Development in and Around Syracuse Discussion

[Cusefan0307]

I see that ARPA LLC bought those buildings. Quick Google search puts that LLC at the home of a guy that’s a Project Manager at National Grid. Since the article about the purchases mentions it’s two local men, I’m guessing the “AR” is him but the “PA” is a mystery.

The other guy *may* be a retired National Grid Project Manager.

 

[OttoMets]

I see that ARPA LLC bought those buildings. Quick Google search puts that LLC at the home of a guy that’s a Project Manager at National Grid. Since the article about the purchases mentions it’s two local men, I’m guessing the “AR” is him but the “PA” is a mystery.

Subsequent to that one, actually, they turned it around pretty fast.

Hint: out-of-the-area developer who's been making lots of headlines in your neck of the woods.

 

[shandeezy7]

Subsequent to that one, actually, they turned it around pretty fast.

Hint: out-of-the-area developer who's been making lots of headlines in your neck of the woods.

Ahh my guess was going to be Jemal, but I saw the articles on ARPA acquiring them so figured it was them. Speaking of him - is the former M&T bank building renovation still moving along?

 

[OttoMets]

Ahh my guess was going to be Jemal, but I saw the articles on ARPA acquiring them so figured it was them. Speaking of him - is the former M&T bank building renovation still moving along?

It is, pretty quickly.

 

[shandeezy7]

It is, pretty quickly.

Good to hear. He definitely moves really quickly once he acquires a property. The old Statler Hotel (same architect as Hotel Syracuse) sat in disrepair for years, with talks of redevelopment going on perpetually while nothing was actually done. Literally the day after he acquired the building, there were crews out there doing façade restoration work.

 

[shandeezy7]

His rehab of Seneca One tower (formerly HSBC headquarters) is stunning. I took this pic of the lobby outside the bar at an event in December

.

 

[OttoMets]

His rehab of Seneca One tower (formerly HSBC headquarters) is stunning. I took this pic of the lobby outside the bar at an event in December

View attachment 213492.

They do good work, I'm glad they've established a foothold up here.

 

[Cheriehoop]

It’s because they’re trying to not facilitate money laundering.

If you don’t know who the “investors” are, or where their funds are coming from, then it’d be easy peasy for criminals and their associates to wash $ thru these sorts of deals.

That’s exactly what happened in the sale of the Syracuse developmental center.

A notorious Syracuse property is mixed up in a corruption scandal - in Kazakhstan

Tax-delinquent former Syracuse Developmental Center is owned by company accused of laundering millions in stolen money

www.syracuse.com

 

[IthacaMatt]

I could be missing something here, but you need to have an entity to purchase real estate, whether an individual or an organization - like an LLC. These investors formed an LLC. Real estate transactions are public record, so the name of the LLC is made available. A simple Google search produced the filing number, date, state, status and the registered agent address and principal address. There were no names associated with this, but if you put your home address on your LLC, it's not that hard for someone to put 2 and 2 together.

Well, the thing you're missing is if someone wants to keep something anonymous, they should use their lawyer's or accountant's office address, or a post office box.

This applies, aside from real estate, to women who are in the middle of a divorce. If you want to keep a new business out of marital property, and you started it with separate funds, you want to keep the source of those funds secret, maybe, so your soon-to-be-ex husband doesn't drag out your divorce to prevent you from getting on with your new life.

 

[shandeezy7]

Well, the thing you're missing is if someone wants to keep something anonymous, they should use their lawyer's or accountant's office address, or a post office box.

This applies, aside from real estate, to women who are in the middle of a divorce. If you want to keep a new business out of marital property, and you started it with separate funds, you want to keep the source of those funds secret, maybe, so your soon-to-be-ex husband doesn't drag out your divorce to prevent you from getting on with your new life.

Right, I didn't miss that. That was the point I made. They put their home address on the LLC listing, when they could have easily listed a PO Box or their attorney's address, like I see most of the time when I'm researching LLCs.

 

[shandeezy7]

Just sharing because these are some nice pictures I hadn't seen before:

 

[shandeezy7]

This isn't directly Syracuse-related, but as a hater of suburban sprawl, I really enjoyed this video (including calling out the overtly racist origins of the suburbs):

 

[bevosu]

This isn't directly Syracuse-related, but as a hater of suburban sprawl, I really enjoyed this video (including calling out the overtly racist origins of the suburbs):

Two comments.

My dad and mom were among the first to buy a home in one of the first post-WW ll suburban developments, Levittown, Long Island. The developers capitalized on the GI Bill. Low or no down payments for WWll veterans. The problem was black veterans were excluded. It was impossible for black veterans to get a mortgage for a home in Levittown in the late '40s/ early '50s. May have extended even longer. Blatant discrimination and this wasn't Alabama.

Back in the late '80s my wife and I bought an old house in the hills of western Camillus. Country, 14 acres with a couple of horses and a horse barn. Shortly after we moved in we got word that a local developer was thinking about purchasing a couple of hundred acres of farmland (a local farmer had farmed that land for many years). That land was right across the street from our property. I was concerned.

Sure enough, there were a number of town meetings to discuss the viability and the concerns of the residents of the area. I went to the hearings and it was evident that the existing homeowners were adamantly opposed to the potential development. water run-off concerns, traffic, changing the rural character of the neighborhood.

The only speakers in favor of the proposal were the lawyers for the developer. Luckily the developer who bought the land soon ran into some financial problems and family problems and the project was put on hold. We were happy.

But 2 years later another builder stepped up and bought the land from the original developer and proposed something like 150-200 homes. Somehow, even though the people who lived in that area were unanimously opposed to the plan, the town approved. (wouldn't surprise me if the Town supervisor at the time probably profited?)

