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We’ve got parking lot problems:
InterFaith Works’ parking lot is in dire need of replacement. The parking lot has been patched endless times, and at 70-years-old, it is beyond repair. Our agency is situated on the downward slope of James Street with additional slopes in the rear of the building. It’s like our lot was built in a bowl! Rainwater flows from the street, down the driveway and into the parking lot. It also flows from both our east and west neighbors’ properties. During extreme weather events that have become more commonplace due to climate change, our neighbors and Syracuse City’s combined sewer system are seriously impacted by flooding and sewage overflow. The larger consequence for our community is the pollution and poor water quality of Onondaga lake. And, the parking lot is an eyesore!
But, we’ve got a solution!
InterFaith Works aims to replace our environmentally damaging and crumbling parking lot with one that says “welcome.” We care about our clients, our neighbors, the environment, and our community, and we want to affirm their dignity by providing a welcoming, modern parking lot.
InterFaith Works’ parking lot project is part of the County’s Save the Rain initiative to improve the water quality and ecosystem of Onondaga Lake. Our plan is to resurface and replace the current parking lot with porous asphalt to absorb the majority of stormwater that currently flows into the storm sewers. The new parking lot will both absorb the rain directly into the earth, and channel water into river-rock-filled trenches that flow to bio-retention basins. We also will redirect rooftop rain into the Save the Rain systems, to capture and store storm water run-off and put rain water back into the earth where it belongs. All these changes will reduce flooding in our neighborhood and minimize the storm water discharge into the City’s sewer systems. We expect to capture and return close to a million gallons of water annually! Wow!
While we are tearing up and rebuilding, we also plan to invest in one of the few electric car charging stations on the North Side for use by the drivers of the future. In addition, we will remove a dilapidated chain link fence and install water absorbing plantings.
What will it cost?
We estimate that the cost of the entire project will be approximately $800,000 for engineering, construction, landscaping and the electrical vehicle station. To date, we’ve raised $527,600 toward project costs.
We plan to begin construction in the spring of 2023 and have it finished by early summer!
How can you help?
Please help us be responsible stewards of our little patch of Mother Earth!
Mail a check to: InterFaith Works of Central New York, 1010 James St., Syracuse, NY 13203. Please include “Parking Lot” in the memo line.
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Questions?
Please contact Denise Robertson at drobertson@ifwcny.org. Tele: 315-449-3552, ext. 120.
Learn more about Save The Rain
Join us when we celebrate!
This project is so important that, once our parking lot is finished, we’re going to hold a celebration! All our donors will be invited!