“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.