Onondaga Citizens League offers seminars, walking tours to explain basics of urban design

The Onondaga Citizens League (OCL) is offering a series of informational seminars focused on the design and development of cities, including a historical perspective on how Syracuse took shape. Participants will learn what led to Syracuse’s street layouts, neighborhood patterns and well known properties and how they have changed over time. The importance of sound urban design practices as a means of fostering a strong, positive community image will also be discussed, with an emphasis on how details—within public space or private buildings—contribute to the collective image of the city.

The five sessions will be conducted by Christine Capella-Peters from the New York State Historic Preservation Office; George Curry, Department of Landscape Architecture, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry; and Dennis Connors, from the Onondaga Historical Association. The seminars will include three Saturday walking tours that will allow participants to examine real-life examples of the discussion topics. The five Thursday sessions take place from 7-8:30 p.m. on March 29, April 12 and 26, and May 10 and 24.

All programs are free but registration is required. Registration deadline is March 15. Class size is limited. For complete details on the seminars and to fill out an application online, visit onondagacitizensleague.org, email ocl@syr.edu, or call 315-443-4846.

Onondaga Citizens League (OCL), in partnership with University College (UC) of Syracuse University, is designed to promote citizen education and involvement in public affairs.