Welcome to City-Data.com forum! Make sure to register - it's free and very quick! You have to register before you can post and participate in our discussions with 700,000 other registered members. User profiles and some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your free account you will be able to customize many options, you will have the full access to over 15,000 posts/day about local topics and you will see fewer ads.
the small towns and suburbs sound interesting, but the problem again is that i don't drive and would to rely on public transportation to get to work at SU. hence the concern about where to live on a reliable bus line.
but thanks for the info on the affordable housing. i would be interested to find out more about renting a place initially, and what areas to rent in with decent apartment (on a busline).
thanks again!
The reason you are not getting much info about the public tranportion is because there basicly is none. It is unreliable, slow, and limiting. You could take an hour (not counting waiting for the 1st bus) to get to a place 10 mins away by car.
Lioc, thanks for the useful bit of info about the buses. i didn't realize it was that bad! The Centro bus website makes it seem as if it's quite decent. I suppose this will be a huge factor in my decision, as I would need to rely on the buses (I honestly don't see myself learning how to drive in Syberia-cuse's weather anytime soon!).
What are the nicer neighborhoods that are atleast served by a bus?
While the winters can get bad,they are not so bad you will not be able to drive. The street are cleaned quickly. And what you read in another thread about washing you car every week is not true. If you wash it ever 2 weeks or so you will be fine. Just make sure you wash you car when the snow starts to melt because that is when the damage is done.
If I was you I would just buy a nice older model car (around a 2000 model), and move to the Cuse if you want to job. I am from Long Island where we basically get no snow, but I did not have any problem driving and getting around in Syracuse. You will get use to the driving quickly. Just take your time and get a feel for it.
Good to hear the roads are ploughed well and on-time. Too bad the cars take such a beating though. The public transport system should really be improved in such climates so that reliances/costs of cars is reduced.
I read that a new light rail is being considered, to go with the new mall expansion. Is that true?
Good to hear the roads are ploughed well and on-time. Too bad the cars take such a beating though. The public transport system should really be improved in such climates so that reliances/costs of cars is reduced.
I read that a new light rail is being considered, to go with the new mall expansion. Is that true?
Yes, rumors of light rail or a monorail system have been around for a few years in Syracuse. If it does indeed happen, it will take awhile to get funded and built...probably after 2015.
There are (at least) 3 phases to the Carousel Mall expansion. The first phase just started construction a few months ago. The second phase is projected start in 2009. The third phase is the important big expansion that will hopefully make it a "tourist" attraction.
Even if everything goes as planned, the Syracuse area won't need mass transit for this Mall until about 2014 or 2015.
Who knows, the world may come to an end before that!
Lioc, thanks for the useful bit of info about the buses. i didn't realize it was that bad! The Centro bus website makes it seem as if it's quite decent. I suppose this will be a huge factor in my decision, as I would need to rely on the buses
Remember... in depressed cities in the rust belt, the poor live in the core of the city and the wealthy live on the outskirts. Keep that in mind when watching that video.
I'm sure you already know this...as most Europeans are smarter than us Americans. but I'll say it anyway.....If the Syracuse regional economy was booming, the core would see more growth and investment. Then downtown and the surrounding city neighborhoods can be transformed into a playground of the wealthy. This would, in turn, raise property values in and around downtown. After a few years of a fast growing regional economy, Syracuse's core is transformed into an upscale, attractive, active, thriving place to live and work.
Remember... in depressed cities in the rust belt, the poor live in the core of the city and the wealthy live on the outskirts. Keep that in mind when watching that video.
I'm sure you already know this...as most Europeans are smarter than us Americans. but I'll say it anyway.....If the Syracuse regional economy was booming, the core would see more growth and investment. Then downtown and the surrounding city neighborhoods can be transformed into a playground of the wealthy. This would, in turn, raise property values in and around downtown. After a few years of a fast growing regional economy, Syracuse's core is transformed into an upscale, attractive, active, thriving place to live and work.
Thanks for the video link, it was very useful, and funny! Not that unsimilar compared to other cities that haven't been gentrified completely. But the buses running only once an hour is a shocker, as they really should run atleast 2-4 times per hour if they really want to serve the general public that depends on the buses. It's a shame that with more money fleeing to the suburbs, the cities have no money left to support basic amenities like this. I think Syracuse should invest more in the buses, as so many people seem to appreciate and need them!
About Syracuse regional economy booming anytime in the near future, is that even a possibility? I keep hearing how the economy tanked and isn't about to regain its glorious past anytime soon. Of course it would be great if it did, as that would help the city and its inhabitants greatly, but unless there's concerted effort to revive things, it's unlikely to happen spontanously. Too much global capitalist competition for anyone to willingly invest in the region unless the region makes itself desirable. But is there any hope with the Destiny USA project, or is that too small in the grand scheme of things? As we say in London, it's a load of *******s if you ask me!
