On the Money with J. Daniel Pluff & Laiza Semidey
Property Pulse: I-81 Viaduct Project.
Clip: Season 4 Episode 5 | 3m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
I-81 Viaduct Project.
On our Property Pulse segment, we explore the I-81 Viaduct Project. In the 1960s, Syracuse's historic 15th Ward was torn apart for I-81 construction, displacing over 1,300 families. Now, more than 50 years later, the New York Department of Transportation is removing the viaduct and revitalizing the area. The project will create a new community grid to navigate the city.
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On the Money with J. Daniel Pluff & Laiza Semidey is a local public television program presented by WCNY
On the Money with J. Daniel Pluff & Laiza Semidey
Property Pulse: I-81 Viaduct Project.
Clip: Season 4 Episode 5 | 3m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
On our Property Pulse segment, we explore the I-81 Viaduct Project. In the 1960s, Syracuse's historic 15th Ward was torn apart for I-81 construction, displacing over 1,300 families. Now, more than 50 years later, the New York Department of Transportation is removing the viaduct and revitalizing the area. The project will create a new community grid to navigate the city.
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On the Money with J. Daniel Pluff & Laiza Semidey is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> THE I-81 VIADUCT PROJECT IS TO ADDRESS THE 1.4-MILE STRETCH OF ELEVATED HIGHWAY IN DOWNTOWN SYRACUSE THAT IS AT THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE.
IT'S ALSO-- IT DOESN'T CONFORM TO HIGHWAY STANDARDS ANYMORE.
SO WE NEED TO TAKE THE VIADUCT DOWN AND REPLACE IT.
AND SO WHAT WE HAVE DETERMINED TO DO IS WE ARE GOING TO BRING IT TO STREET LEVEL AND INTRODUCE NEW ACCESS POINTS FROM DIFFERENT WAYS AROUND THE CITY TO CREATE WHAT IS CALLED A COMMUNITY GRID OF STREETS.
THE I-81 VIADUCT PROJECT IS A $2.25 BILLION PROJECT WHERE 80% OF THE FUNDING FROM THE PROJECT IS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND 20% OF THE FUNDING IS COMING FROM NEW YORK STATE.
NOT ONLY ARE WE GOING TO HAVE MOD MODERN INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE AREA, BUT WITH THE CONTRACTORS WHO ARE COMING IN AND WORKING, THEY'RE SPREADING MONEY AROUND INTO THE ECONOMY AS WELL.
THE I-81 VIADUCT PROJECT IS STRUCTURED IN EIGHT DIFFERENT CONTRACTS.
AND SO, SO FAR ALREADY, WE HAVE FOUR OF THOSE CONTRACTS IN CONSTRUCTION.
WITH THE FOUR, IF YOU ADD THE COST OF ALL FOUR OF THOSE CONTRACTS, WE ARE ALREADY MANAGING NEARLY $1.3 BILLION OF CONSTRUCTION HAPPENING IN AND AROUND SYRACUSE RIGHT NOW.
WITH OVER $200 MILLION OF CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE ALREADY.
THEY ESTABLISHED A GOAL WITH THE CONTRACTORS OF A 15% LOCAL HIRE.
MEANING THAT ANYONE WHO LIVES IN THE SYRACUSE CITY ZIP CODES OR ONONDAGA NATION, THEY'RE CONSIDERED LOCAL HIRES AND THE CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SET ASIDE 15% OF THEIR WORK HOURS FOR THESE FOLKS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING ON THE PROJECT.
NO MATTER WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCE IS, NO MATTER, YOU KNOW, IF THEY HAVE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, WE HELP WITH ALL THAT TO GET THEM HIRED ON THIS JOB.
WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN HOW THE I-81 VIADUCT PROJECT HAS HAD AN EFFECT ON HOUSING IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.
WHEN THE PROJECT WAS IN ITS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT PHASE, THE SYRACUSE HOUSING AUTHORITY KNEW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY OF THIS MODERNIZED INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING AND THEY HAVE A PROJECT THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON TO REDEVELOP SOME OF THE HOUSING IN THE PUBLIC HOUSING SECTOR OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.
WHEN I-81 WAS BUILT BACK IN THE 1960s, IT RAN RIGHT THROUGH A VERY PROMINENT, THRIVING BLACK AND JEWISH COMMUNITY.
AT THE TIME, IN ORDER TO BUILD THE HIGHWAY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAD TO BE DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES.
THE THRIVING COMMUNITY WAS JUST DEMOLISHED AND PEOPLE HAD TO MOVE OTHER PLACES.
IT DID CREATE SOMEWHAT OF A SEGREGATION BETWEEN THE EAST SIDE AND WEST SIDE OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.
IN THAT AREA WHERE THE VIADUCT IS TODAY.
SO NOW WITH US TAKING THE VIADUCT DOWN, WE ARE STITCHING BACK THAT COMMUNITY.
WHEN YOU INVEST $2.25 BILLION INTO A COMMUNITY, IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.
AND SO THAT'S KIND OF A DIRECT CORONATION CORRELATION OF US
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Chedy Hampson's new non-profit, The South Side Community Growth Foundation (11m 27s)
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On the Money with J. Daniel Pluff & Laiza Semidey is a local public television program presented by WCNY