Is Auburn getting better? (Syracuse, Saratoga Springs: for sale, city hall, homes)

[homeward bound]

A friend visiting down here in (very cold!) Virginny keeps telling me it is.

The relatively low price for the many stately old homes I see listed as for sale in Auburn suggest, though, that it may not be.

So...what's going on/will happen in Auburn? Is its loss of livability continuing, or finally turning the big corner?

Opinions? Problems? Possibilities? Predictions?

Thanks, and best wishes for a good and peaceful New Year to one and all.

[Muggy]

Originally Posted by homeward bound

Is its loss of livability continuing, or finally turning the big corner?

Neither... I've been in and out of that region for the better part of the last 10 years. The mall has turned around a little but I don't think much has changed downtown. This is the kind of statement that upsets people, but if you walk around in the mall or downtown for an hour I think you'd have your answer. That being said, maybe you feel like taking a gamble on the future and "getting in" early, but I personally would pass. I predict steady-freddie for Auburn, no palpable gains, no crazy declines. If you like what you see now, than yes...

I think I see what you're getting at: bigger/less expensive than Skaneateles, less built-out/second homesy than Canandaigua... what about Seneca Falls or something similar?

[WILWRadio]

I've visited Auburn on and off for several years now during my research of communities in CNY and WNY that have potential for my small business. The population is slowly declining thanks to insufficient good paying jobs. While the job picture is not as bleak as some small cities in the region they simply aren't attracting any decent paying positions. A commute to Syracuse would be necessary for a decent paying job. The biggest problem I see is the local government. Annual tax increases and spending hikes are common and lots of petty bickering and infighting at City Hall prevents the city from moving forward.

It's a real shame to see a potentially beautiful little city like this sit mired in mediocrity. The lakes and scenery are wonderful and the pace of life is easy compared to many places. Hopefully the leadership will get its act together and return the place to its former glory. It could become a "poor man's" Saratoga Springs if it just had the right kind of planning and leadership to carry out the plan.