2025 Annual Meeting Celebrating 50 Years

Over 400 members of the Downtown community - including property owners, businesses, residents and other stakeholders - gathered in the Ballroom at The Oncenter (map) for the 2025 Annual Meeting Luncheon of the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc. Presented in partnership with Community Bank, the Annual Meeting is a celebration of the people and projects that have contributed to Downtown’s growth, diversity and overall vibrancy.

The Downtown Committee celebrated a remarkable achievement – 50 years of playing an essential role in shaping the heart of the city. As the steward of the district, the Downtown Committee actively supports the city center and is essential in establishing a foundation for future growth. “A 50th anniversary is an exciting milestone. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the work we’ve achieved and reinforce that a strong city center benefits our entire region,” said Merike Treier, Executive Director of the Downtown Committee. “We are fortunate to work with strong leadership and community partners, which have been instrumental in the shared success we experience.”

The event showcased three videos, created by Daylight Blue Media, that narrated the story of the past, emphasized the present, and built excitement for the future. These videos illustrated the significant role the Downtown Committee has played in establishing a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving center for all Central New York. Featured in the videos were guest speakers who have supported the Downtown Committee through the decades including County Executive, Ryan McMahon, City of Syracuse Mayor, Ben Walsh, as well as Downtown Committee Board members and community supporters.

“We are proud to support the Downtown Committee as it celebrates 50 years of dedicated service to our community. The Committee's unwavering commitment to strengthening the heart of our city—through economic development, beautification, and safety—has helped make Downtown Syracuse a vibrant place to live, work, and thrive,” said Lindsay Weichert, Regional President, Community Bank, the 2025 presenting sponsor of the Downtown Committee of Syracuse’s Annual Meeting. “As a new neighbor in the downtown district over the past year, Community Bank is deeply invested in the continued revitalization of this dynamic area. We applaud the Committee’s legacy of impact and look forward to building on this momentum together.”

In the State of Downtown Report, Treier emphasized the growth that Downtown Syracuse has undergone and provided a glimpse into the exciting projects our community can anticipate in the coming year, which includes $292 million of development activity that has either been announced or is underway. New housing units are planned at the redevelopment of 250 Harrison St, the Mizpah Towers, the 420-430 East Genesee Street, and the Chimes Building.

The War Memorial will undergo upgrades to improve seating and accessibility. CenterState’s INSPYRE Innovation Hub will open this fall. Work started at Hanover Square Park with plans for restoration of the original 1981 fountain, with improved lighting and more seating. The City of Syracuse, in partnership with the Syracuse Firefighters Memorial Fund, will invest funds to improve Fayette Firefighters Memorial Park.

Investments continue into Downtown’s cultural anchors – The Landmark Theatre is excited to welcome patrons back in August with a restored stagehouse and The MOST received a grant to renovate space in its eastern wing for new STEAM educational space. The center of our city is seeing investment throughout, and “working together there is no limit to what Downtown Syracuse can achieve,” said Merike Treier, at the close of the event.

The Downtown Committee would like to thank National Grid as the Recognition Sponsor, Corporate Sponsors AmeriCU, Canandaigua National Bank, CXtec, FustCharles, and Tompkins, as well as Media Sponsor the Central New York Business Journal. Please visit the Downtown Committee’s website to download a copy of the 2024-2025 Annual Report.

Community support is essential for sustaining the vibrant downtown district in which we live, work, and play. In honor of our 50th anniversary, we invite you to show support by making a donation to the Downtown Syracuse Foundation, Inc., the charitable branch for the Downtown Committee.

Thank you to Daylight Blue Media for producing the videos, which can be found on the Downtown Committee’s YouTube Page and will be shared across our social media platforms as well.