I.                    Administration & Advocacy

A.      Need a list of fundamental values/principles regarding projects

B.      Need policy research, data and intelligence

1.       Continue long term planning role for downtown

2.       Continue customer satisfaction survey

C.      Board identification and evaluation of issues they want the Downtown Committee to address (possible committee involvement)

1.       Parking – study done

2.       Retail – study underway

3.       Security and quality of life

4.       Address needs of downtown residents (e.g. residential parking, quality of life issues)

5.       I-81

6.       Advocate for state historic tax credit

D.      Align with other organizations for partnerships beneficial to downtown

E.       Continue Annual Meeting as a method to raise profile of downtown

1.       Continue Awards of Excellence to highlight positive contributions to downtown

F.       Continue publication and distribution of the Annual Report to inform property owners, businesses and others about the Downtown Committee and its functions

G.     Ensure that programs are financed and managed transparently (key strategy statement)

1.       Continue to perform and distribute the annual audit

2.       Comply with FOIL and OML

H.      Create a 501(c)(3) Downtown Committee Foundation capable of accepting tax deductible contributions and applying for grants

I.        Create a Downtown Membership base (members will pay annual dues and will be offered opportunities to participate in policy making/advocacy opportunities, invitations to special events, previews of completed projects, invitations to meetings and listing on the Downtown Committee’s website with links

J.        Consider expanding the district to accomplish goals such as:

1.       Promotion, maintenance and security for the Creekwalk

2.       Promotion, maintenance and security of the Connective Corridor 

K.      Maintain regular interaction with all levels of government

1.       City of Syracuse, Mayor and Common Council

2.       Onondaga County Executive and Legislature

3.       State delegation

4.       Federal delegation

II.                  Development and Revitalization

A.      Retail Recruitment

1.       Ideally Downtown Committee should prioritize the kind of retail we want to attract; go after the bookstore, the grocery store, the movie theatre

2.       Make sure market data exists to support attraction of these retailers

3.       Avoid over reliance on nighttime entertainment, attract more retail to places such as Hanover Square, Salina Street and Armory Square

4.       Complete the Buxton study and implement the results

5.       Seek to fund a position for a person dedicated full time to tenant recruitment (retail and office)

6.       Focus on the retail “physical environment”, i.e. appearance of available space

7.       Seek opportunities to partner with owners on key retail properties (e.g. 300 block of South Salina Street)

8.       Identify incentives needed by retailers

9.       Create an annual “Retail Fair and Available Space Tour”

B.      Office recruitment and retention

1.       Focus on retention of existing companies that could expand

2.       Work with economic development community to make downtown the first option

3.       Communicate with and seek to bring back downtown businesses who have left

4.       Create a recruitment video that, through use of testimonials, explains why businesses have relocated downtown (e.g. O’Brien and Gere, Countryway Insurance, King and King, Saratoga Associates, Action Developers)

5.       Maintain “catalogue of available space” on economic development site

6.       Promote opportunities to work downtown (create job listing site for downtown)

C.      Encourage more education and medical uses downtown

1.       Build off the Syracuse Center of Excellence for Environmental and Energy Systems

2.       Capitalize on the commercialization opportunities tied to these institutions

3.       Address institutions who could have a presence downtown (SUNY Upstate Medical University, Onondaga Community College, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, local and regional business schools and colleges)

4.       Redevelop existing educational buildings (e.g. University College and Central Tech)

D.      Develop and market more housing downtown

1.        Discuss market with interested parties

2.        Provide current housing information

3.        Maintain downtown housing list

4.        Support developers of mixed use projects

5.       Continue the Downtown Living Tour to promote residential opportunities

6.       Create targeted packages for new downtown employees to encourage more of them to be residents

7.       Develop housing that is unsubsidized but affordable by “early career” individuals

8.       Develop more affordable home ownership opportunities 

E.       Making downtown “build ready”

1.       Provide feasibility study support to speed up the process

2.       Assemble sites and get them in the hands of good developers

3.       Continue to seek grants – NYS Main Street, Restore, member items, etc.

4.       Clarify zoning and planning guidelines for new projects

5.       Assist in securing financing (private and public) for existing downtown projects

6.       Address parking needs tied to development

7.       Streamline funding process (National Grid, city, Downtown Committee, SEDCO, GSBDC, private institutions)

F.       Encourage cultural development

1.       Support cultural institutions (e.g. MOST, Landmark Theatre, Everson, OHA)

2.       Create more public art (e.g. David Hayes sculpture project, downtown totem project and marketing)

G.     Support Hospitality & Hotel Development Downtown

H.      Create a special “Greening Downtown Initiative”

1.       Encourage, educate and incentivize developers to build green

2.       Educate the public building downtown, building greater density and using renovation techniques are inherently green

3.       Promote messages to businesses such as architects and environmental engineers who may be most interested in it

4.       Tie grant programs to building “green”

5.       Encourage efficiency upgrades in existing downtown properties

6.       Work with the County Executive’s program to reduce storm water runoff

7.       Consider proposals for Onondaga Creek and biofiltration of runoff (proposal by CLEAR)

8.       Create a “greenbelt” around the district including highway right of ways

9.       Implement transportation demand management and incentives for taking public transportation, bicycling and pedestrian access

10.   With new decoration contract, implement LED lights for decorations

11.   Look to place recycling bins with trash containers downtown

12.   Secure biofuels for downtown

13.   Investigate and support car-sharing programs

14.   Investigate permeable and heated sidewalks

15.   Purchase hybrids for Downtown Committee vehicle fleet

16.   Light up Downtown’s historic architecture using solar panels or some other form of renewable energy

17.   Increase the amount of greenspace downtown

III.                Accessibility, Circulation and Parking

A.      Create a total transportation system

1.       Implement the Downtown Parking Study results

2.       Work with CNYRTA to build the new common center

3.       Market Centro’s existing Park-N-Ride service

4.       Provide transportation demand management plan and implement

5.       Communicate that we need a cultural change, not just parking garages

6.       Support SMTC’s new carpooling service and publicize it

7.       Investigate car-sharing programs

8.       Support creation of more bike paths and greenspace

9.       Create comprehensive signage and way finding systems (work with the city to develop a standard)

10.   Consider street car and light rail services

B.      Maintain information on the downtown parking inventory and communicate it to all

1.       Advocate for shared parking between new development projects (ex: O’Brien & Gere and Sykes)

C.      Operate downtown parking facilities and consider expansion of operations

1.       Continue to operate downtown parking lot adjacent to Clinton Square for downtown visitors

D.      Promote and maintain the Onondaga Creekwalk

1.       Link it to the Connective Corridor

2.       Link it to downtown developments – insist on the connections

3.       Link it to the Loop the Lake Trail

4.       Link it to the Erie Canalway