Jump to:
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021


Gateway Historic Canal District


A 120-acre portion of Downtown Utica had a plan, #NoHospitalDowntown talks about Utica's, "Gateway Historic Canal District". Read more below as we investigate the proposed New Oneida County Hospital Concept and possible impacts on Downtown Utica.


October 5, 2016 - City Of Utica NY Displays False Information On City Website

The Common Council unanimously passed legislation on March 16, 2005 that designates a 120-acre portion of downtown as the Gateway Historic Canal District However, today the City of Utica Website shows a false and misleading Scenic & Historic map. Why?

The proper and legal representation of the city's zoning Should Show The Correct Legal Designations!

One has to wonder why the city does not show the correct legal information. Also, what other information is the City of Utica dispensing that is false? The corruption in Albany would appear very much at home here in Utica.



Public input on the MVHS SEQR DEIS included...

Downtown Utica's "Gateway Historic Canal District" is an area bounded by Genesee, State and Columbia Streets and the CSX Tracks. This area has its own specific master plan, a plan that recommended amendment of the zoning regulations for the district to encourage mixed-uses by establishing building-form requirements, that the Utica Planning Board unanimously recommended approval of the zoning amendment, that the Oneida County Planning Department recommended approval of the amendment, and that on March 16, 2005 the Utica Common Council unanimously approved the amendment.

This neighborhood-specific plan and building-form requirements are consistent with the more general Utica Master Plan approved by the Council in 2011 which envisions mixed uses and “walkability” Downtown. Because they have been approved by the Common Council, it is understood that these plans and requirements are binding on the Planning Board and all who propose building within this district, and cannot be overridden with a mere site plan approval.

Based upon the MVHS hospital plans revealed to the public thus far, the proposed project materially conflicts with these officially approved/adopted plans and goals. Furthermore, since the existing street grid was established by city ordinances over the years, Applicant’s proposal to close portions of streets for the proposed project also presents a “material conflict” with the community's plans and goals as officially adopted. Per 6 NYCRR 617.4(vi)

MVHS C.O.N. Application

In the MVHS C.O.N. Application, Schedule 7, one reads...

Question 2.11 - In a locality without any zoning regulation about height, will the project contain any structure exceeding 100 feet above the original ground area?

Answer - There is no restriction in the Code. The Historic Canal Gateway District overlay has guidelines of 7 stories and 70 feet. Aoorox. height of new facility is 165 feet.

Also in the MVHS C.O.N. Application, Schedule 7, one may read...

Question 3.3 - Is there a public controversy concerning environmental aspects of this project? If yes, briefly describe the controversy in the space below. If so, Schedule 7

Answer - A group No Hospital Downtown was formed. Some of the concerns expressed by this group are related to public costs for parking garage, fate of police and courthouse buildings, demolition of historical buildings, loss of tax dollars, proximity to CSX rail lines, and consistency with Master Plan and Gateway Historic Canal District planning.


Consider - So what would become of the historic Utica Police Station?


October 12, 2008 - Another UticaOD story titled, Many plans but progress slow at city’s gateway, in part reads...

One way city officials hope to attract people to the district is by getting them to live there in loft apartments, which ideally would be located in the upper floors of buildings that would have retail stores or other businesses in the lower floors, Sullivan said. “It’s been wildly successful in Syracuse, and there’s no reason why we can’t have a component of it in the city,” he said.


October 22, 2007 - In a UticaOD story, titled Assessing the Julian Record: Project profile: Sprucing up Utica’s ‘Gateway’, one reads...

"In September 2002, the Julian administration announced a massive revitalization project for the northwest section of downtown Utica. The plan to remake the area west of Genesee Street and just north and south of Oriskany Street was called alternately the Gateway Project or the Historic Canal District Project."

Amoung the list of initial goals was, Possibly add new museums, an expanded Utica Memorial Auditorium and an excavation of the original Erie Canal.


You can help, please join us on Facebook #NoHospitalDowntown. Also consider adding your voice to Hundreds of People Saying, "No Hospital Downtown". Get to know BUD, that's the future of the Columbia Lafayette Neighborhood!



No Studies, No Reports, thus we remain #NoHospitalDowntown