I'm a 25 yr single girl moving 2 Syracuse, NY from Fl, help me! (Manlius: appointed, for sale)

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by CarolFL2NY

this is very interesting!! thank u so much!! what do u mean by "interesting" people?? this is my first time posting stuff .. dnt scare me away LoL

I'm talking about the syracuse.com website.....

[CarolFL2NY]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

I'm talking about the syracuse.com website.....

ohh ok haha

[CNYDC]

I always believe in managing expectations. Miami and Syracuse are very, very...very different -- perhaps in every way possible. The areas you should expect the most obvious (and perhaps difficult) differences are:

1) Weather - well-documented by the previous posts, so I won't belabor it.
2) Economy - Syracuse is a rust-belt city, so it exhibits the characteristics of such a place, including slower job growth and more stagnation. There are however benefits to a place that is more stable and not rapidly changing, including a slower pace of life, longer term friendships, and less suburban sprawl.
3) People - this is what you may notice the most -- there is a big difference between the young working people (i.e. not students) who live in Miami and those that live in Syracuse. The young people who choose to live here for work tend to be more artsy and down-to-earth and less image-conscious. I know this is a broad generalization (of both places), but there is a type of person that is drawn to a humble place like Syracuse.
4) Nightlife/Restaurants - as others have noted, the city's nightlife is concentrated in the Armory Square area downtown, which is nice, but quite small. There are good restaurants, but there are some glaring holes in the culinary options (including good Chinese, Mexican, and middle-eastern food). For me, this was the biggest loss that I experienced moving from a big city.
5) Nature - the city and suburbs cover a small area, so there is much natural beauty within minutes of downtown. There are almost unlimited options for short drives and day trips to enjoy lakes, hiking, camping, fishing, etc. This was the main reason we moved to the area and it recharges and refreshes me every day.

Enjoy your move and please check back to let us know your impressions!

[RollsRoyce]

Originally Posted by CNYDC

3) People - this is what you may notice the most -- there is a big difference between the young working people (i.e. not students) who live in Miami and those that live in Syracuse. The young people who choose to live here for work tend to be more artsy and down-to-earth and less image-conscious. I know this is a broad generalization (of both places), but there is a type of person that is drawn to a humble place like Syracuse.

Fortunately and unfortunately I tend to agree with this statement. While few would characterize someone being humble as a negative trait, I think Syracuse would do well to attract and retain more image-conscious residents. Every vibrant city and region has a mixture of people including those that are superficial, ambitious, and perhaps into more upscale tastes. The relative lack of these types of people is largely attributed to the dearth of high paying, ultra competitive jobs in the region and a long entrenched blue collar ethos that despises conspicuous consumption and profligate behavior. Further, Upstate New York's high concentration of more modest paying not-for-profit educational institutions and other public sector jobs has a tendency to attract people that are more pragmatic in nature.

In many ways this deep recession was caused by people living above their means and engaging in irresponsible purchasing behavior. It can easily be argued that Syracuse and many of its rustbelt cohorts have weathered the recession far better than glitzy places like Miami, Scottsdale, and Las Vegas because local financial institutions, businesses, and residents have a tendency to be more conservative and pragmatic in their purchasing decisions.

I'm not suggesting, expect, or want Syracuse to become the next New York, Miami, or Las Vegas. Conversely, Syracuse shouldn't allow itself to become a city replete with junk cars, dollar stores on every corner, underachievers and a general hatred toward those who are educated and successful. There needs to be a delicate balance.

To the chagrin of some, Syracuse does have several upscale and upwardly mobile suburbs including DeWitt, Jamesville, Fayetteville, Cazenovia, Manlius, and Skaneateles, although most of these communities trend older and consist of families with children and empty nesters. Two city neighborhoods: Armory Square (downtown) and Franklin Square are more popular with twenty somethings. Franklin Square has several warehouses that have been converted into loft apartments and condos. A cursory glance of many parking lots shows a good number of cars with out-of-state license plates or NY license plates with dealer tags from far flung cities, meaning someone recently moved to the area (assuming its a newer car).

[CarolFL2NY]

Originally Posted by CNYDC

I always believe in managing expectations. Miami and Syracuse are very, very...very different -- perhaps in every way possible. The areas you should expect the most obvious (and perhaps difficult) differences are:

1) Weather - well-documented by the previous posts, so I won't belabor it.
2) Economy - Syracuse is a rust-belt city, so it exhibits the characteristics of such a place, including slower job growth and more stagnation. There are however benefits to a place that is more stable and not rapidly changing, including a slower pace of life, longer term friendships, and less suburban sprawl.
3) People - this is what you may notice the most -- there is a big difference between the young working people (i.e. not students) who live in Miami and those that live in Syracuse. The young people who choose to live here for work tend to be more artsy and down-to-earth and less image-conscious. I know this is a broad generalization (of both places), but there is a type of person that is drawn to a humble place like Syracuse.
4) Nightlife/Restaurants - as others have noted, the city's nightlife is concentrated in the Armory Square area downtown, which is nice, but quite small. There are good restaurants, but there are some glaring holes in the culinary options (including good Chinese, Mexican, and middle-eastern food). For me, this was the biggest loss that I experienced moving from a big city.
5) Nature - the city and suburbs cover a small area, so there is much natural beauty within minutes of downtown. There are almost unlimited options for short drives and day trips to enjoy lakes, hiking, camping, fishing, etc. This was the main reason we moved to the area and it recharges and refreshes me every day.

