Smart Growth America VP: Syracuse Well-Positioned in Competitive Environment

Downtown Syracuse is at the center of more than $1.4 billion in capital investments being made throughout Syracuse announced the Downtown Committee of Syracuse at its annual meeting on Thursday.

Keynote speaker, Bill Fulton — a native of nearby Auburn, NY and now vice president for policy and programs at Smart Growth America, shared how cities are in competition for young talent. He described Syracuse as well-positioned in this competitive environment due to the high concentration of colleges and universities here and the investment taking place in the urban core.

He also commented on Syracuse University’s important role as a catalyst for both “place-making” and the creation of an innovation economy that is attractive to a new generation of your entrepreneurs.  He also commended the university for making “connnections” to connect the area’s unique assets — through physical infrastructure, transportation, and amenities to make the city more walkable and bikeable — as well as civic engagement.

Of the $1.4 billion being invested into capital projects throughout Syracuse, $265 million is being invested in downtown Syracuse.

Other development highlights:
• Over $60 million was recently invested or is currently being invested into the heart of downtown.
• Infrastructure projects in downtown Syracuse (including Onondaga County’ Save the Rain initiative and the Connective Corridor) total over $124 million.
• Hospitality & entertainment projects total $45 million.
• Residential development projects planned or underway account for over $77 million of downtown’s development totals.
• 570 new residential units will be added from these projects.

For a list of those investments, click here.