In Eighth Address, Mayor Walsh Says Sky is the Limit for Syracuse

Published on January 16, 2025

Walsh says Syracuse can reach even higher heights if it keeps putting partnership over partisanship

Speaking from the renovated historic auditorium at Grant Middle School, Mayor reviews progress during his leadership of Joint Schools Construction Board and previews next renovations

As his final year in office begins, Walsh invokes Athenian Oath in describing the State of City: Syracuse is “greater, better and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us”

Syracuse, N.Y. -- At the start of his last year in office, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh urged Syracuse to keep putting partnership over partisanship. Walsh, the city’s first independent mayor, presented his eighth State of the City address Thursday declaring “the sky is the limit” for Syracuse if it continues the collaboration that’s driven progress during his two terms of leadership.

To describe the State of the City, the Mayor drew on the words of the Athenian Oath, the pledge sworn by young men in the ancient city of Athens, Greece. “On behalf of the Administration in my final year in office, I am proud to report Syracuse is “not only not less, but greater, better and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.” 

Walsh delivered the annual report to the Syracuse Common Council from the auditorium at Grant Middle School on the city’s northside. The historic space was renovated in 2020 as part of the Joint Schools Reconstruction Board (JCSB). The Mayor reviewed the progress of the JCSB, which he has chaired since taking office, including major facility renovations at 19 schools. He also previewed the schools where JCSB work will take place in the years ahead.

Mayor Walsh featured the vision established by his administration in 2018: Syracuse will be a growing city that embraces diversity and creates opportunity for all. He presented progress and upcoming plans on the four objectives he and his team have pursued to achieve the vision:

• Increase economic investment and neighborhood stability;
• Deliver city services effectively, efficiently and equitably;
• Achieve fiscal sustainability;
• Provide quality constituent engagement and response.

“I believe we’ve shown that rising above is the only sure way to achieve what may feel like the impossible,” Walsh said. “When we continue to avoid partisan bickering, steer clear of revenge politics — turn the other cheek — and choose partnership, we will find Syracuse’s best days are still ahead of us.”

Walsh pointed to examples of major projects that advanced under his administration that he said, “couldn’t get done for years and, in some cases, decades.” Examples included the redevelopment of the former Maria Regina campus, a vacant eight-acre property next to Grant Middle School. Work will begin this year to convert the dilapidated building into quality affordable senior housing. 

Mayor Walsh cited the transformation of the former Central High School in downtown Syracuse, which was an empty shell for decades and is currently being fully restored as the first regional Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) high school in New York State.  It will welcome students from the city and suburbs this fall.  The Mayor’s presentation included the first public photos of interior construction work happening on the historic school building.

He also highlighted the former Syracuse Developmental Center between Tipperary Hill and South Geddes Street, which has been a blighted eyesore for more than 25 years. The City seized the 48-acre property for back taxes in 2019 and is working with a development team to convert it into a new neighborhood with more than 500 units of housing. Demolition of the massive complex is nearly complete, clearing the way to start installation of utilities infrastructure and roads later this year.

Mayor Walsh provided an update on the Syracuse Housing Promise which he announced in his 2024 State of the City address. He pledged to have 2,500 units of new housing completed or underway before leaving office. One year into the Promise, Walsh said Syracuse is halfway to the goal and is on track to meet or exceed the 2,500 units.

Walsh noted that reflection on the past brings attention to the work yet to be done. He cited the “unacceptably high poverty rate” which has begun to decline in recent years but is still among the highest among cities in the nation.

“We’ve made some progress but not yet solved the vexing and heart-wrenching challenge of poverty. It’s had a long head start and its tentacles are deep. Getting that done will take unrelenting collaboration among all levels of government and the non-profit and private sectors for many years to come,” Walsh said.

Walsh’s address at Grant Middle School was his third at a city school. He presented his first State of the City at PSLA@Fowler and his sixth at Corcoran High School. 

$450 million in construction projects at 19 schools have been completed under JSCB phases I and II. Projects include education, recreation and utilities and infrastructure.

“Classrooms, laboratories, music rooms, cafeterias, gymnasiums and sports fields have been transformed into the finest places for learning and growth anywhere in the region,” Walsh said.

Planning is underway for Phase III of JSCB with an expanded budget of $400 million. Renovations will take place at Seymour Dual Language Academy, Webster Elementary, Delaware Primary, Syracuse Latin and Roberts Pre-K-8 Schools, Lincoln and Syracuse STEM at Blodgett Middle Schools, Nottingham, Corcoran, and Henninger High Schools. These projects will take place over the next nine year and work is expected to start in late 2026.

The full text of the 2025 State of the City address is available online at syr.gov/2025sotc-speech.