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These really are things only you can answer for yourself.
Does decay and abandoned building bother YOU?? They are here, all over. Clearly some people teach themselves to look right past them and see that shiney thing over there..............I could show you empty factories with broke windows and such that have been empty since I can remember, say the 70'sish. With a brand new Walmart across the street. HUGE factories, NY was a real power house.
Meeting an SO is completely on you. Is being tanned a factor with you?? With zero Sunshine of coarse women here are either ghostly pale, have a spray tan or have just come back from vacation. You can't swing a dead cat here without hitting a tanning salon. For myself I did not marry my high school sweetheart so I have met both the worlds most evil woman (my ex) and the love of my life (current). And everything in between. To be honest I have never dated anywhere but NY so don't have a point of reference. If your into women wearing parkas and UGH boots you will be in heaven.
Were I live is a little cleaner then most of NY. I disagree with what the Oneidas are doing with the casino but will admit they buy up everything they can and either tear it down or put a fresh coat of paint on it. Amother factor is fire. I wouldn't call it common, but not rare either. As taxes keep going and sale is impossible fire becomes the only way out. We had a huge old factory here burn a couple years ago. It had been empty for decades and I guess the guys son needed the insurance money. It was some fire thats for sure. Utica is actually famous for this.
So I say its on you. The decay is here, every where. It bothers some people and not others. So nobody can tell you if you'd like it because only you can decide if having blinders on is how you roll.
Another factor is family. CNY isn't like the rest of the country in that pretty much everybody was born right here. Everywhere I travel I meet people from NY and all over the North (NY plates, or our accent or something give it away). They will generally tell you what a suckhole NY is and how awesome <insert name here> is, preaching to the choir with me. But here in CNY in 44 years I have never met a person who wasn't from here(meaning from within America, some third world hellholes may well be worse then NY). Never. This means on holidays and such your gonna be alone. In this area the words stranger and enemy have the same meaning. Because of having no real single culture nothing is really geared towards single life. Even the crackheads can go home to Moms on Thanksgiving. If you don't have family here the best your gonna do is maybe find a bar full of some real late stage alcoholics and have a turkey sammich. Ask most people here that "love" NY if they have aging parents to take care of or children with women other then there wife that they can't take with them. I think you'd find that most people who are truely free to leave either have or plan to. The ones who "want" to stay are generaly weighted down by other factors.
Particularly the last sentence "Syracuse has been doing a lot in the way of revitalizing - tearing down old, crappy, worn down, falling apart buildings and putting up new hotels, shopping centers, and apartments/condos/townhomes/houses." (as quoted by ss20ts). And it makes me wonder: Is it really as bad as you describe? I understand there are places that people don't like to live- I can relate. If what you're saying is true, I may seriously reconsider the move. So, if I may ask you, is this just rhetorical speak? Is nearly every town up there badly decayed and "stinks of death"?
With all due respect to Sean, he readily admits that he doesn't live in Syracuse or spend any time there. He lives in another city; he might as well be in Gary, IN. In that regard, he doesn't have a clue what he's talking about.
However, I noticed your earlier disdain for living in a liberal state, Phish. New York is one. If one doesn't appreciate high taxes, New York may be a poor choice.
Personally, I can't think of a worse place to live than North Carolina. For those with different values, though, that state is very attractive. In considering a move, it's imperative that we consider what we do and do not want to be around. There's little worse than moving to a new place and hating it.
Considering that one poster isn't too familiar with the immediate Syracuse area and the other is originally from the Los Angeles area, but lives in Marcellus and has lived here for few years, I would put a lot of what they say into proper perspective. Especially the former more so than the latter, actually.
Is this the best area in the country? No, but it isn't the worst either. You may see some old warehouses and factories, as well as some head and pawn shop in a few areas. On the other hand, you find some very nice urban neighborhoods, along with affordable and safe suburban areas too. You can find newer areas and homes that vary in price range. It all depends on what you are looking for.
Never take posts seriously from people that have overwhelming negative things to say. I've seen these posts and though I don't live in Syracuse, most of them must aren't true and highly exaggerated. These people are miserable and try to bring everybody else down with them. Also, never take posts seriously that only have positive things to say. You have to view posts that show both positives and negatives and make a decision..... But to base opinion of what you read off a website shows a lack of better judgement.
There seem to be several very pro-Syracuse people on here, and I always read what they have to say. In that light, there are at least 2 very anti-Syracuse people on here, and I have to also listen to their opinion too. I agree that making a decision based off a website is foolish, but this website is real people with real opinions, not some book with statistics. So I do heed the warnings and also listen to what is great about Syracuse.
With all due respect to Sean, he readily admits that he doesn't live in Syracuse or spend any time there. He lives in another city; he might as well be in Gary, IN. In that regard, he doesn't have a clue what he's talking about.
