This document provides an initial proposal for a project to assess and revitalize Genesee Street in Utica, NY. The proposal is made by a team called the G-Street Team. It outlines that Genesee Street was once thriving but has aged, and the project aims to enliven the street and surrounding areas. Key points of assessment will include vacant lots, wayfinding, activity nodes, and green infrastructure. The team will work with the community to understand current conditions and potential for revival. The finished project will create an engaging public space with community value that allows Genesee Street to evolve.

1. Let’s go Genesee St.
Imagining and Framing the Project;
An Initial Proposal
by
The G-Street Team
1

2. Let’s look at Genesee St.
PROJECT STATEMENT
The City of Utica was once a booming industrial center that has become increasingly
stressed by its historic development patterns. Over time, extensive swaths of asphalt,
stormwater catchment networks, and building stock have aged, thereby inhibiting the vitality
of the city. However, the city’s greatest asset remains, a diverse community base that should
be a predominant influence in Utica’s transformation.
While Genesee Street was once a thriving thoroughfare, the street is now wider that
use demands, and the surrounding gray infrastructure has aged in some areas. With the
community’s assistance, we will assess the current conditions of Genesee Street and
its potential for revival. Key assessment points will include vacant lot recovery, ease of
wayfinding, connections to activity nodes, and green infrastructure, all of which will come
together to capture the identity, spirit, and character of Utica. The finished project will enliven
areas along the extent of the road to invigorate the surrounding communities, and it will
allow Genesee Street to evolve into an engaging space with extensive community value.
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3. Let’s see Genesee St.
THE EXTENT OF GENESEE STREET
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4. Let’s walk Genesee St.
PROJECT SCOPE
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5. Let’s smile for Genesee St.
THE ‘G-STREET TEAM’
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6. Let’s smile for Genesee St.
Ally, a southern California native, is a fourth year undergraduate student at Cornell University
where she will receive a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture in May 2013. While her
passion stems from designing outdoor spaces, she also has an appetite for interior design.
Ally completed her concentration in Design and Visual literacy, where she intensely studied
the art of design in multiple aspects--architecture, interior design, and fashion. Along with her
enthusiasm for design, Ally has energy for philanthropy, as she worked closely with Habitat for
Humanity for six years. She looks forward to translating this love for community into her work
for the wonderful town of Utica.
Ally
Radhya, from Syracuse, New York, is a fourth year undergraduate student in the landscape
architecture program at Cornell. He has a clean and simple approach to design, with an
emphasis on involvement and functionality. He has an interest in the “digital” landscape,
and its relationship with user experience and user interface design. When he isn’t designing
landscapes, Radhya, minoring in business, is involved in various start-ups, ranging from music
production and photography to mobile applications, as a front-end developer specializing in
web and brand identity. He hopes to offer his unique skill set, as well as, a new perspective, to
the Genesee Street project in Utica.
Radhya
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7. Let’s smile for Genesee St.
Tracy is a master’s student in Cornell’s landscape architecture program. She also has a
master’s degree in Urban Planning, a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, and a strong
interest in nature. She enjoys imagining what a space can be and believes it is important for
people to enjoy the spaces they occupy every day. She is looking forward to helping Uticans
create more places they love, by understanding what makes Utica unique and capitalizing on
those features.
Tracy
Yichen Wei, comes from Suzhou, China, and is currently a senior landscape architecture
undergraduate student at Cornell University. She spent the first two years of her undergraduate
studies at China Agricultural University studying environmental science. She is interested in
ecological system design, which combines interdisciplinary fields together and she is interested
in combining ecology, philosophy, and art. She is excited to work on creating a new public space
that expresses and represents the context of Utica.
Yichen
7

