AUBURN - State Street should have a new look by next year, a group of community leaders told city officials Thursday. And work is expected to begin within a month.

Representatives from the Stardust Foundation of Central New York and A Call to Action: A Blueprint for Our Region's Future made the plans public for the restoration of various buildings along the block directly off of Genesee Street.

The $5.5-million project is meant to upgrade the street's look while drawing both retail and residents to the downtown area.

Renovation work should start in October, said Guy Cosentino, executive director of the Stardust Foundation.

“Everything, hopefully a year from now, will be done,” Cosentino told members of the Auburn city council.

The presentation was made during the council's weekly meeting.

The State Street project has become a partnership of three different organizations, Cosentino said, with the Stardust Entrepreneurial Institute, Pioneer Companies and JBJ Realty providing the finances.

According to the presenters, the project will include the following components:

• The building at 2 State St. will receive major internal improvements, as well as a full-service elevator. It is expected to house offices for the Auburn Business Improvement District, the newly-founded Stardust Entrepreneurial Institute, the planned musical theater festival and the Stardust Foundation, as well as a grant library.

* The rest of State Street's even side will receive new store fronts and major roof repairs. The stretch of buildings is planned to house restaurants, retail and commercial tenants on the first floor and seven residential units on the second floor.

* The green-colored building at 117 East Genesee St., now dubbed the “Limestone Building,” will house commercial space on the first floor and residential units on the second and third floors. The building will receive work to expose the original limestone exterior, a complete internal remodel and new windows.

* The city-owned building that once housed Kalet's will demand more extensive renovations, including an entire restoration of the first floor. Another option is to demolish and rebuild the location, presenters told councilors.

* The rest of the buildings on the block will also receive exterior work.

Cosentino said there is also the possibility of installing wireless internet service for the area and creating an entertainment zone.

The whole idea behind the project is to increase residents and visitors to the downtown area through a mix of retail, commercial and residential tenants he said. The goal is not to move tenants from other places in the city, Cosentino told the councilors.

“This is not out there to scalp business from Grant Avenue or from the mall,” he said.

In other news:

* The city of Auburn will need to spend $45 million over the next 10 years to make necessary improvements to its sewer and water infrastructure, according to Amawalk Consulting Inc. Representatives from the firm presented the results from a recent study on the systems, which also serve the towns of Aurelius, Fleming, Owasco, Sennett, Throop and the county Water and Sewer Authority.

According to the study, the systems need dozens of upgrades to various aspects ranging from pipelines and storage facilities to computer systems.

“(The system) is showing signs of progressive deterioration,” Stephen Waldvogel told council.

The city would have to increase water rates by an estimated 6 to 8 percent and sewer rates by an estimated 5 percent over the next three years to help support the upgrades, according to the study.

The consulting firm also recommended the city and surrounding municipalities form a regional sewer authority, which has been done in Monroe County, Niagara Falls, the Mohawk Valley and other New York communities. Various town representatives attended the meeting.

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.