About Syracuse regional economy booming anytime in the near future, is that even a possibility? I keep hearing how the economy tanked and isn't about to regain its glorious past anytime soon. Of course it would be great if it did, as that would help the city and its inhabitants greatly, but unless there's concerted effort to revive things, it's unlikely to happen spontanously. Too much global capitalist competition for anyone to willingly invest in the region unless the region makes itself desirable. But is there any hope with the Destiny USA project, or is that too small in the grand scheme of things? As we say in London, it's a load of *******s if you ask me!
I love (most) British comedy. Coupling is brilliant!
The only real possibility of Syracuse's economy taking off any time soon is if the new State Governor...Eliot Spitzer...keeps his campaign promises. Like revitalize downtown Syracuse and grow the Upstate NY economy.
I truly believe Spitzer has the power and the passion to make the Syracuse area in boom in population and job growth. Why? 1) Spitzer has connections in high places. If he has real passion to bring about change in Upstate NY, I'm sure he has the influence to set events in motion. 2) If Spitzer takes the burden of Medicaid off the county level of gov't, property taxes can be cut in half in most Upstate NY counties. Imagine the boost to the local economy if that happened.
Other than Spitzer's connections, if he makes simple changes in Albany (New York State government) like:
1. Medicaid is funded 100% by the State, not counties
2. Energy costs come down to national average/build more power plants
3. Wicks law is fixed
then I believe a booming economy in the near future is a possibility.
If Destiny USA even happens, that's at least 6 or 7 years down the road. So the impact of Destiny USA will not be felt in Syracuse anytime soon. That's why the Spitzer factor is a bigger deal to me.
The only real possibility of Syracuse's economy taking off any time soon is if the new State Governor...Eliot Spitzer...keeps his campaign promises. Like revitalize downtown Syracuse and grow the Upstate NY economy.
I truly believe Spitzer has the power and the passion to make the Syracuse area in boom in population and job growth. Why? 1) Spitzer has connections in high places. If he has real passion to bring about change in Upstate NY, I'm sure he has the influence to set events in motion. 2) If Spitzer takes the burden of Medicaid off the county level of gov't, property taxes can be cut in half in most Upstate NY counties. Imagine the boost to the local economy if that happened.
Other than Spitzer's connections, if he makes simple changes in Albany (New York State government) like:
1. Medicaid is funded 100% by the State, not counties
2. Energy costs come down to national average/build more power plants
3. Wicks law is fixed
then I believe a booming economy in the near future is a possibility.
If Destiny USA even happens, that's at least 6 or 7 years down the road. So the impact of Destiny USA will not be felt in Syracuse anytime soon. That's why the Spitzer factor is a bigger deal to me.
Wow, you seem to have an analysis already done for the ills that plague Syracuse and surrounding regions -- perhaps the Governor should hire you to take charge so more outsiders feel inclined to move to Syracuse! I didn't realize there were so many tiers to the problems, but it seems doable -- but with great political intervention. But politicians generally make all sorts of promises they never ever keep! But I think the revitalization of Syracuse is key as that might jump-start some of the other improvements -- while gentrification in general is often a boon to the suburban rich and bane to the displaced inner-city poor (as they are priced out of the market with little social investment to bring them up too), I think it's possible to reverse the city's decay (as many other cities are struggling to do the same -- e.g. Minneapolis). But if everyone wealthy person in the suburbs starts to think in terms of only their suburb and not the entire metropole in general, then it'll be harder to get tax monies invested in the city. It's really a chicken-and-egg in my opinion -- invest in the city to make the area thrive, or flee the city and avoid and just complain about the area's decline.
So, I suppose I need to think about all this (very quickly) in whether to accept my job offer at Syracuse or not!
What about ONTrack? Is that still running? It's a train that runs (ran?) from SU to downtown and the new intermodal center. Anyone know what the status of that is?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Welcome to City-Data.com forum! Make sure to register - it's free and very quick! You have to register before you can post and participate in our discussions with 700,000 other registered members. User profiles and some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your free account you will be able to customize many options, you will have the full access to over 15,000 posts/day about local topics and you will see fewer ads. 
It's a shame that with more money fleeing to the suburbs, the cities have no money left to support basic amenities like this. I think Syracuse should invest more in the buses, as so many people seem to appreciate and need them! 
Of course it would be great if it did, as that would help the city and its inhabitants greatly, but unless there's concerted effort to revive things, it's unlikely to happen spontanously. Too much global capitalist competition for anyone to willingly invest in the region unless the region makes itself desirable. 
But is there any hope with the Destiny USA project, or is that too small in the grand scheme of things? As we say in London, it's a load of *******s if you ask me! 
If he has real passion to bring about change in Upstate NY, I'm sure he has the influence to set events in motion. 2) If Spitzer takes the burden of Medicaid off the county level of gov't, property taxes can be cut in half in most Upstate NY counties. Imagine the boost to the local economy if that happened. 
Linear Mode
