Syracuse Construction Update (New York, Harrison, Boston: transplants, public schools, property tax)

[RollsRoyce]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Park

Potentially good news; I'm surprised to see the Merchants Bank considered for a residential conversion, since I believe it used to be Class A office space. That's a little more rare around here - it's usually the B and C office space that is converted. With a glut of vacant Class A space, it's nice to see anything positive being done with it. The first floor would be perfect for a medium-sized grocery.

I'm not crazy about Joseph Hucko's work. On one hand, it's nice for a developer to renovate empty buildings in Syracuse. On the other hand, it's a shame we have to be satisfied with any development rather than demanding quality development. The community would benefit more in the long run if that developer produced a building that will enhance the neighborhood. That Jefferson-Clinton building is the epitome of cheap suburban-style architecture, with its huge setback on South Clinton and lack of ground-level retail space (or even doors). This isn't a developer who gives the impression that he has even a passing familiarity with urban design (or at least he doesn't want to spent the money to achieve such a goal).

The 1960's era building which fronts Warren and Fayette was Class A space at one time, however the masonry building that joins the newer one was probably Class C or Class B at best. The relatively low Class A lease rates in Greater Syracuse would make it cost prohibitive to renovate the 1960s strucure into Class A space and include additional amentities of such buildings (ie. coffee shop, expansive lobby, etc). With so many underutilized buildings on S. Warren Street, most notably the hulking former Excellus HQ building less than 1 block away, a landlord/broker would have a very difficult time marketing the building as Class A space and asking the going lease rate of $15 to $20 psf. That's not to say the building couldn't have Class A finishes, however one of the variables in determining the class of office space involves the building's location (prime or prestigious area relative to the rest of downtown), surrounding area, and the size of the floor plates (typically a 15,000 SF per floor).

The desgn of the 1960's building with very small windows and what appear to be lower ceilings would perhaps make a residential conversion more challenging, however options are limited. The high windows in the ground floor would be make for an excellent retail store and bring much needed energy to the intersection. Ideally, the parket park across the street would be developed into a mixed use structure.

I've always admired the taller, 1860's masonry building that adjoins the corner property. The conversion of that structure to apartments or condos makes excellent sense.

I agree with your assessment of Hucko, although I think he did an excellent job renovating the former firehouse on Montgomery Street into upscale condos. The design of Jefferson Clinton Commons is more akin to the lifestyle shopping centers in suburban Raleigh than a downtown area. The lack of retail on the ground floors was a major letdown. With that said, I still believe the project was an improvement over a vacant lot and has at least gentrified what some would refer to as a barren stretch of S. Clinton Street between the train tracks, Clinton Plaza Apartments and the former Sibley's Building.

[acknight]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Park

This news about South Warren jogs my memory (better late than never, I hope).

The City Planning Commission is voting on Monday whether or not to allow demolition of an old art deco radio station building in the 400 block of Warren Street. The developer hopes to construct a surface parking lot in its place.

Regardless of any historical value of the building, this is currently an uninterrupted block of buildings directly across from the Galleries. Despite the fact that the city often commissions studies that warn of the negatives associated with demolishing buildings in the central business district and note that surface parking has no place in a downtown, this proposal is somehow on the table.

If anyone - local or not - wants to write in opposition to this proposal, that would be great. Allowing for demolition of part of a block - despite all we've allegedly learned about the de-densification of downtown over the past century - would really be a step in the wrong direction for the whole region, especially in light of plans for more development in the neighborhood.

This link provides some information: City of Syracuse

If I'm not mistaken, this has been proposed before and shot down. It's a mid-block parcel on Warren opening to the existing lot (which is ugly, but heavily used for Civic Center events) along Onondaga.

The attached image is a color coded piece from the county GIS data - the reddish plots are the building(s) to be demolished, the black the existing parking lot.

