$100 million in NY, county money for Onondaga Lake project, officials say

[Jake]

I doubt that we will ever see water taxis, but the amphitheater (and completion of the lake loop) combined with a new stadium in the Inner Harbor could really revitalize the city, and give a good reason for a light rail system.

I mean how convenient would it be to stay downtown and take a light rail to a SU game, concert, or Destiny? You're right probably makes too much sense...

Light rail Makes absolutely no sense from a financial standpoint. The capital cost alone is 45-60 million per mile. So you're looking at 100 million minimum just from downtown to destiny.

 

[CuseOnly]

This area can't get people to go to the Landmark Theatre or Syracuse Stage, who on this earth would propose this as a great idea. Furthermore, let's build it next to a lake that at this point smells like a summer trailer park sewage dump off site.

Until the lake ceases to smell like a vat of boiling tick, nothing should be built near it.

My tax dollars hard at work.

 

[anomander]

Don't forget they are fixing up Solvay too with some of that money. Matching home owners up to 20k

 

[Full_Rebar]

Light rail Makes absolutely no sense from a financial standpoint. The capital cost alone is 45-60 million per mile. So you're looking at 100 million minimum just from downtown to destiny.

Never realized it cost that much...let's just go with the Human Rickshaw plan instead.

 

[xc84]

This area can't get people to go to the Landmark Theatre or Syracuse Stage, who on this earth would propose this as a great idea. Furthermore, let's build it next to a lake that at this point smells like a summer trailer park sewage dump off site.

Until the lake ceases to smell like a vat of boiling tick, nothing should be built near it.

My tax dollars hard at work.

Onondaga Lake Park is one of the most popular parks in the county. Many people do many different activities on and around the lake.

 

[Jake]

Never realized it cost that much...let's just go with the Human Rickshaw plan instead.

No one realizes how much it costs. You are not alone.

 

[CuseOnly]

Onondaga Lake Park is one of the most popular parks in the county. Many people do many different activities on and around the lake.[/

I live here an believe me it I not one of the most popular parks in the county. Do you live here? Please support your claim.

 

[xc84]

I go there and see lot of people in the summer and have for the last 25 years. It's a very popular park especially for people who like to user it for exercise (biking, walking, running, skating, etc). That's what I observe. My guess is you don't really go there.

 

[shandeezy7]

May not be one of the most popular parks in the country, but they get over a million visitors annually. It's not some rinky dink place that no one goes to.

 

[Noexcuse]

That hotel -- okay, maybe not necessarily THAT design -- may yet be built after all. BTW, let's all remember it was Miner who decided to renegotiate after that project was in the works...holding it up for years, and dragging it into the recession. Oh, and how are those businesses on the east side of Route 81 doing? Thank God we never built an energy industry industrial complex there. At least we know where to get our 18 wheelers services.

Good point about the energy research park proposal

 

[xc84]

May not be one of the most popular parks in the country, but they get over a million visitors annually. It's not some rinky dink place that no one goes to.

Just to be clear, I wrote "county", not "country"...in case you were responding to my comment about it being one of the most popular parks in the county. Thank you for the stats too.

 

[Noexcuse]

Never realized it cost that much...let's just go with the Human Rickshaw plan instead.

 

[shandeezy7]

Just to be clear, I wrote "county", not "country"...in case you were responding to my comment about it being one of the most popular parks in the county. Thank you for the stats too.

Sorry, didn't see that. It's definitely the most popular park in the county, by a long shot I'd say.

 

[Noexcuse]

I go there and see lot of people in the summer and have for the last 25 years. It's a very popular park especially for people who like to user it for exercise (biking, walking, running, skating, etc). That's what I observe. My guess is you don't really go there.

I will vouch for this. Very popular. Weekends it's packed.

 

[TexanMark]

Light rail Makes absolutely no sense from a financial standpoint. The capital cost alone is 45-60 million per mile. So you're looking at 100 million minimum just from downtown to destiny.

Over the US as a whole, excluding Seattle, new light rail construction costs average about $35 million per mile...and that is larger cities. The low end is closer to $15-20 million. I'd guess Cuse would be on the lower end since real estate is so cheap compared to most larger urban areas.

 

[Cheriehoop]

The lake was this city's most valuable natural resource. A signature feature for this town. But we let factories and lack of proper planning and development let it become a cesspool and an afterthought. Thankfully, I believe, it will be a beautiful lake again. Some people are working hard to make that a reality, including the Onondagas. It's a shame we let it get so out of control. Could have been beautiful parks a recreation for decades.