Well, he does live in Oneida, which according to the map I'm looking at, seems to be pretty close distance-wise to Syracuse.
[/quote]However, I noticed your earlier disdain for living in a liberal state, Phish. New York is one. If one doesn't appreciate high taxes, New York may be a poor choice.[/quote]
Sorry, I don't know how to multi-quote. My conundrum is that I wanted to live in a state with high personal freedoms, limited government intrusion, etc. The problem is that I am realizing that the states that "claim" to be free are the least free, and it really has more to do with population density vs. the laws on the books. For example, when in NH, a state that claims "Live Free or Die", I was pulled over and the cop just had a hard on for out-of-state plates. Asked me 3 times what I'm doing there with PA plates. Last I checked, I was a US citizen, and PA was a US state. Even the cops here aren't as bad.
While in California, a state denigrated for being one of the least free, I saw people concealed carrying guns and also people smoking marijuana right in the street. Hardly ever saw a cop, and the people I met there were said the cops have better things to do than harass law abiding citizens. So, long story short, I am now disregarding statistics and stereotypes and just listening to my own intuition.
[/quote]Personally, I can't think of a worse place to live than North Carolina. For those with different values, though, that state is very attractive. In considering a move, it's imperative that we consider what we do and do not want to be around. There's little worse than moving to a new place and hating it.[/quote]
I totally agree with this part. Honestly, I've moved 7 times in the last 10 years. I'm tired of it. I can't afford to move again, so I really want to put down some roots. Hence why I like to listen to all sides.
I know everyone is different, but why is NC a terrible place to live (for you)? From my perspective, it seems like a pretty nice place- lots of oceanfront beaches, clean cities, tall mountains in the west, and the people seemed pretty laid back and friendly. Just curious....
There seem to be several very pro-Syracuse people on here, and I always read what they have to say. In that light, there are at least 2 very anti-Syracuse people on here, and I have to also listen to their opinion too. I agree that making a decision based off a website is foolish, but this website is real people with real opinions, not some book with statistics. So I do heed the warnings and also listen to what is great about Syracuse.
I believe that even the pro-Syracuse will give you what you want without an exaggeration. I think people understand that there is no perfect area and a lot will be determined by what an individual wants.
I'm bored so I'll take the bait even though I know a troll post when i see one...
I go out nearly as often in the winter as in the summer - just like everyone else I know other than people like my parents - who are in their 80's.
Do you mean the residential downtown population which is mostly comprised of young professionals people in their mid to late 20's 20's and 30's? Were you expecting to live downtown and find teenagers or 21 years olds in apartments that cost $900 to $2200 per month?
Wow. it's as if I live in a different city than the one you describe. I go out to dinner, movies, music events etc. and often can't even get a table before 8:00 or 8:30 PM without a reservation. When I head home at 11:30 or midnight there are lots of people still out.
Of course the winters suck (or at least many of us feel that way.) It's hardly a news flash. late spring through early fall weather here is fantastic. it's usually 10 degrees cooler than Manhattan and less humid.
Tell us about the problems you've had when walking in that area. Be specific. Or are you just uncomfortable being around lower income people after dark? It's not Cazenovia but for most of us it's not scary either.
This is true and we also have some amazingly good ethnic dining elsewhere in the city.
I care as much about nightlife as I do about NASCAR or knitting. I don't knock any of those things but if you judge a city and "how much there is to do" by nightlife then you have just made it very clear what your overall priorities are. I was that way once too.
You're joking - right? Nightclubs and golf are the benchmarks by which you judge a city and how much there is to do?
Gosh... I was planning to swim in it. I think it gets as deep as 18 inches out in the middle. You've ruined my plans. I suppose I could swim at a nice clean and free public swimming pool year round or any number of nice beaches during the summer if there were any. Oh wait... there are plenty of those.
Wow. Another news flash. I'm 55 years old and it's gotten gradually cleaner during my lifetime but it probably won't be truly swimmable until I'm 100. So does thsi mean a city must have a clean lake adjacent to it in order to stand a chance of being cool - in your view?
College sports are, for me, a few notches above NASCAR and knitting. Like those activities, I understand why people like them but I'm uninterested. The reality is that I have plenty of interesting friends and acquaintances from many walks of life. We find many things of mutual interest to discuss but college sports, like other sports, are not among them.
That's how you came to be an expert on Syracuse?
What you call facts are facts for YOU and uninformed opinions for others.
Well Phaelon you've made this quite easy for me. Moderator cut: personal attack
1. I used to live right around the corner of Armory Square. If you think people go out just as much in the dead of winter as they do in July, you better get those glasses checked. Also I'm not hanging out with 80 yr. olds, so I can't really comment on that useless bit of info.
