Oneida County, City of Utica and Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties partner on Cornhill Corridor Study.

The study will focus on ways to enhance seamless connectivity, safety, and mobility between the two impact centers and throughout the neighborhood. The study will be conducted by the Oneida County Planning Department and is expected to start in August 2024.

Emphasis of the study will be placed on transportation and mobility, including the review of road conditions, traffic flow and patterns, crosswalks, public transportation options, and dedicated pedestrian and biking amenities.  

The corridor study will focus on streets near the two impact centers on West Street and James Street which will feature complementary programming designed to serve the diverse needs of the local population.

“As Utica continues to grow and prosper, it is imperative that all of the city rises to new heights,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “The revitalization of Cornhill is crucial to moving Utica and Oneida County forward, and this planning study will maximize the benefit of the neighborhood’s new impact centers and make sure the corridor’s full potential is realized. Oneida County is pleased to partner with the City of Utica and the Community Foundation to actualize the needs of this vital community.”

“The City of Utica is proud to partner with Oneida County and the Community Foundation to make sure we continue to focus on the infrastructure to complete projects and investments in the Cornhill area,” said Utica Mayor Michael Galime.

“This planning study will help bring the vision of this neighborhood’s revitalization to life,” said Alicia Fernandez Dicks, president/CEO of the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties. “The best way to reach the full potential of this transformative project is to make sure every detail is thoughtfully considered. This study, and this partnership, will lead to the impactful outcomes this community deserves.”

The West Street Impact Center will feature 78 mixed income apartments, a multipurpose gym for youth and adult wellness and fitness activities, co-working space for community nonprofits, senior activities, workforce training, and more. In May, on behalf of the Greater Mohawk Valley Land Bank, crews began demolition the Mid-Utica Neighborhood Preservation Corporation’s Leisure Time Activity Center building to make way for the new center.

The James Street Impact Center will repurpose vacant lots to create 24 units of mixed-income housing and offer other services and spaces to support the needs of the neighborhood.

To complement the development of the impact centers, the Cornhill Neighborhood Revitalization strategy also includes initiatives that include park improvements, art & history installments, and the creation of an urban recreation trail - all of which to be considered within the study.