Is downtown Syracuse better than Buffalo? (Webster, Hanover: school, pros and cons, quality of life)

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by Rochester-WNY

Just drive down Nothern Blvd... They are there alright. I don't mind it though.

Probably because Northern Boulevard is more of a business area and that area has been growing here and there. There are some occupied homes close by on Taft Road too.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by mikesuicide

They are both rust belt cities who have a big college presence. The both have blighted areas and dark creepy spots. Buffalo doesnt get the snow fall and averages more sunny days. Buffalo has in its borders on of Americas 10 most desired neighborhoods, the Elmwood Village. We have a distinction as a top ten art city as well. We have many, many things going on in our city center. I'm sure Syracuse is a wonderful place as well. try having some civic pride while still being courteous to others who are proud of their home town as well.

Actually, the University Hill neighborhood recently got the same distinction as Elmwood Village:Greater University HillÂ* — Syracuse, New York

Like Buffalo, the arts are pretty big here too. Really, the cities are similar.

[mikesuicide]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

Actually, the University Hill neighborhood recently got the same distinction as Elmwood Village:Greater University HillÂ* — Syracuse, New York

Like Buffalo, the arts are pretty big here too. Really, the cities are similar.

There is always room for another top neighborhood in upstate NY

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by mikesuicide

There is always room for another top neighborhood in upstate NY

There's quite a few, in my opinion like the Park Ave. neighborhood of Rochester, Collegetown in Ithaca, the Stockade in Schenectady, Center Square in Albany and many more......

[Jeromeville]

I was just driving through downtown Syracuse (Clinton Square area) this snowy evening. Could not believe the relative amount of traffic and pedestrians. City sure didn't seem as dead as its reputation. Maybe everyone out celebrating Obama in the bars. Syracuse simply has the most charming historic city center of the upstate cities. It may not be very big but it is nice.

But they need to fix the clock on the Gridley Building so it tells the right time....

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by Jeromeville

I was just driving through downtown Syracuse (Clinton Square area) this snowy evening. Could not believe the relative amount of traffic and pedestrians. City sure didn't seem as dead as its reputation. Maybe everyone out celebrating Obama in the bars. Syracuse simply has the most charming historic city center of the upstate cities. It may not be very big but it is nice.

But they need to fix the clock on the Gridley Building so it tells the right time....

Yeah, that and take the Christmas Tree down from Clinton Square.

[JiminCT]

Olmstead designed Buffalo...

Cut and Paste designed Syracuse...

The downtowns arent even close. Buffalo isnt a ghost town...Elmwood and Allentown are 100 times more vibrant than the 4 or so blocks of Armory Square.

I'm a Connecticut resident...so I can say all of this without bias.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by JiminCT

Olmstead designed Buffalo...

Cut and Paste designed Syracuse...

The downtowns arent even close. Buffalo isnt a ghost town...Elmwood and Allentown are 100 times more vibrant than the 4 or so blocks of Armory Square.

I'm a Connecticut resident...so I can say all of this without bias.

Downtown Syracuse is more than Armory Square. You seem to have forgotten Clinton and Hanover Squares too. Then, if you want add some other neighborhoods, you have the University Hill area with Marshall St. and Westcott St. business areas.

[Jeromeville]

Nobody "designed" downtown Syracuse, it grew up (and was cut down) in a natural way. And Olmstead didn't "design" all of Buffalo either.

[JiminCT]

True...L'Enfant designed the layout of Buffalo (like DC..the fan). Olmstead designed Delaware park which is beautiful...

Syracuse has better topography...more hills. I just find Syracuse is RAPIDLY in decline. Buffalo has the blight...but the folks who live there are fiercely proud of the area..and it seems much more vibrant than Syracuse. I'm in Syracuse quite a bit and enjoy some of the eateries, but in truth even the Hill, Westcott, and Armory are very very small areas. Wescott especially...
Having said that...my preference for Buffalo is overshadowed by economic reality.
Unless there is an active movement by the state to keep BOTH of these areas economically viable..the death spiral of most of upstate NY is going to continue. I was more optimistic a couple of years ago..but seeing what is happening on a larger scale...I'm not so sure anymore.