I-81Replacement

A decision to preserve a building associated with the canal charted the course of I-81 and razed a Syracuse Neighborhood.

DOT officials call Contract Four a "preparatory contract" to accommodate new traffic patterns when the I-81 viaduct is removed and replaced with Business Loop 81. An open house is being held Thursday.

Monday kicks off the first of five open houses on a plan that examines how Syracuse can maximize the benefits of the I-81 viaduct removal.

It's called Contract 3 by state DOT officials, and includes the "canyon" area north of I-690 to the Inner Harbor. The first two contracts are at the northern and southern interchanges with I-481.

The city hosted two open houses this week to share the vision plan with residents and take some feedback.

The city hired urban planning team Dover, Kohl, and Partners to gather input from residents and stakeholders.

About 60 residents gathered at the Dunbar Center as blowback continues about a now-suspended agreement between SHA and SUNY Upstate to replace public housing with an optometry school.

Turnout was robust at a recent heavy equipment job fair hosted by the NYS DOT and Labor Department.

The NYCLU has led the movement, which contrasts with the City of Syracuse's desire to take ownership of the land and control future development.

Both sides appealed a lower court decision that prohibits work on parts of the project pending additional environmental review.