.

Leavenworth was married to the daughter of Judge Joshua Forman, the founder of Syracuse, who is honored at Forman Park.  The Connective Corridor rehabilitated Forman Park as part of phase one work, and the community joined in celebrating its grand re-opening, one year ago this week.

Leavenworth was also president of Syracuse village from 1839 to 1841 and in 1846 and 1847, as well as  mayor of the town in 1849, 1850, 1859, and 1860.

His connections also tie back to Hanover Square, which was the city’s first commercial district and the site of the original Village of Syracuse well.  Now listed on The National Register of Historic Places, the Square features a diversity of 19th century architecture, including some buildings which date back to 1834 when a fire leveled the original Square. The structures on the north side of the Square were originally canal loft “double-enders.” This allowed merchants to hoist goods up into their stores from barges on the Erie Canal and then lower the goods by pulley and tackle into wagons in Hanover Square.

Leavenworth would have presided over canal commerce from Hanover Square during the heyday of the canal, and he was also engaged with the early days of the railroad.  In many ways, he was one of Syracuse’s key “connectors.”

Leavenworth’s legacy endures, and the City of Syracuse It’s been said that today’s Hanover Square offers a European lifestyle, based on outdoor spaces and public squares where residents and visitors can enjoy outdoor cafes, live entertainment and festivals – which would have greatly pleased Leavenworth.  To learn more about Hanover Square and the Hanover Square Association, visit www.hanoversq.org

Downtown Parks in the City of Syracuse today include Armory Square, Billings Park, Bruce Park, City Place, Clinton Square, Fayette Firefighter’s Memorial Park, Forman Park, Franklin Square Park, Genesee-Townsend Plaza, Hanover Square, Lincoln Plaza, Warren & Fayette Park, Perseverance Park, Pitts Park, Plum Street Circle, Columbus/St. Mary’s Circle, and Vanderbilt Square.

About City of Syracuse Parks:

http://www.syracuse.ny.us/parks/parks.html

Parks and open space help define the character of the City and give it a unique range of assets within the county and region. Syracuse has approximately 172 municipally owned and maintained parks, fields, inactive cemeteries, medians/traffic islands (most of which are landscaped and contribute to neighborhood greenspace), and natural areas (click here for definitions). Since Syracuse has about 32% of the County’s population and 61% of the County’s municipal parks, the City is comparatively rich in parks and open space. This abundance of open space is even more apparent in the variety of parks and open space available in the City. These facilities include forested areas, harbors, pools, ball fields, tennis and basketball courts, ice skating rinks, golf courses, picnic areas, playgrounds, monuments, trails and public gathering places.

The parks and open space give structure to the City by introducing complementary green and open spaces into the residential and commercial fabric of the City and by helping to unify and even providing identity to neighborhoods within the City. The existence of an extensive parks and open space system provides city residents access to the natural environment, including opportunities for walking and active/passive recreation. The system also protects unique sites for their natural functions and for public use.

]]> http://connectivecorridor.syr.edu/2013/05/29/junes-iconic-syracuse-installation-celebrates-summer-and-our-public-spaces/feed/ 0 http://connectivecorridor.syr.edu/2013/05/29/new-bus-schedules-for-connective-corridor-south-campus-and-manley-bus-routes-go-into-effect-may-29-due-to-summer-construction/ http://connectivecorridor.syr.edu/2013/05/29/new-bus-schedules-for-connective-corridor-south-campus-and-manley-bus-routes-go-into-effect-may-29-due-to-summer-construction/#comments Wed, 29 May 2013 16:39:52 +0000 linda http://connectivecorridor.syr.edu/?p=9529

See the revised Connective Corridor summer construction schedule here.

Parking and Transit Services has worked closely with Centro regarding the posted schedules for the summer on the Connective Corridor, South Campus and Manley bus routes.

However, due to the amount of construction in various areas within the city as well as on campus, the timetables for the routes currently posted are running late. To address this, Parking and Transit Services has developed a different schedule for each of the routes which will go into effect on Wednesday, May 29. Copies of the new schedules will be posted on the department’s website, parking.syr.edu, as well as in all of the bus shelters.  Parking and Transit Services apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause but is confident that the new schedule will allow the buses to operate according to the posted times.

Opening September 5 and running through October 20, Nyumba ya Sanaa: Works from the Maryknoll Collection, is an exhibition of recent acquisitions to the University Art Collection that will introduce the Central New York community to Tanzanian paintings, prints, drawings and sculpture made between 1972 and 1995. Also on display will be artwork created by Henninger High School students who have been inspired by the Tanzanian exhibition.  Concurrently, we will also be presenting work from Indonesia that closely parallels the subjects, media and styles of the African Art.