8. Let’s smile for Genesee St.
Hanzi is a third-year graduate student in landscape architecture at Cornell University. She grew
up in Xi’an, China, Hanzi and from to the University of Hong Kong got her degree in Art History.
She continues her interest in the visual arts and brings it to landscape architecture, aiming to
create engaging and educational environments for the everyday use of people. Her career goal
is to cultivate a sensitivity and love for the local through designing public space that not only
fulfills everyday needs, but also enhances interaction, communication and appreciation.
Hanzi
Gabriel has eight years experience as a contractor in a variety of construction and landscape
related trades helped him build a strong practical basis and an understanding of what he wished
to achieve. Since that time he has been involved in the design and implementation of a wide
range of projects of varying scales of both architecture and landscape architecture. He enjoys
improving a space and then observing people enjoying that space, both in intentional ways
and in the unexpected interpretations that are inherent in all works of creativity. He received
a bachelor of sciences in landscape-horticulture from the University of Maine in 2010, and is
pursuing a masters of landscape architecture at Cornell University.This practical and academic
background forms the foundation of his practice firmly and with diminished uncertainty.
Gabe
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9. Let’s smile for Genesee St.
Emily Bauer is a landscape architecture graduate student at Cornell University. Emily
grew up on a family farm in Wayland, NY and brings her experiences in the sciences,
environmental management, and landscape architecture into all of her projects. She wants
to engage the imagination of people through her work, by drawing from fundamental
relationships in the natural world. Her work layers aspects of the city’s fabric with natural
processes to enhance the unique identity of the place. She is excited to be working close to
home in the City of Utica.
Emily
Ryan Pardoe is a fifth year undergraduate Landscape Architecture student at Cornell
University who is originally from a small town in Central Pennsylvania. He has a background
in sustainable design, green streetscapes and stormwater management, as well as previous
experience with citywide design specific to Utica. His current concentration is in biology
and chemistry, as he hopes to continue his education to become a medical doctor. Ryan has
always had a love for well designed outdoor spaces and continues to enjoy his work in creating
aesthetically beautiful, yet highly functional, landscape design. He is excited for another
opportunity to work in Utica.
Ryan
9

10. Let’s smile for Genesee St.
Jesse grew up on the island of Martha’s Vineyard and from birth has had a love and respect for
the ocean and all things natural. He has an associate’s degree in landscape contracting and
bachelor’s degree in environmental design. He is currently pursuing a masters in Landscape
Architecture from Cornell University. He is passionate about the use of materials and how they
inform design. Additionally he feels that nature, culture and communication are not individual
components of design but are inextricably linked and woven together throughout the design
process. Jesse feels that it is necessary to understand how nature affects community well-
being and how successful communities are built around active, green spaces that support
social connections.
Jesse
Katherine Li is a third year graduate student at Cornell University, pursuing her master’s degree
in landscape architecture. She is passionate about all things related to design and is looking
forward to graduating this May to start her career in designing sustainable public spaces.
Her concentration and interests are on “green” practices in architecture and landscape. She
is motivated to create spaces that are meaningful to its users and rooted in community
engagement. She is excited to help design a vision for a focal part of Utica that speaks to its
rich past and future.
Kathy
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11. Let’s look at Genesee St.
PROJECT GOALS
The finished project will enliven areas along the extent of the road to invigorate the
surrounding communities, and it will allow Genesee Street to evolve into an engaging space
with extensive community value.
Vacant lot recovery
Ease of wayfinding
Activity nodes
Green infrastructure
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12. Let’s brand Genesee St.
BRANDING
Let’s go! Let’s go! ica
Ut1832
est.
GENESEE ST.
Improvement Project
enesee St.
ENESEE Street
U tic
a e s t. 1 8 3 2
a, New Yo
LET’S GO! Utic 1832 rk
Genesee Street
Let’s go! THE SPIRIT OF UTICA
GENESEE ST.
U tic
a e st. 1 8 3 2
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13. Let’s brand Genesee St.
geneseestreet.tumblr.com
13

