previsit questions (Buffalo, Syracuse, Fairmount: apartment complex, work, home)

[softmachine]

Hello, I may be moving to Syracuse and am planning a pre-move survey of the city. I obviously will be visiting the normal tourist places, but would also like to visit some neighborhoods I might be interested in living in. I plan on finishing school at S.U., but don't have the temperament to live in or around students anymore. I would like to live in an area with sidewalks, that is close to a park if possible. I am not adverse to living in or around commercial buildings if needed. My family has strong ties to the old German and Polish neighborhoods of Buffalo. Although, I don't want to live an insular existence in a "white flight" suburb (I've had enough of that in western NY), I'd still like to be around upstate-German history and people that were such a pervasive part of my upbringing as a western new yorker. I was wondering if any Syracuse residence might have some suggestions.

[Sgoldie]

There is a polish church in Syracuse called St Sophias. There is also a German restaurant south of the university called Danzers on Ainsley Ave. It's in a sort of industrial section though. Don't know about neighborhoods, sorry.

[ckhthankgod]

Well....Syracuse's German community used to be centered in the North side of the city. While there still is some presence, it's not as big as it once was. One sign of that presence is Weber's Restaurant at 820 Danforth St. I believe Assumption church was the German catholic parish and is still there conducting mass as well. l

Syracuse has two centers for its Polish community. One, is on the West side centered around Sacred Heart church, with a Polish Home club nearby. Transfiguration church near Henninger High School on the city's East or Northeast side is the other center of the Polish community with a couple of Polish based club or establishments in that area as well. Actually, the intersection of Burnet and Teall is the main intersection for this area.

If I was you, I would live in the Teall Ave. area, as it is close to SU, but is in or close to the areas I just mentioned. It is still pretty nice and in a good location.

[twentyfour01]

It sounds to me like you would be interested in safe neighborhoods or suburbs with working-class roots. Don't overlook the Far West Side/Tipp Hill area or even the near western suburbs like Westvale or Fairmount. ("Suburb" is almost a misleading word - Westvale is physically quite connected to the city). In fact, a lot of people who grew up in the Sacred Heart area (Polish) later moved to raise their kids in these older suburbs. These burbs (some with sidewalks) are also well connected to SU through the bus line. There are also several apartment complexes and standalone apartment buildings along this corridor.