Following this exhibition will be Print Making Revolution: Mexican Prints and the Taller de Grafica Popular, focusing on the work produced at the influential workshop in Mexico City during the political and social unrest of the post-Mexican Revolution. These prints advanced a variety of revolutionary ideals and causes, including the formation of organized labor, the fight for civil rights, and an active campaign against fascism.  Also on view will be Paul Strand’s famous Mexican Portfolio, which includes photographs of people, landscapes, architecture, and religious objects that he encountered in Mexico during his travels there in 1932. These exhibitions will open November 7, 2013 and run through January 12, 2014.

The international year continues with an exhibition from January 30- March 16, 2014 featuring a selection of images made by the women in the Mithila region of northern India.  There will also be a focus on South Africa and the contemporary art scene there.  Recent work by several Johannesburg artists including Diane Victor will be on view.

The exhibition season will conclude its special exhibitions with the annual Master of Fine Arts Exhibition, showcasing the talent and breadth of Master of Fine Arts candidates in the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University.  The dates for the annual MFA show are April 3- May 11, 2014.

The permanent exhibition galleries will host exhibitions that acknowledge our international theme.  The Gallery of American Art will present a yearlong display of work made by artists who relocated to the United States.  These immigrant artists have had a profound effect on how we view ourselves and the world.   The Print and Photography Study Rooms will each display works from the collection that explore the artwork, landscape and people of Japan.

The shows are free and open to the public.  Complete information and related programming is available by visiting http://suart.syr.edu/.

About the SUArt Galleries

The SUArt Galleries strives to provide the best possible environment for art appreciation and scholarly development. No photography will be allowed in exhibition spaces. For approved, press-ready images, visit the exhibition website.

The SUArt Galleries, accessible through the Shaffer Art Building on the SU campus, enhances the cultural environment of SU and the Syracuse area through meaningful educational experiences and encounters with the University’s permanent collection and traveling exhibitions. It is the main campus venue for the visual arts and home of the University’s extensive permanent collection. The facility hosts a variety of temporary and permanent exhibitions throughout the year. The SUArt Galleries is a member of SU’s Coalition of Museum and Art Centers (CMAC).

F.O.C.U.S. on the Connective Corridor and Near West Side

WHEN: FRIDAY, MAY 17, 7:30 TO 8:45 a.m.

WHERE: F.O.C.U.S., CITY HALL COMMONS, 201 E. WASHINGTON ST, 1^ST FLOOR

SUSTAINABLE SHOWCASE ATRIUM CITY HALL COMMONS

TOPIC: Taking a look at the evolution of the Connective Corridor and Near West Side, this forum will focus on the vision and unlikely coalitions that are transforming these districts, touching on the past, present and future plans.  Marilyn Higgins, Linda Dickerson Hartsock and Maarten Jacobs will offer not only a progress update, but insight into trends, opportunities and challenges looking ahead over the horizon line and lead a discussion on the factors and forces that go into creative placemaking, and how they can produce transformative change.

See the Connective Corridor presentation here.

The School of Architecture and UPSTATE: a Center for Design, Research and Real Estate present “Alt-8: Future Visions for the Urban Expressway” an exhibition of work by Syracuse University students exploring post-2017 possibilities for the I-81 corridor that runs through downtown Syracuse.

The exhibition will be held at The Warehouse, 350 W. Fayette St., Syracuse. An opening reception on May 20, from 2-6 p.m., is free and open to the public. The projects will be on display for passersby in The Warehouse windows on West Fayette Street through the end of June.

The exhibition is the result of two Syracuse University courses taught this spring. A joint research project, both courses addressed the question of what kind of development along the I-81 corridor would be best positioned to serve Syracuse and how the future of the viaduct can play a role in transforming the city.

http://news.syr.edu/exhibition-at-the-warehouse-explores-future-of-i-81-downtown-81888/#more

http://upstate.syr.edu

College students in Syracuse will have a unique new housing option allowing them to live in downtown Syracuse starting in July 2014. Syracuse Creekwalk Commons will turn a now vacant downtown building into apartments housing up to 146 students. The $17 million development project will create 69 apartments along with 8,000 square feet of retail space in the former E.M. O’Donnell  building, located at 324 W. Water Street

The new apartments will be located at the corner of Water and Franklin Streets, adjacent to both Clinton and Armory Squares. The building fronts the Creekwalk, a popular downtown amenity and is also located on the Connective Corridor, allowing an easy connection to the University Hill area.

Creekwalk Commons’ front door will sit just 500 feet from the Syracuse University Warehouse building, which is home to SU’s Department of Design of the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The location features easy access to the Connective Corridor shuttle to SU’s main campus.

