Governor Kathy Hochul joined Mayor Ben Walsh for a tour of the former Syracuse Developmental Center demolition site ahead of a press conference at PSLA @ Fowler on Friday, June 14.
Demolition of Long-Vacant 600,000 Square-Foot Structure Will Make Way for More Than 250 New Homes, 7.5 Acres of Green Space, and 3,600 Square Feet of Retail as Part of Phase I Construction
Investment Complements “CNY Rising” – The Region’s Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy
Governor Kathy Hochul last week, announced progress toward the $100 million transformation of the former Syracuse Developmental Center into a vibrant, mixed-use development in the city of Syracuse. Demolition work has commenced at 800-2 S. Wilbur Avenue, making way for more than 250 new homes, 7.5 acres of green space, and 3,600 square feet of retail commercial space as part of the first phase of construction to redevelop the site. The project, which is receiving up to $29 million in state funding, will help to support the statewide goals of increasing New York’s housing supply with new market-rate and affordable options and establishing a regional job hub to help drive the local economy.
“With demolition under way, we are transforming the long-abandoned Syracuse Developmental Center into high quality, mixed-use, mixed-income housing that will rejuvenate this community,” Governor Hochul said. “You don’t win transformative projects like Micron without building and investing, and we will continue to work with local leaders like Mayor Walsh to keep building the housing we need, keep investing in new opportunity, and keep driving toward an economy of the future.”
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said, “Demolition of the former Syracuse Developmental Center is a critical step toward the long-awaited transformation of this property. The site has been a neighborhood eyesore and public safety concern for years. Getting it back on the tax roll and into productive use will be a catalyst for continued investment in Syracuse’s westside. The 47-acre site is ideally suited to meet the growing need for quality mixed-income housing and high-tech manufacturing space in Syracuse. I thank Governor Hochul for making this long-awaited transformative mixed-use project a reality.”
The redevelopment of the 600,000 square-foot Syracuse Developmental Center is a multi-phase, mixed-use project that will include hundreds of new housing units, an advanced manufacturing facility with office space, vibrant new green space, and retail. Phase I of the project, which is set to begin in late 2025, will include more than 250 new units of housing, 7.5 acres of green space, and 3,600 square feet of retail space. The project will help Syracuse and the surrounding Central New York region prepare for the arrival of Micron, whose $100 billion commitment to build a new campus in the Town of Clay will create 50,000 new jobs over the next 20 years.
State funding will support pre-development site preparation work, including the demolition and remediation of the existing structures on the site as well as infrastructure investments to expand water and sewer service lines, roads and sidewalks, tree planting, canopy and lighting throughout the site. Mohawk Valley contractor Ritter & Paratore Contracting Inc. has been selected to undertake the demolition/environmental remediation of the existing structures and grading of the site in the building demolition location.
New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas stated, “This $29 million investment is the all-important first step to realizing the complete transformation of an abandoned campus into a thriving community once again. HCR looks forward to helping the city of Syracuse realize the full potential of this site, with at least 250 new homes, healthy open space, retail and job training facilities. This is a great step forward and I commend Governor Hochul’s vision and the commitment of the legislature and all of the partners who are making this project possible. We are all in this together and headed for a brighter future.”
According to Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, “As a growing community, it is important that we make strategic investments in both workforce development and housing. We need to have the resources available to train people for the jobs of tomorrow while also ensuring they have a place to live. The redevelopment of the Syracuse Developmental Center accomplishes all of that and more. Today marks an important step in making this redevelopment a reality and I want to thank all the partners that worked together to make today possible.”
Anna McGough photo
