Mayor Walsh Says Restore New York Grant Will Support Washington Square

Published on December 22, 2022

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh says a $1.5 million Restore New York grant will trigger investment in Syracuse’s Washington Square neighborhood. The funding will be used for targeted property redevelopment, blight remediation and new housing, including a proposed senior living facility at the vacant Franciscan Academy/Maria Regina campus. Governor Hochul announced the New York State Empire State Development grant Tuesday. 

The Restore New York award will assist in the investment and redevelopment of multiple vacant, underutilized, and blighted properties within the Washington Square neighborhood on the city’s Northside. The investment will create an estimated 224 new units of housing, including a combination of market rate and affordable rental apartments. The included projects will leverage more than $100 million in total investment, spurring additional economic activity and new construction in an area that has witnessed decades of underinvestment. In addition to the investment and job creation potential, these projects will build upon the City of Syracuse’s goals to reinvigorate the Grant Boulevard and Wolf Street business corridors, invest in underutilized assets, and create opportunity in the surrounding neighborhoods.

“Washington Square is a key neighborhood in the City of Syracuse. The Restore New York grant will build on the area’s proud history and rich diversity. Its proximity to downtown Syracuse, the Inner Harbor, Lakefront, Regional Market, I-81 and our northern suburbs make it uniquely ready for revival,” said Mayor Walsh. “I thank Governor Hochul and Empire State Development for investing in Syracuse and the people of Washington Square.”

Restore New York supports municipal revitalization efforts across the state, helping to remove blight, reinvigorate downtowns, and generate economic opportunity in communities statewide. The program, administered by Empire State Development, is designed to help local governments revitalize their communities and encourage commercial investment, improve the local housing stock, put properties back on the tax rolls and increase the local tax base.