Apartments will be available to both undergraduate and graduate students. While it is anticipated that many residents are likely to be students at Syracuse University, Creekwalk Commons will also be open to students taking classes at other colleges and universities in the area. SUNY Oswego provides classes within two blocks of this location. The St. Joseph’s College of Nursing is also nearby.

“We are excited to bring student housing into downtown Syracuse and offer area college students the opportunity to live in the heart of our community, said James Breuer, managing partner of EMO Property, LLC. “Our goal is to have this experience be something that will help attract students to stay after graduation and add to the growth and vitality of downtown Syracuse.”

Demand for student housing currently outpaces the supply at many local colleges and universities. This project helps colleges meet this demand for undergraduate and graduate students, while betterengaging the students with their counterparts at other institutions and with the Central New York community.

“Downtown Syracuse continues its resurgence, with tangible signs of progress throughout the city center,” said Robert M. Simpson, president of CenterState CEO. “The addition of student housingwill only add to the vibrancy being created by the ongoing development of residential, retail andcommercial spaces that are reinventing Downtown Syracuse into a 24-hour neighborhood.”

Construction of Creekwalk Commons will be carried out by Syracuse Creekwalk Commons, Inc, a single-purpose, not-for-profit corporation. This project follows a successful model that has beenutilized for new student housing in other markets and, recently, in Syracuse to develop Geneva Tower for SUNY Upstate Medical University.

Construction is on track to start this July, with a scheduled opening in July 2014. Students will be able to lease 1 or 2 bedroom apartments for either 10, 12 months or even 2 summer months depending on their academic schedules.

The building design and management is being undertaken to incorporate best practices in safety and security programs. A goal of the facility and its programming is to enrich the student experience while providing a greater sense of living in an urban environment.

Creekwalk Commons student apartments will be fully furnished. In addition to laundry facilities and a fitness center, there will be lounges and gathering spaces on each floor for student interaction. Individual study rooms, a theater, and exhibit spaces are being designed to provide students with areas to display their projects. An indoor bicycle storage room is provided in addition to some indoor parking. The building is directly connected via enclosed bridge to the Washington Street Parking garage.

An experienced team of CNY professionals are providing services to implement the project;

• Financing: M&T Bank Investment Banking Group
• Architects: Dal Pos Architects, Syracuse
• Property Management: The Sutton Companies, Syracuse
• Construction Manager: Hueber-Breuer Const. Co, Syracuse Environmental Site Assessment: Beardsley
• Design Associates, DeWitt Environmental Survey: Asbestos & Environmental Consulting Co, East
• Syracuse Survey: Phillips and Associates, Surveyors PC, Liverpool
• Legal Counsels: Bousquet Holstein PLLC, Syracuse; Hancock Estabrook, LLP, Syracuse; Harris
• Beach PLLC, Syracuse.

About Creekwalk Commons: Syracuse Creekwalk Commons, Inc, (SCC) is a not-for-profit charitable organization formed to secure and implement the conversion of 324 W. Water Street, in Syracuse, to provide downtown student housing for up to 146 residents. SCC aims to encourage greater student interaction with the Syracuse community while adding to downtown’s growth and vitality.

For Saturday 5/11 and Sunday 5/12 due to the graduation weekend congestion around the Dome area and to enhance pedestrian safety, the Connective Corridor buses will operate the following routing (both days) between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

• From the Warehouse regular route to University Avenue and Waverly Avenue, then turn left onto Waverly Avenue, right onto Comstock Avenue, right onto University Place and left onto College Place (and regular routing to South Campus.)
• From South Campus regular route to College Place.  From College Place turn left onto Euclid Avenue, left onto Comstock Avenue, left onto Waverly Avenue, right onto Irving Avenue and regular route to the Warehouse.

Please plan accordingly if you are using the Corridor buses this weekend, and enjoy graduation!

]]> http://connectivecorridor.syr.edu/2013/05/08/connective-corridor-graduation-weekend-routing/feed/ 0 http://connectivecorridor.syr.edu/2013/05/01/connective-corridor-and-near-westside-to-be-topic-of-f-o-c-u-s-forum-on-may-17/ http://connectivecorridor.syr.edu/2013/05/01/connective-corridor-and-near-westside-to-be-topic-of-f-o-c-u-s-forum-on-may-17/#comments Wed, 01 May 2013 18:19:11 +0000 linda http://connectivecorridor.syr.edu/?p=9463

“Creative Placemaking — Changing the Face of Syracuse” will be the topic of a F.O.C.U.S. Forum May 17, 2013

F.O.C.U.S. Greater Syracuse is pleased to announce Marilyn Higgins, vice president of Community Engagement and Economic Development at Syracuse University; Linda Dickerson Hartsock, director of the Connective Corridor; and Maarten Jacobs, director of the Near Westside Initiative, will present “Creative Placemaking: Changing the Face of Syracuse” on Friday, May 17, 2013. The event will run from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. at the City Hall Commons Atrium at 201 E. Washington St. in Syracuse.

