Syracuse’s cultural scene will soon be a force to be reckoned with! The Connective Corridor has granted conditional and final approval to 23 applicants for funding through its Façade Improvement Program (FIP).

The goal of the program is to improve the physical and aesthetic conditions of properties along the Corridor. The reimbursable program, which launched in February with $625,000 in funding from the Empire State Development Corporation, aims to enhance the urban experience of living, working and enjoying the cultural and social opportunities available in the University Hill area and downtown Syracuse.

The program encourages the development of a distinct identity for the Connective Corridor in a way that respects and preserves the unique, historic character of individual properties, while including design elements that mark the route. The program allows building owners and tenants, with owner’s permission, the ability to access up to $25,000 for eligible capital improvements. Funds can be used for a variety of upgrades, including new windows, lighting, landscaping, outdoor furnishings, awnings and other items.

The Onondaga Historical Association (OHA), the first FIP applicant to receive final approval, received $25,000 in funding for window restorations as part of almost $500,000 in renovations that were completed on its facility. “We now have a street presence,” said Gregg Tripoli, the organization’s executive director, in an interview with the Post-Standard. “Eight, full-story windows on Montgomery Street have been reopened. They’d been bricked up for years.”

The face-lift updates the 148-year-old OHA, which is promoting its new mission to be an active participant in the community’s cultural scene. The association began in 1862 as “an institution for the preservation and care for the curiosities and relics of the county.” The collection today includes more than one million items.

Like the OHA, any property located directly on the Corridor is eligible for the FIP. This includes residential and commercial properties, as well as for-profit and nonprofit organizations.

In order to receive funding, applicants will be asked to incorporate a selection of design components into their plans for façade improvements. Design criteria can be found in the Connective Corridor Identity Overview. Applications for the FIP are available here, or you may receive a hard copy by contacting Michael Short at (315) 443-5402 or mwshort@syr.edu.

Don’t delay, though! Half of the money has already been conditionally awarded!