The city itself has used the lake as a sewage dump forever. Only Liverpool really valued the lake, unfortunately the city never did - allowing sewage, oil tanks, garbage dumps etc to surround it in the city.

 

[GoSU96]

That hotel -- okay, maybe not necessarily THAT design -- may yet be built after all. BTW, let's all remember it was Miner who decided to renegotiate after that project was in the works...holding it up for years, and dragging it into the recession. Oh, and how are those businesses on the east side of Route 81 doing? Thank God we never built an energy industry industrial complex there. At least we know where to get our 18 wheelers services.

Yep

 

[GoSU96]

Galeville would have had to adapt. Old Liverpool Road should have been the major thoroughfare. The entire area below should have been developed as premium lakefront property.

Not a whole lot of need for premium lakefront property in the 30's.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

Am I crazy when I say that the initial focus should be on attracting some business to Syracuse first and then worry about building the other stuff, it's all good but we need good jobs and PEOPLE to support this stuff. Manufacturing, etc whatever. Stadium excluded because Syracuse University isn't going anyhwere

 

[OrangeFair44]

In the late 1800s to early 1900s the lake was valued

"By 1900, the shoreline of Onondaga Lake was dotted with major tourist attractions including hotels, restaurants, amusement parks and seven resorts. At that time, fish from Onondaga Lake were served at restaurants around New York State."

Imagine going to a restaurant and getting the fresh catch of the day from the lake! Gross to think of now. Hah.


http://syracusethenandnow.org/Dwntwn/OnLake/OnondagaLake.htm

 

[xc84]

Am I crazy when I say that the initial focus should be on attracting some business to Syracuse first and then worry about building the other stuff, it's all good but we need good jobs and PEOPLE to support this stuff. Manufacturing, etc whatever. Stadium excluded because Syracuse University isn't going anyhwere

I think you do both at the same time. They both help each other.

 

[All4SU]

Not a whole lot of need for premium lakefront property in the 30's.

True. Though some forward thinking would have been nice. I suspect no one cared because the lake was already a sewage dump, as Cherie said. Still, just demonstrates one bad decision after another, pissing away what was truly exceptional. As,I said, I think we will eventually reclaim it. But it will be that much more difficult, and I won't see it in my lifetime.

And don't even get me started on the Town of Clay and how our civic "leaders" there have mucked up forty years of development.

 

[CuseOnly]

May not be one of the most popular parks in the country, but they get over a million visitors annually. It's not some rinky dink place that no one goes to.

I misread it as well, thought you said country, but a million visitors annually?

Really? I have lived in Liverpool or clay my entire life. Is there a turnstyle counter at the entrances that I am not aware of? So Onondaga county is claiming that on average 3000 people visit the park daily for all 12 months of the year. Considering that almost nobody visits the park over that span of 5 months in the winter this claim is even more ridiculous. Two words, no way.

The only time that may have happened was when the powerboat races were there regularly and that was quite a while ago.

 

[All4SU]

I misread it as well, thought you said country, but a million visitors annually?

Really? I have lived in Liverpool or clay my entire life. Is there a turnstyle counter at the entrances that I am not aware of? So Onondaga county is claiming that on average 3000 people visit the park daily for all 12 months of the year. Considering that almost nobody visits the park over that span of 5 months in the winter this claim is even more ridiculous. Two words, no way.

The only time that may have happened was when the powerboat races were there regularly and that was quite a while ago.

How many people do you think go through Lights on the Lake? The corporate challenge? One walk for charity after another. I live in Liverpool, and I frequent the park. I don't think a million people as a rounded estimate is that far off.

 

[xc84]

I misread it as well, thought you said country, but a million visitors annually?

Really? I have lived in Liverpool or clay my entire life. Is there a turnstyle counter at the entrances that I am not aware of? So Onondaga county is claiming that on average 3000 people visit the park daily for all 12 months of the year. Considering that almost nobody visits the park over that span of 5 months in the winter this claim is even more ridiculous. Two words, no way.

The only time that may have happened was when the powerboat races were there regularly and that was quite a while ago.

Even in the winter, there are runners and walkers. It's a great place to run or to start a long run for those training for marathons. Seems like you just want to win the argument and not with facts. You obviously don't go to the park or lake. Am I right? Go there this summer. Take a walk if you are able. Check it out.