The massive Micron project took a major step forward Thursday with the filing of a draft environmental impact statement. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon revealed the news more than 20 minutes into his state of the county address Thursday evening at Onondaga Central High School.
“This is an incredible milestone," McMahon said. "This document will go to our state agency partners on Monday and will undergo OCIDA [Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency] review with multiple workshops and eventually a public comment period. We are now on a path for the environmental review to be complete this fall and a November groundbreaking for this project.”
McMahon says the county is preparing to “meet the moment” by continuing to develop a workforce pipeline with numerous business, educational, trade, and labor partners. In fact, Centerstate CEO and New York State are opening a flagship job training center in Syracuse later this year. McMahon says he’ll ask the legislature to approve buying more land for Micron supply chain sites, and additional incentives for housing development. He said 17,000 units are at some stage of planning.
“We have 6,900 units right now in local review in 1,200 units under construction," McMahon said. "We are making significant progress on housing, but the work is not done.”
NORTHSIDE DEVELOPMENT
McMahon also plans to make much needed upgrades and additions to the aging CNY Regional Market. They include a new $950,000 gateway entrance at Park Street, and $2 million to renovate the 90-year-old "C" shed. Plus, a new attraction that’s been discussed in years past.
“This will include an investment of up to $800,000 to create and outfit a ghost kitchen with cooking and prep areas for multiple restaurants and caterers facilitating the establishment and expansion of the food businesses at the market and in Central New York..”
The market improvements are part of a series of plans for the north side and the Inner Harbor. In addition to the aquarium, a new Hilton-branded hotel is being built nearby, and the county is investing in business loans, housing projects, and workforce development focused on the New American and refugee communities that call the north side home. McMahon says he’s creating Northside Advisory Council made up of neighborhood and business leaders, as well as city and county officials to help guide those plans.
