Syracuse vs Rochester (Greece, Irondequoit, Henrietta: condos, house, neighborhoods)

[ging382]

I'm thinking of moving to Syracuse from the Rochester area. Anyone that is familiar with the Rochester city area, park ave, browncroft, cornhill etc, are there places in syracuse similar to those areas?

[johnny99]

Why would you want to leave beautiful Rochester? I recommend Strathmore, Tipp Hill, or the East side. Also some nice high end condos going in downtown. Good luck in your search.

City of Syracuse (http://www.syracuse.ny.us/nhood2.asp - broken link)

[bellafinzi]

Hey, I actually agree with johnny99 on all accounts! How about that!

ging382, why are you thinking of moving to Syracuse? For a job?

IMO, Greater Syracuse and Greater Rochester are very similar. The main differences stem from the fact that the Rochester region has seen population growth upwards of 100,000 people in the last 4 decades. During the same time period, the Syracuse area has barely grown. In addition, all of the growth has taken place in Oswego and Madison Counties. Onondaga County actually lost population from 1970 to today.

This stagnation has caused a few major problems:

1) There is very little pride in Syracuse among locals. This forum is evidence. Notice the lack of City Data members who promote or even discuss Syracuse.

2) Very little new construction in the last 30 years. Even the Rochester area looks new and vibrant by comparison. For every house built in the Syracuse area, the Rochester area builds three.

3) Litter filled, decayed, ugly, run-down are all words that can describe some neighborhoods in Syracuse. Without population growth and new jobs in this community, the blight continues to spread and spread. There is very little incentive for investors or developers to fix up old properties since the demand isn't high enough, nor are the housing costs high enough to make a profit.

4) The brightest minds are leaving the area and not replaced by newcomers. In search of jobs, most of the talented people leave CNY behind. Let's just say the Syracuse area produces many more intelligent, creative people than this community can employ. So we end up with a brain drain.

There are many more problems I could add, but those are the important ones.

Keep in mind that the City of Rochester's nice neighborhoods are located between downtown and a nice suburb. So that means in Rochester you can drive or walk from a nice city neighborhood to a suburb or downtown without going through a run-down or dangerous neighborhood.

On the other hand, the City of Syracuse's nice neighborhoods are very near or surrounded by run-down or dangerous neighborhoods. So in order to go outside your nice city hood, you'll need to pass through some rough hoods.

[ging382]

Thanks for the help and insight! It is for a job and an opportunity that I think (and hope) is worth the move. We will see where I end up.

[ckhthankgod]

Syracuse's nice neighborhoods are mostly on the ends of the city, while the rough neighborhoods are in the inner part of the city. So, to get to downtown, you would have to go through the rough neighborhoods, with maybe the exception of a few routes. I think if you come from the West, go down West Genesee St. from the Eastwood area: go down James St. and from the East: go down East Genesee St.

[Classicalguy]

"On the other hand, the City of Syracuse's nice neighborhoods are very near or surrounded by run-down or dangerous neighborhoods."

I don't agree with this. I live in Manlius, a very nice suburb of syracuse, and go through no bad areas on my way to work. There has been a lot of housing development in the Syracuse Suburbs, and rehab in downtown Syracuse. The population in the city has declined, but the suburbs have grown. I can't compare to Rochester, because I've never lived there, but I suspect that both cities are experiencing similar challenges (loss of blue collar manufacturing, high tax rates).

[ckhthankgod]

I agree Classicalguy. You can drive to work in downtown Syracuse and not have to go through any rough neighborhoods.

Also, Rochester is going through the same thing, but they seem to grow a bit more in it's suburbs. It is a bit more diverse of a city too, as it is the major city Upstate with the highest percentage of Blacks and Hispanics. Their suburbs are more diverse and just as nice with places like the Henrietta area, Brighton, Gates-Chili, Greece and Irondequoit areas having a good mix of people.