February 15, 2024

Written By Hanover Square Association

This month we started our rotating meeting venues and were graciously hosted by The Sweet Praxis.

In Attendance: Brianca Hill, City of Syracuse Business Development; Betsy Elkins, Resident; Bill Elkins, Resident; Mike Blowers, Resident/Gere Building/The Effect Group; Amy Wilson, Mixed Methods; Josh Wilcox, City of Syracuse Parks; Kyle Volz, QPK Design; Kelly Yahi, Dwyer Architectural; Veronica VanTassel, Dwyer Architectural; Michael John Haggerty, Wildflowers/McCarthy Mercantile/Hanover Thursdays; Gavin Maloney, 132 E. Genesee St/The Granite Building; Jen Walls; The Sweet Praxis; Heather Schroeder, Downtown Committee Economic Development; Jim Knittel, in-ARCHITECTS; Dr. Eric Saxton, Cuse Chiro; Tracy Mergler, Safe Space CNY; Laiza Semidey, Home HeadQuarters; Lowell Niemetz, Home HeadQuarters; Javier Zavaleta, Resident; Tom Campanie; Downtown Committee Security.

Downtown Security

Tom Campanie, Director of Security, Downtown Committee of Syracuse addressed concerns about noise complaints, loitering in businesses, crowds in parks after dark,

and public urination.

  • Questions: If someone is trespassing/won’t leave my place of business, who should I call?

    • Call 911 and, if it’s between 8am – 8pm, also call Downtown Committee Security at 315-423-HELP.  This two-call sequence ensures police are notified and may also result in faster on-site response by Downtown Committee Security.

Fountain Updates

Josh Wilcox, landscape architect with City of Syracuse Department of Parks, Recreation & Youth Programs, shared updated plans for the Hanover Square Fountain in 2024:

  • QPK Design is under contract to assess and design the Hanover Fountain Rehab Project. Project budget is $500,000. QPK will share conceptual designs once available.

  • Fountain will include lighting elements and water in the upper portion of fountain, with plantings below.

  • In the interim, Parks is purchasing seasonal self-watering planters from Earth Planter (Auburn, NY) that will be placed in the former fountain pools and planted with seasonal plants/flowers. These square planters each hold 22 gallons of water and are also weighted with stone fill, so they are difficult to move/vandalize. When the fountain project is completed, the planters will be used to replace the deteriorating concrete planters in Hanover Square Park.

  • Questions: Is there an opportunity to brand the planters, e.g., sticker with Hanover Square Association logo?

    • Who will water/refill the self-watering reservoirs in the planters?

      • Parks Dept.

    • Is there an opportunity for community planting as part of I Love My Park Day this spring?

      • Yes

    • Will construction occur during Hanover Thursdays, the August music series?

      • Timeline: Plantings in summer; construction will not begin until after Hanover Thursdays concludes (after August 2024).

    • Is there an opportunity to change the brutalist design?

      • Plan is to use the existing concrete structure/design and identify new outer materials.

    • Is Parks envisioning seasonal or more permanent plantings?

      • More permanent plantings

Hanover Gives Back

Spring 2024 neighborhood volunteering event: Downtown Earth Day Cleanup

Downtown Committee (DTC) organizes Earth Day Cleanup every year on Saturday of Earth Day weekend. In response to feedback from Hanover Square businesses, DTC is organizing an additional Hanover Square clean-up on Friday, April 19 th from 3pm – 5pm.

To register for the Friday Hanover event, please email Heather at hschroeder@downtownsyracuse.com. Include: Name, # people in group, T-shirt sizes, and Business/Organization name. Sign-up deadline: March 15.

Hanover Thursdays

Michael John Haggerty shared information on this year’s Hanover Thursdays music series:

  • Free outdoor concerts in the square, every Thursday evening in August (possibly more)

  • Sponsorship opportunities available (see attached brochure)

  • Previous years indicate NYS Fair does not negatively impact Hanover Thursdays crowd/attendance

  • Opportunities for Hanover-area businesses to sell at the event (e.g. Storys, normally open only for breakfast and lunch, stays open to sell take-out dinners during Hanover Thursdays, sold out every week)

Downtown Committee Events

Spring 2024 is all about food!

  • Downtown Dining Weeks, March 1-14

  • Downtown Progress Breakfast, April 10 – This spring’s speakers include local food reporter Don Cazentre, and restauranteurs who have expanded their Downtown business to open additional eateries. Details to come!

  • Downtown Farmers Market, Tuesdays 8am – 2pm, Clinton Square; June 11-Oct.8

Business News

New businesses

  • Three new businesses coming to McCarthy Mercantile: SeaKissed Blends; Manny Rivera art bodega; vintage store

  • Inka’s restaurant (White Memorial Building) opening this spring

  • Former Otro Cinco restaurant space in the University Building has been leased to owner of Gaudalajara Mexican Restaurant, who plans to open a new Puerto Rican restaurant in this location

Hanover Square Association http://hanoversquaresyr.com
Next

September 21st, 2023