2. While I lived there I was 22/23. Maybe there are a lot of young people and maybe there aren't, but I did not come across very many. Syracuse is not a city that young people flock to - Again I'm referring to the downtown area. We went up to Tipp sometimes and it was a little better but not by much.
3. Notice how I said "except bars/restaurants"? But that seemed to be the main thesis of your argument. I'm talking about downtown. Examples: Rite-Aid on Salina - closed @ 6pm. Dunkin Donuts on Salina - closed @6pm. Pavones on S. Warren closed @ 6 or 7 pm. No grocery store/liquor store in the city unless you drive 10-15 minutes away. And yes, wegmans is worth it but still, there's nothing downtown.
4. Problems on Salina, I myself never encountered any but I witnessed plenty of fights there late at night (my apt. overlooked the bus stop) Not to mention it's filthy down there and every store is either abandoned or some sketchy pawn shop. If you try to argue that that is a pleasant place to be for any reason than I have nothing more to say to you.
5. Nascar and knitting eh? Actually those sound like things you'd be pretty in to. Of course nightlife is a priority of mine because I was a single 23 yr. male that enjoyed going out at night. And after a few months of circling the bars in armory and tipp it becomes very monotonous.
6. Beaches? and where would that be - Jamesville resevoir? Green lakes? Yeah I guess so if you consider those "beaches". And I wasn't implying that a city MUST have a lake close to it Moderator cut: personal attack I was saying that it would make Syracuse A LOT more appealing with a clean body of water that close.
7. You don't watch sports - Moderator cut: personal attack
8. And finally yes, I grew up in Cazenovia which is 30 min away from Syracuse. I lived downtown for about 8 mo. Does that make me an expert? Maybe not but I know enough about the area to know it's not for me.
Phish Head if you'd like some more info that isn't biased or blindly defending Syracuse because no one else will, PM me and I'd be glad to give you some.
Last edited by bellafinzi; 12-06-2011 at 04:28 PM..
Oneida is barely in the Syracuse metro area and isn't in the immediate or Greater Syracuse area. So, whatever happens there may not occur in say Liverpool or Camillus, as it is about 25 miles away. Sure there are some rural folks in the area, but Oneida is a small city of about 10,000 that has a range of neighborhoods.
Again, things will come down to what you want out of the area.
We have high taxes, heavily overcast skies during much of the winter and lots of snow from December to March. Those are indisputable facts - not opinions from me or anyone else. I've lived in the go-go rushed environment of the NYC Metro area (Rutherford NJ - six miles west of Manhattan) for four years, in progressive granola-crunchy Ithaca for four years (working - not as a student) and in the city of Syracuse for the balance of my 55 years. I travel enough (18 countries and 47 states - most of that travel being in the past ten years) to get perspective on what life is like elsewhere.) I have family members living in the Boston area, Denver, San Francisco Bay area, LA, California's Central Valley, WA state, south Florida and even Alaska.
IMO I read enough and think critically enough to draw my own reasonable conclusions about the nature of Syracuse. It's not for everyone - that's for sure. Despite the fact that places such as Marcellus, Cazenovia and even Oneida are within the "Syracuse metro area" it is unrealistic to use perceptions of those places as the benchmarks by which to judge Syracuse itself. if I were raising kids I'd probably manage to find a decent comfort level in Caz or Marcellus although I'd be more inclined to look at Fayetteville or Dewitt. I'm a city type guy - love NYC, San Francisco and many other large cities. I like the sense of energy, the cultural amenities etc. and don't mind being in places that are busy and crowded. That being said - The refreshing lack of traffic issues in Syracuse, the level of amenities for a city its size, the laid back but friendly nature of the people and the hometown feel are all things that keep me here and satisfied with my life. The truth is that my happiness is what I make of it. But I suspect that if I lived in a place like Oneida or many other small towns or cities outside of but close to the Syracuse I would be miserable and have a negative opinion of the area.
Note: I like to read, listen to recorded and live music, go to movies, plays and museums, cook, dine out at interesting places, travel, engage in discussions about politics, culture and life with friends and enjoy the company of a few close friends, a significant other and my parents. I have zero interest in hunting, NASCAR or spectator sports of any kind. I don't actively dislike those things or criticize them nor do I lack respect for folks that have those as primary interests. But I'm not interested in them and have never felt "left out" or as though there's no place for me here because of what does interest me.
Last edited by phaelon56; 12-06-2011 at 08:23 AM..
I can only say that your ignorance, coupled with your inability to correctly comprehend my clear statements, is astounding. Sober up , frat boy - get pour head out of your a*s and get back to us in about ten years. You might have a clue by then.
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