What's missing from Downtown Syracuse?

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by beckyhuggs

It seems to me that everyone in downtown expects downtown to arrange parking. However, when I was living in Houston if a new group or company came in then they arranged parking.

Other people mentioned putting a cinema in downtown. One of the Houston cinemas that I used to go to had 3 floors and built their own attached garage (free parking). If companys do move into downtown then its pivatol that they take the initative to establish parking to go with their store/company/entertainment. As far as the smaller Armory Square places go, street parking is an ongoing issue in every city and so is the cost, its not a special issue that Syracuse alone deals with.

Another good idea. Hopefully, if things like a grocery store or cinema comes to Downtown, it will invest in creating parking for that venue.

[RollsRoyce]

Channel 9 ran a story a few weeks ago regarding several new businesses that are opening in downtown Syracuse. The story profiled Lakeland Boatworks, a Michigan-based boat manufacturer that has recently renovated a long vacant storefront on S. Warren and Casual Expressions, a business casual clothing store for men and women that opened in The Galleries.

Although a boat store may seem far fetched in the middle of a downtown area; like the Dino, it has the potential to be a destination for suburbanites and those from the Fingerlakes and Adirondack regions. According to a Post-Standard article, business has been better than anticipated. The manager cited one customer from Rochester who bumped into the store while on business in Syracuse. Although not familiar with the company, after spending time speaking with store employees and getting a feel for the product, the customer purchased several nautical items and will get his boat serviced there.

Although downtown has clothing stores, they seem to lean upscale in places like Armory or low-end along the 300 and 400 block of Salina. A moderately priced option that appeals to the budget conscious downtown office worker who is not an attorney or executive could serve an untapped market. Ken Hills, the proprietor of Casual Expressions also owns Sophistications Jazz Cafe with his wife in the same building. It's encouraging that Mr. Hills has decided to launch another venture in downtown Syracuse. The entrepreneurial spirit exhibited by this couple is essential in revitalizing downtown.

Also mentioned was Empire Brew Pub expanding into an adjacent space for a party room. The resurgence of Empire Brewing Co. after a multi-year hiatus is also interesting and must speak to the viability of Armory Square.

Here is the link to the Channel 9 story:
Shops opening, expanding in downtown Syracuse - NewsChannel 9 WSYR

Website for Sophistications Jazz Cafe:
Sophistications by Mahogani Hills - Home

Photos of Lakeland Boatworks' Downtown Store:
Welcome to Lakeland Boat Works

Empire Brew Pub Website:
http://www.empirebrew.com/index.php

[jzcrandall]

I've seen many things in my travels that I think would go great not just in downtown, but Syracuse in general.

I would love to see the inner harbor evolve into something similar to the Inner Harbor in Baltimore. Having Carousel a stone's throw away is a huge help. I would also love to see something similar to Carytown in Richmond or K Street Mall in Sacramento. Armory Square has the potential to be like this.

Most importantly I'd like to see SU and SUNY ESF and Upstate integrate into the area. Two of my favorite universities are Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond (my Alma Mater) and Wayne State University in Detroit. They aren't like most colleges tucked away in the corner of the city but are part of the city. A trip along Broad Street in Richmond or Woodward in Detroit is a great example of what I am talking about. Both of these universities were credited for revitalizing the communities around them; it wasn't 15 years ago that Broad Street was an eyesore, but today area of Broad between Belvedere and Lombardy are bustling with life.