Public sessions enable community members to contribute to discussion of Connective Corridor priorities

Public sessions enable community members to contribute to discussion of Connective Corridor prioritiesNovember 22, 2005SU News ServicesSUnews@syr.edu

Syracuse University will host a series of public sessions Dec. 1 at The Genesee Grande Hotel and Dec. 2 at the Marx Hotel to identify community priorities for the proposed Connective Corridor.

SU and the City of Syracuse will launch a design competition among professional landscape architecture firms to develop a model and master plan for the Connective Corridor. A jury composed of representatives from the city and SU will select four professional design teams from a pool of applicants collected through a request for proposals (RFP) process. The four selected teams will develop competing proposals for the project. The same jury will select the team whose plan presents the best vision for the Connective Corridor and also embodies ideas and information provided by the corridor’s stakeholders.

The intent of the public sessions is to provide community and arts organizations, businesses, residents and others an opportunity to work together to identify priorities that can be addressed in the project’s design competition. The ideas and information collected during the public sessions will help inform the design process and help shape a community-wide vision for the corridor.

The public sessions will also provide an opportunity for project stakeholders and community organizations to network and identify ways in which they can work collaboratively to develop specific design recommendations that will be presented at a later date to each of the four competing design teams during the design competition.

The Connective Corridor entails developing a pedestrian and bike pathway, landscape improvements and an accompanying public shuttle bus route betweenUniversity Hill and Armory Square. The project will promote the presence of art and cultural opportunities in Syracuse and create a stronger link between SU and downtown Syracuse.

Leading the public sessions will be Casey Jones, a renowned architectural and design professional who will serve as the design competition advisor. Jones has been retained by the University to guide the design process, in partnership with the City of Syracuse.

“This process presents a wonderful opportunity for the community to create a shared vision for the Connective Corridor,” Jones says. “The goal of the Connective Corridor is to create a more lively link between the University and downtown. The workshop format will bring the public directly into the planning process for the Connective Corridor.”

Four separate sessions will be held in all-two on Dec. 1 and two more on Dec. 2. Following a brief presentation and project outline by Jones, participants in each session will be asked to identify particular issues and concerns that the design competition can address.

Each session is expected to last two hours and is open to the public. Preregistration is required for each session, as space is limited. To register, e-mail corridor@syr.edu or call Margie Gantt at 443-5470. The deadline to register is Monday, Nov. 28.

The first session, titled “Economic and Community Development,” is Dec. 1 from 9-11 a.m. in the Tiffany Conference Room at The Genesee Grande Hotel. It will focus on community interests, needs and goals. Specific discussion topics include networking and collaboration; business concerns and interests; resident concerns and interests; zoning; housing and commercial development; and marketing and advertising.

The second session, titled “Arts and Culture in the Community,” will be Dec. 1 from 1-3 p.m., also in the Tiffany Conference Room. This session will focus on ways in which design can promote arts and cultural activities. Discussion topics include networking and collaboration; art and cultural organizations’ interestsand needs; artist support and services; community art space; and marketing and advertising.

The third session, titled “Transportation, Technology and Services,” will take place Dec. 2 from 9-11 a.m. in the Lafayette Conference Room at The Marx Hotel. It will focus on transportation, infrastructure and service needs. Discussion topics include networking and collaboration; bus, bicycle and pedestrian routes; bus service stops; lighting; parking; use of wi-fi and information technology; trash and recycling; and safety.

The fourth session, titled “Landscape and Public Space Improvements,” will be Dec. 2 from 1-3 p.m. in the Lafayette Conference Room. It will focus on design elements, architecture, land use and planning and landscape improvements. Discussion topics include networking and collaboration; parks and green space; streetscape improvements; community art and art space; street and landscape lighting; history, preservation and landmarks; parking; and shelters and kiosks.

For more information on the Connective Corridor, visit http://connectivecorridor.syr.edu.