Taking a look at the evolution of the Connective Corridor and Near West Side, they will focus on the vision and unlikely coalitions that are transforming these districts, touching on the past, present and future plans. Higgins, Hartsock and Jacobs will offer not only a progress update, but insight into trends, opportunities and challenges looking ahead over the horizon line, and lead a discussion on the factors and forces that go into creative placemaking, and how they can produce transformative change. The event is free to the public and all are welcome.

F.O.C.U.S.’s Core Group meetings cover a variety of topics of interest to the citizens of Onondaga County and Central New York. They are open to the public, are free of charge, and are held from 7.30 a.m. to 8.45 a.m. on the third Friday of every month in the Atrium at 201 E. Washington St. in downtown Syracuse.

F.O.C.U.S. Greater Syracuse, Inc., a nonprofit organization at 201 E. Washington St. in Syracuse, engages in research, public policy and public education, enabling citizens to work with governments, businesses and other nonprofits to make sustainable, fact-based decisions that improve the quality of life and economic future for all residents of Central New York.

Community Folk Art Center invites you to a performance by Bronx based dance theater company Areytos Performance Works Saturday, May 4th at 6:30 pm.

Audience members will enjoy the beautiful rhythms of African-Caribbean dances from Areytos’ seasoned performers. The event will also include a participatory portion where audience members will be led by dancer/choreographer Sita Frederick, traditional-artisan Genaro Ozuna, and dancer Alethea Pace in the art and culture of Afro-Dominican dance. There will also be an artist talkback with the performers, as well as poetry written by award winning author Nelly Rosario. The entire event is free and open to the public.

The Connective Corridor is pleased to promote the annual Cathedral Square Neighborhood Organ Crawl taking place on Saturday, May 11 starting at 1:00 PM at Park Central Presbyterian Church, 504 E. Fayette St.

FEATURES:

Four historic architecturally significant chuches and their beautiful organs with spectacular organ performances at each location.  Historic information provided by Gregg Tripoli, Executive Director of the Onondaga Historical Association. Dessert reception.

ADMISSION:

$10.00 per person.  Reservations suggested by calling Karen Cooney at 428-1864, ext. 312.

All Proceeds Benefit the Cathedral Square Neighborhood Association to Pay for the Hanging Flower Baskets Throughout the Historic Neighborhood

DESCRIPTION:

Historic walking tour among four chuches in the Cathedral Square Neighborhood led by OHA Executive Director Gregg Tripoli.  At each location, the audience will be treated to a brief history related to the church as well as an organ performance with music chosen specifically to honor the 850^th anniversary of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris featuring:

• Park Central Presbyterian Church – Will Headlee, Syracuse University professor emeritus, playing the 1967 M.P. Moeller Organ
• St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral – Jim Potts playing the Moeller organ redesigned in 2002 with 4,327 pipes in 74 ranks.
• Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception – Timothy Davenport on the 1892 Roosevelt organ
• Plymouth Congregational Church, United Church of Christ – playing the newly refurbished 1930 Moeller organ

The audience is encouraged to walk around and explore the sanctuaries in each of these architectural masterpieces designed by famous architects with stained glass windows by Tiffany and Keck.  Attendees are invited are to get up close to the organs and watch these masterful musicians as they play these magnificent instruments.  At each location, the organists will introduce the organ, and the musical selections, to the audience with samples of the instruments’ capabilities before presenting the performance in its entirety. At the end of the tour, after the performance at Plymouth Congregational Church, the audience will enjoy refreshments provided by area restaurants. The Cathedral Square Neighborhood Association is bordered by Madison, Warren, Fayette, and Townsend Streets and includes the beautiful historic district encompassing Montgomery Street, Columbus Circle and Fayette Firefighters’ Park.

Onondaga Historical Association (OHA) is a private, nonprofit association of museums, a research center, historic sites and retail stores in Onondaga County, NY. Officially chartered by the New York State Regents in 1863, OHA has been collecting, preserving and interpreting the community’s history for the past 150 years, providing to the public exhibits, research opportunities and educational programming, publications, and media productions.

The OHA Museum and administrative offices are located at 321 Montgomery St., Syracuse, NY, 13202. Museum and gift gallery hours are Wednesday to Friday, 10-4, Saturday and Sunday, 11-4. The museum is free, but there is a suggested donation of $3 per adult. Research center hours are Wednesday to Friday, 10-2, Saturday 11-3:30. The research center is free to members, $7 per visit for non-members. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8-5. For information, go to cnyhistory.org, or call (315) 428-1864, ext. 312.