Enjoy your move and please check back to let us know your impressions!

As far what you say about the people i think you hit a great point, people from Miami are more image related...
I do love nature and the mixture of being on the city at the same time... i do like to live somewhere i can walk around shops or restaurants (like i heard downtown is) but sounds great to be around nature as well, what place would you recommend for me to live in downtown? or outside of it??

i will be moving around the 15th to the 20th of novemeber and yes i will report you my feelings as i go along.. thank u!!

[CarolFL2NY]

Originally Posted by CNYDC

I always believe in managing expectations. Miami and Syracuse are very, very...very different -- perhaps in every way possible. The areas you should expect the most obvious (and perhaps difficult) differences are:

1) Weather - well-documented by the previous posts, so I won't belabor it.
2) Economy - Syracuse is a rust-belt city, so it exhibits the characteristics of such a place, including slower job growth and more stagnation. There are however benefits to a place that is more stable and not rapidly changing, including a slower pace of life, longer term friendships, and less suburban sprawl.
3) People - this is what you may notice the most -- there is a big difference between the young working people (i.e. not students) who live in Miami and those that live in Syracuse. The young people who choose to live here for work tend to be more artsy and down-to-earth and less image-conscious. I know this is a broad generalization (of both places), but there is a type of person that is drawn to a humble place like Syracuse.
4) Nightlife/Restaurants - as others have noted, the city's nightlife is concentrated in the Armory Square area downtown, which is nice, but quite small. There are good restaurants, but there are some glaring holes in the culinary options (including good Chinese, Mexican, and middle-eastern food). For me, this was the biggest loss that I experienced moving from a big city.
5) Nature - the city and suburbs cover a small area, so there is much natural beauty within minutes of downtown. There are almost unlimited options for short drives and day trips to enjoy lakes, hiking, camping, fishing, etc. This was the main reason we moved to the area and it recharges and refreshes me every day.

Enjoy your move and please check back to let us know your impressions!

and yes I am moving because i got sot of a "promotion" where i work... i recently graduated from school in Fl so i guess i would like to live around young professionals like me!!

[CNYDC]

Originally Posted by CarolFL2NY

i do like to live somewhere i can walk around shops or restaurants (like i heard downtown is) but sounds great to be around nature as well, what place would you recommend for me to live in downtown? or outside of it??

As others have mentioned, Armory Square or Franklin Square (both downtown) are probably your best bets. However, you should be prepared that these are not extensive urban neighborhoods like you may be used to in Miami. They are very small areas. Armory Square is just a few blocks of shops and restaurants with apartments above. That said, it is very nice for what it is.

If you are interested in living in a walkable, small town with shops and restaurants outside of Syracuse, you may want to check out Skaneateles: www.skaneateles.com or Cazenovia: www.cazenovia.com . Both places have a mix of single family homes and pockets of rental apartments, however, they may not have a lot of young people living there.

[ki0eh]

Bring an alligator with you to put into Onondaga Lake to give folks something to talk about!

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by CNYDC

As others have mentioned, Armory Square or Franklin Square (both downtown) are probably your best bets. However, you should be prepared that these are not extensive urban neighborhoods like you may be used to in Miami. They are very small areas. Armory Square is just a few blocks of shops and restaurants with apartments above. That said, it is very nice for what it is.

If you are interested in living in a walkable, small town with shops and restaurants outside of Syracuse, you may want to check out Skaneateles: www.skaneateles.com or Cazenovia: www.cazenovia.com . Both places have a mix of single family homes and pockets of rental apartments, however, they may not have a lot of young people living there.

A sleeper in that regard is the village of Liverpool, actually. It has a nice walkable downtown, with Onondaga Lake Park nearby, a few shops, a grocery store, a library, some restaurants and is in a good location. Manlius and Fayetteville(the villages) to some degree, also fits the bill.

Also, Cazenovia has a small college. so, you will see some college aged folks around for most of the year.

BTW, CNYDC, I guess a couple of good Chinese restaurants to check out are China Road in Mattydale and the one that is in the Westvale Plaza in Solvay, but the name escapes me now. For Middle-Eastern, try maybe King David's or Munjed's on Westcott. Here's a good website for a variety of restaurants in the area: http://www.cnymenus.com/index.html

and more info. : http://www.villageofliverpool.org/
http://www.manliusvillage.org/
http://www.fayettevilleny.gov/
Can't forget Baldwinsville too: http://www.baldwinsville.org/

As for urban neighborhoods, besides Westcott, University and maybe Eastwood or Meadowbrook, I can't think of any others that the OP might like.

[CarolFL2NY]

Originally Posted by CNYDC

As others have mentioned, Armory Square or Franklin Square (both downtown) are probably your best bets. However, you should be prepared that these are not extensive urban neighborhoods like you may be used to in Miami. They are very small areas. Armory Square is just a few blocks of shops and restaurants with apartments above. That said, it is very nice for what it is.

If you are interested in living in a walkable, small town with shops and restaurants outside of Syracuse, you may want to check out Skaneateles: www.skaneateles.com or Cazenovia: www.cazenovia.com . Both places have a mix of single family homes and pockets of rental apartments, however, they may not have a lot of young people living there.

Thank u so much i will def. check these places