American Planning Association recognizes architecture, cultural assets and collabortive efforts behind the Connective Corridor in naming the Hill an Economic Engine for Upstate New York

The American Planning Association (APA) announced on Wednesday, October 8 that Greater University Hill has been designated one of 10 Great Neighborhoods for 2008 through APA’s Great Places in America program. APA Great Places exemplify exceptional character and highlight the role planners and planning play in creating communities of lasting value.

APA singled out Greater University Hill because of the neighborhood’s community engagement, as well as its memorable character and role as an economic engine for the central upstate New York region.

“We are very excited and proud to receive this nomination from the American Planning Association. The Greater University Hill area defines what our city’s comprehensive plan calls for in creating a ‘great place to live, learn, work, and play.’ The Hill is vibrant and rapidly expanding, and it truly is deserving of this designation as a great neighborhood,” said Mayor Matthew J. Driscoll.

APA Great Places offer better choices for where and how people work and live. They are enjoyable, safe, and desirable. They are places where people want to be — not only to visit, but to live and work every day. America’s truly great neighborhoods are defined by many unique criteria, including architectural features, accessibility, functionality, and community involvement. Through Great Places in America APA recognizes unique and authentic characteristics found in three essential components of all communities — streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces.

“We’re excited to select Greater University Hill as one of this year’s great neighborhoods,” said APA Executive Director Paul Farmer, FAICP. “It is a successful example of what can result when a university neighborhood and surrounding community work together for mutual benefit. We’re confident the civic activism found here, coupled with the universities’ and hospitals’ economic strength, will make The Hill a vibrant neighborhood long into the future.”

The Greater University Hill neighborhood rises 300 feet above downtown Syracuse and encompasses approximately 2.25 square miles.  The neighborhood is known for its Craftsman-style houses, built primarily from 1900 to 1925 after the founding of Syracuse University in 1870. In the historic Berkeley Park, one of the city’s earliest planned subdivisions, 126 of the original 137 properties are considered historically significant. 

Located in the Greater University Hill Neighborhood are Syracuse University, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and several significant hospitals. Together, they are a major component of the economic backbone for New York’s entire central upstate region and employ more than 20,000 people

Three business districts adjacent to the universities offer the 22,000 college students everything from clothing to pizza.  To further expand the neighborhood’s strong economy and ties with downtown Syracuse, a university-city partnership has been created.  The “Connective Corridor” will link these two areas through a collaborative process focused on alternative transportation, arts, and culture.

“We are very excited that the Greater University Hill/Connective Corridor area has been named a top 10 ‘Great Neighborhood in America’ by the APA,” said Syracuse University Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor.  “Together we are working to make this critical part of the city come to life by bringing our outstanding arts, culture and community assets together.  All of our partners — the Mayor and City, and the civic, business, and non-profit sectors should be proud of this achievement.”

The neighborhood boasts three significant green spaces — Thornden Park, Barry Park, and Oakwood Cemetery – which are used year round.  Civic participation is so strong that Thornden Park alone has three groups to help keep it clean.  The United Neighborhood Preservation Association promotes long-term neighborhood stability by providing grants of $1,500 to $4,500 for first-time home buyers as well as low-interest loans on exterior renovations for existing homeowners.

The nine other APA 2008 Great Neighborhoods are: Echo Park, Los Angeles, CA; Greater Park Hill, Denver, CO; North End, Boise, ID; Old Town Wichita, Wichita, KS; Downtown Salem, Salem, MA; Charles Village, Baltimore, MD; Village of Mariemont, Mariemont, OH; Society Hill, Philadelphia, PA; and Downtown Sheridan, Sheridan, WY.

For more information about these neighborhoods, as well as the lists of the 2008 APA 10 Great Streets and 10 Great Public Spaces, visit www.planning.org/greatplaces.

This year’s Great Places in America will be celebrated as part of APA’s National Community Planning Month in October 2008, designed to recognize and celebrate the many residents, leaders, officials, and professionals who contribute to making great communities. For more about National Community Planning Month, visit www.planning.org/ncpm.

The American Planning Association and its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners, are dedicated to advancing the art, science and profession of good planning — physical, economic and social — so as to create communities that offer better choices for where and how people work and live. Members of APA help create communities of lasting value and encourage civic leaders, business interests and citizens to play a meaningful role in creating communities that enrich people’s lives. APA has offices in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Ill., and Shanghai, China. For more information, visit its website at www.planning.org.