14. Let’s zone Genesee St.
UTICA ZONING
Zoning
Community
Commercial
Central
Business
District
Highway
Commercial
Neighborhood
Commercial
Light
Industrial
Heavy
Industrial
Land
Conservation
Office -
Apartment
Planned
Development
Planned
Development
Extraordinary
Multi-Family -
Low Density
Multi-Family -
High Density
Two Family -
Low Density
Feet
0 250 500 1,000 1,500 2,000
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15. Let’s district Genesee St.
UTICA DISTRICTS
Districts
Arts
Baggs Square
Bleecker-
Mohawk
Brewery
Business
Cornhill
East Utica
Harbor
Midtown
North Utica
Oneida Square
South Utica
Uptown
West Utica
Feet
0 250 500 1,000 1,500 2,000
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16. Let’s play Genesee St.
DISTRICTS
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17. Let’s learn Genesee St.
HISTORIC LANDMARKS
1 St. Joseph’s
2 Fountain Elms
1 Miller-Wheeler
10 3 House
9 4 Utica Library
11 5 Stanley Theater
12
6 New Century Club
8 Rutger-Steuben Park
7 Historic District
8 Grace Church
6 Lower Genesee St.
5 9 Historic District
7 10 Union Station
2
11 Daily Press Building
Doyle Hardware
4 12 Building
National
3 Register
Feet
0 250 500 1,000 1,500 2,000
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18. Let’s model Genesee St.
GETTING TO KNOW THE STREET Address: 235 Genesee St. Utica NY 13501
M&T Bank “Bank with the Golden Dome”
Constructed 1898.
Addition constructed end of 19th Century
Designed by R.W Gibson
Style: Italian Renaissance
Large Golden Dome: 24 Karat Gold Leaf
Google 3-D
Warehouse
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19. Let’s fill Genesee St.
VACANT LOTS
Vacant
Feet
0 250 500 1,000 1,500 2,000
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20. Let’s connect Genesee St.
UTICA IN GREATER CONTEXT
Economic Background of Utica
• Water transportation was important for local and
regional trade--streets governed by location of
streams
• Genesee Street links North and South Utica
together. DEERFIELD
• Over time, there has been a transition from
residential use to commercial and educational
use along the street.
• The future plan focuses on revitalizing the
inner city and rejuvenating the street corridor
emphasizing diversity, retail, art, and culture and
core of sustainability. ERIE CANAL
CBD
T SCENIC AND HISTORIC
EE
TR PRESERVATION DISTRICT
E ES
NES
GE
NEW HARTFORD
1.2 Miles 2.4 Miles 20

21. Let’s Genesee St.
SITE ASSESSMENT
+DATA COLLECTION MEETING #2
Mapping//Infrastructure + Environmental
base map
Field Day: Participatory Workshop
community engagement
large scale survey
PHASE 3
street trees
activities to identify
stormwater + green infrastructure opportunities + constraints DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
vacant lots “sacred structures”
architectural styles Preliminary Design
community goals + values design options based on community
green/open space
values + identity + analysis
zoning 4th WEEK FEB. design recommendations + strategies
parking
connections
traffic flows
cars
PHASE 2
bus
bikes
Mapping//Cultural Assets Let’s go! ica
Ut1832
est.
MEETING #3
activity nodes/districts Key Stakeholder Feedback
street character + typologies
landmarks
events
GENESEE ST.
Improvement Project
present stakeholders design options
first impressions of designs
when + where solidify aesthetic + functional vision
2nd WEEK FEB. 2nd WEEK MAR.
PHASE 1
EVALUATE WORK
MEETING #1 MEETING #4
Community Feedback
Kickoff Meeting show evolution of design + explore
introductions
design options
expectations
gain further knowledge of Genesee St.
surveys + collect info
collect additional design ideas
2nd WEEK FEB. identify gaps in design
4th WEEK Mar.
FINAL PRODUCTS
Presentation
Summary Report
Final design proposal + recommendations
1st WEEK May
PHASE 4 21