[RollsRoyce]

Syracuse Center of Excellence Featured on Bloomberg News:

Syracuse Builds $41 Million Incubator for Green Ideas: James S. Russell - Bloomberg

[RollsRoyce]

According to WSYR-TV, construction has begun on Madison Row, a mixed use project in the village of Manlius.

Here is the website:
Madison Row, Manlius NY - Restaurant/Retail - Work, eat, shop in the heart of the eastern suburbs of Syracuse, NY - Leasing 32,000 SF

[proulxfamily]

Originally Posted by RollsRoyce

According to WSYR-TV, construction has begun on Madison Row, a mixed use project in the village of Manlius.

Here is the website:
Madison Row, Manlius NY - Restaurant/Retail - Work, eat, shop in the heart of the eastern suburbs of Syracuse, NY - Leasing 32,000 SF

THANK you for posting this. The sole stretch of truly wretched-looking homes on the way to our village were demolished over the past week and there are no signs that say what it was for... this wasn't on the row of connected buildings that are across from Sno-Top but rather, on the same side as the fire department, between them and the retirement home.

[acknight]

Originally Posted by acknight

If I'm not mistaken, this has been proposed before and shot down. It's a mid-block parcel on Warren opening to the existing lot (which is ugly, but heavily used for Civic Center events) along Onondaga.

The attached image is a color coded piece from the county GIS data - the reddish plots are the building(s) to be demolished, the black the existing parking lot.

So much for that. Apparently the internal conditions of the structures has made it a fall down or demolish case... and it was approved. Former WFBL building, Syracuse's first radio station, to turn into parking lot | syracuse.com

[Cleveland Park]

Sad news.

Put Mr. Quartier up there as a horrible member of the community. Buy two historic buildings because they're causing problems for your business, make no effort to rehabilitate or market the buildings, move your business out of that neighborhood (and out of the city altogether), then essentially demolish the buildings by neglect, forcing the city to agree to the demolition because of their deteriorated condition. Anyone who cares about our community would be well-advised not to support this person's business.

Fifty years from now, people will sadly shake their heads and wonder what kind of idiots were running things around here.

The city (and county) aren't helping much; by modifying the ridiculously low tax rate on surface parking, they could remove some of the incentive for these people.

Thanks for the link, ACK, even though the news isn't good.

(P.S. - the suggestion from Ben Walsh that anything having to do with a parking lot somehow enhances walkability is further proof that no one in the mayoral administration has any idea what that word means. It's just a popular buzzword that these folks find themselves repeating, hoping to ride along the coattails of the urbanism trend without actually doing anything to move in that direction.)

[proulxfamily]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Park

(P.S. - the suggestion from Ben Walsh that anything having to do with a parking lot somehow enhances walkability is further proof that no one in the mayoral administration has any idea what that word means. It's just a popular buzzword that these folks find themselves repeating, hoping to ride along the coattails of the urbanism trend without actually doing anything to move in that direction.)

So true.

People who aren't reaching for a truly walkable lifestyle DO think of "walkable" as a buzz word. They think of it as being able to take a safe walk around the neighborhood because they don't know what it actually means to be without a car, especially on purpose.

What it DOES mean is not needing a car. Having bus routes to the right places at the right times and not spending the entire weekend, to and from various trips, getting there. Or, infinitely preferable, being able to walk there. Walkable does not mean being able to walk across a city lot, instead of around it. sheesh. People should be able to live downtown and buy their groceries, clothing, tools to repair odds and ends, buy books and various items, meet up for coffee, walk the dog, grab a bite or something MAKE a bite at any hour... fix a watch, buy toys, see mainstream movies, go to a show, etc. From what I can see, a few changes/incoming businesses, could accomplish that.

Hurry up, already!

[ckhthankgod]

Yeah, that is sad that he thinks that is what the word means and I wonder what his experience is in terms of irban planning of any kind.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

Yeah, that is sad that he thinks that is what the word means and I wonder what his experience is in terms of irban planning of any kind.

Meant urban.......