Syracuse Residents are invited to a community block party today raise awareness about the revitalization efforts in the city’s former 15th Ward. Sarah Walton LaFave, Executive Director of Blueprint 15, a nonprofit helping guide development efforts, said all the work in the area makes life for residents there challenging.
“They're constantly having to deal with construction in their backyard, influencing the air quality, noise, debris and traffic, she said. "So, it's been really challenging and we are trying to also do something kind of celebratory and fun (with the block party)."
Blueprint 15 Block Party
4:00-7:00PM @ Libba Cotten Grove
1338 South State Street
Walton-LaFave contends there’s a lot of progress amid the chaos of construction, disruption and detours. She said she hopes the various projects in the Blueprint 15 area fit well with an economically growing downtown, “both replacement units for people who live in public housing now, new affordable housing is coming, workforce housing opportunities and market rate.”
The organization’s goals include making the streets part of a vibrant part of the city, “working really collaboratively with partners to ensure that local businesses kind of have the first step into retail spaces that are being constructed,” explained Walton-LaFave.
She admitted the area, west of I-81, between Harrison and Colvin Streets has its challenges, such as drugs, violence, litter and other issues. But Blueprint 15 is designed to improve conditions and opportunities for people who live there.
The Block Party includes music, food, games for kids, and information about the project. It runs 4:00 to 7:00 PM today, August 19, at Libba Cotton Grove, 1338 South State Street, Syracuse.