22. Let’s connect Genesee St.
PROPOSED PROJECT SCHEDULE February March April May
Week: 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1
Phase I Data Collection & Site Assessment
Maps of demographics, land use, vacant lots etc.
Best practice guidelines
Events and cultural elements
Info on traffic, policies, etc.
Branding for Genesee St.
ORGANIZATIONAL KICK-OFF MEETING X
Phase II Community Workshop
FIELD DAY: PARTICIPATORY WORKSHOP X
Patterns and ID of 'sacred structures'
Survey of community values
Collection of design opportunities
Phase III Design Development
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION MEETING X
Study of vacant lots, wayfinding, green infrastructure,
connections, etc.
Physical character options for Genesee St.
Options for street plan
Perspective graphics of design character
DESIGN FEEDBACK MEETING X
Phase III Design Presentation
FINAL DESIGN PRESENTATION X
Inventory of data gathered from previous phases
Text of design recommentations and guidelines
Design proposal illustratives, plan, and analysis
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23. Let’s appreciate Genesee St.
UTICA: A CITY OF DIVERSITY
Diverse Population and Culture
Utica has a history of welcoming refugees since 200 years ago, and it continues
to be a city that embraces people from different countries and backgrounds. Among
the ~60,000 population, almost 13,000 are refugees. People from around the world
also bring with them their cultures.
Major populations in Utica include:
Italians
Indians
Vietnamese
African Americans
Bosnians
Russians
Somalians
Burmese
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24. Let’s appreciate Genesee St.
UTICA: A CITY OF HISTORIC HERITAGE
Utica thrived as a mill city on the Erie Canal in the 19th Century. Although
major industries and businesses pulled out from the city in the mid 20th Century,
the city’s glorious past was preserved in its rich architectural styles. All major
American architectural styles can find its manifestation in Utica, and Genesee
street has a high concentration of architectural heritage.
1608 Genesee St. 24

25. Let’s appreciate Genesee St.
UTICA: A CITY OF OPPORTUNITIES
EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE-BASED INDUSTRIES
Educational institutions, such Unica College, Hamilton College (Clinton, NY) and SUNY
Institution of Technology provide the city with creative energy.
HISTORIC AND SCENIC RESOURCES
Utica is blessed with historic heritage and natural beauty. Recognizing such assetts and
leveraging on them could attract more visitors and increase the quality of Uticans’ life.
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26. Let’s envison Genesee St.
UTICA MASTER PLAN
1. A vibrant, energized downtown with a lot of 5. A community that celebrates diversity:
neighborhood activities Embrace different cultures and make Utica an
attractive destination
2. The heart of regional activities:
Create a lively art and culture center attracts 6. The heart of regional creativity
creative energy Support creative and knowledge-based industries ,
cultural venues and talents and strengthen Utica’s
3. A sustainable future: status as the regional cultural center.
Integrating green practices and urban
agriculture into the city 7. A great little American city whose
people come together with pride to guide the
4. A center of opportunity: City’s future.
build an entrepreneurial culture and a model of
partnerships with our educational institutions,
employers, community agencies, and students
26

27. Let’s live Genesee St.
TOWARDS A BETTER UTICA... ONE STREET AT A TIME!
A vibrant street changes the character 1. Upgrading the stormwater infrastructure
of a neighborhood. As the main street of
Utica, Genesee street could play a better 2. Redesigning the street to fit the current needs
role in enlivening the city. of vehicular traffic
3. Improving street conditions to encourage
more pedestrian and bicyclist use
27

28. Let’s live Genesee St.
4. Preserving historic characters of Genesee
Street
5. Weaving Genesee Street into different
neighborhoods’ characters
6. Encouraging a vibrant street life by
attracting more businesses and activities
along the street
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29. Let’s go Genesee St.
OUR NEXT STEPS... COORDINATION
Divide and coordinate tasks between the team for each phase of the proposal
• Choose approaches and tasks that cater to strengths of group members
• Products of each phase will serve to inform meetings and the phase
29

30. Let’s go Genesee St.
OUR NEXT STEPS... BRANDING AND OUTREACH
Branding/Signage
• To be complimentary to historic districts
• Develop a variety of options for marketing study
• Apply in minimal way that informs without interfering with historic character
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31. Let’s go Genesee St.
OUR NEXT STEPS... REACHING OUT
Connecting with firms and associations that may provide insight/information
• Saratoga Associates - worked collaboratively with the City of Utica, Cornell University and
the SUNY on the adjacent Utica Waterfront Access Plan
• Landmark Society of greater Utica - Possess a library of historical imagery that is not
public domain
• Peter J. Smith and Company - Developed the Historic Canal Gateway District Design
Standards
• Utica Scenic and Historic Design Commission- Designated the more than 300 parcels that
comprise the districts from Hartford to Water street and adjacent areas along Genesee
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