Auburn’s Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) is preparing for a busy spring and summer, focusing on beautification projects, public art installations, and a full slate of community events, according to Interim Executive Director Jesse Klein.
Appearing on Beyond the Front Page with Guy Cosentino, Klein detailed BID’s ongoing initiatives to maintain and promote the downtown district, which spans about a square mile from James Street to John Street and from Seward Park to Tompkins Trust.
BID, funded through a property owner assessment and city contracts, oversees maintenance, public art, and beautification efforts, including the management of the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center.
One major initiative, the Flower Power program, will see 100 ground pots and 120 hanging baskets filled with vibrant plantings throughout downtown from May through October. The project is supported by BID, the city, and sponsors such as Chemung Canal Trust and Wegmans. A community planting event is scheduled for May 17 at 9 a.m. outside Café 108.
Public art remains a cornerstone of downtown’s revitalization. BID completed seven installations through Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) funding, including sculptures, murals, and art panels connecting downtown to the Avenue of the Arts. The final DRI-funded sculpture, The Space Between by Audrey Iwanicki, will be unveiled May 2 at 6:30 p.m. on the William Street side of the Hadley Building. That same evening, a newly commissioned mural by Jonathan and Jesse Klein at East Hill Medical will also be officially unveiled.
Klein said BID has applied for additional grant funding to create more murals, including a potential project for the blank wall at Auburn Public Theater’s Exchange Street entrance.
Upcoming community events include the ABC Cleanup on April 26, starting with a hydroelectric facility tour at 9:30 a.m., followed by dam and park cleanup activities. A Swap Shop event will take place from noon to 3 p.m. at Auburn Public Theater’s Stage Right.
Downtown will also host the Memorial Day Parade and Food Truck Rodeo on May 27, featuring a duck derby coordinated by the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the TomatoFest Board. BID’s Founders Day Festival is scheduled for August 8-10, with live music, extended downtown market hours, and family activities.
First Friday events will continue to offer music, art, and shopping promotions throughout the summer.
For information about downtown happenings, BID encourages residents and visitors to visit the Equal Rights Heritage Center across from City Hall or check BID’s website.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].