We moved out after 6-7 houses were built directly across the street from our house. Over the next couple of years, 100+ houses were built on that farmland. Ruined the character of that rural area, but it probably increased the tax base for the town.

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

Two comments.

My dad and mom were among the first to buy a home in one of the first post-WW ll suburban developments, Levittown, Long Island. The developers capitalized on the GI Bill. Low or no down payments for WWll veterans. The problem was black veterans were excluded. It was impossible for black veterans to get a mortgage for a home in Levittown in the late '40s/ early '50s. May have extended even longer. Blatant discrimination and this wasn't Alabama.

Back in the late '80s my wife and I bought an old house in the hills of western Camillus. Country, 14 acres with a couple of horses and a horse barn. Shortly after we moved in we got word that a local developer was thinking about purchasing a couple of hundred acres of farmland (a local farmer had farmed that land for many years). That land was right across the street from our property. I was concerned.

Sure enough, there were a number of town meetings to discuss the viability and the concerns of the residents of the area. I went to the hearings and it was evident that the existing homeowners were adamantly opposed to the potential development. water run-off concerns, traffic, changing the rural character of the neighborhood.

The only speakers in favor of the proposal were the lawyers for the developer. Luckily the developer who bought the land soon ran into some financial problems and family problems and the project was put on hold. We were happy.

But 2 years later another builder stepped up and bought the land from the original developer and proposed something like 150-200 homes. Somehow, even though the people who lived in that area were unanimously opposed to the plan, the town approved. (wouldn't surprise me if the Town supervisor at the time probably profited?)

We moved out after 6-7 houses were built directly across the street from our house. Over the next couple of years, 100+ houses were built on that farmland. Ruined the character of that rural area, but it probably increased the tax base for the town.

Camillus definitely has development issues. I like to go through the village and then enjoy the scenery on 174 (always called it the "gorge road") when I visit my parents and do work on the farm. The development above the road adjacent to Cobbler and Hambletonian off Rt. 5 has caused a lot of issues for the lower road since developers don't seem to have accounted for the fact that water does, in fact, run downhill. For awhile I was hearing that they were granting variances left and right to the (at that time) 200' of road frontage requirement and that it was essentially a source of revenue for the town instead of being a natural brake on the pace of new developments.

All of the developments off Rt. 5/Scenic Dr (no longer aptly named) near Camillus Middle are just completely gross. What an eyesore! I cannot imagine ever living in such a place.

 

[bevosu]

Camillus definitely has development issues. I like to go through the village and then enjoy the scenery on 174 (always called it the "gorge road") when I visit my parents and do work on the farm. The development above the road adjacent to Cobbler and Hambletonian off Rt. 5 has caused a lot of issues for the lower road since developers don't seem to have accounted for the fact that water does, in fact, run downhill. For awhile I was hearing that they were granting variances left and right to the (at that time) 200' of road frontage requirement and that it was essentially a source of revenue for the town instead of being a natural brake on the pace of new developments.

All of the developments off Rt. 5/Scenic Dr (no longer aptly named) near Camillus Middle are just completely gross. What an eyesore! I cannot imagine ever living in such a place.

That is the result of those hearings that I mentioned. That area off of Rt. 5/Ike Dixon Rd/Hunt Rd is now suburban pollution. A vast wasteland (to quote Newton Minow).

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

That is the result of those hearings that I mentioned. That area off of Rt. 5/Ike Dixon Rd/Hunt Rd is now suburban pollution. A vast wasteland (to quote Newton Minow).

Sorry to hear that, it's a beautiful spot. It used to be gorgeous looking north from Limeledge Rd above Marcellus, and those developments have totally ruined part of that view. I feel (some) of your pain.

Also, that brick house with the barns just west of Camillus Middle may be my favorite house ever.

*Edit: Just West of Ike Dixon

 

[OttoMets]

Camillus definitely has development issues. I like to go through the village and then enjoy the scenery on 174 (always called it the "gorge road") when I visit my parents and do work on the farm. The development above the road adjacent to Cobbler and Hambletonian off Rt. 5 has caused a lot of issues for the lower road since developers don't seem to have accounted for the fact that water does, in fact, run downhill. For awhile I was hearing that they were granting variances left and right to the (at that time) 200' of road frontage requirement and that it was essentially a source of revenue for the town instead of being a natural brake on the pace of new developments.

All of the developments off Rt. 5/Scenic Dr (no longer aptly named) near Camillus Middle are just completely gross. What an eyesore! I cannot imagine ever living in such a place.

It is so sad. A lot of Onondaga County was ruined before my time, but all that junk ruined a landscape I came to know and love.

Forget about the social and financial reasons to hate sprawl (though those are compelling enough), but what about the aesthetic reason? People move out to the country because it's pretty. Until they have to look at three dozen beige houses crowding a treeless landscape.

 

[shandeezy7]

It is so sad. A lot of Onondaga County was ruined before my time, but all that junk ruined a landscape I came to know and love.

Forget about the social and financial reasons to hate sprawl (though those are compelling enough), but what about the aesthetic reason? People move out to the country because it's pretty. Until they have to look at three dozen beige houses crowding a treeless landscape.

I was driving down Seneca Tpke a few weeks ago on the way to Marcellus and I drove past the Tabitha Creek development on Onondaga Hill. My goodness what soulless crap. That development has to be at least 15-20 years old and I can't say there was a mature tree anywhere within it. Just cleared land devoid of any character in the middle of nowhere.

 

[shandeezy7]

Good to see this rundown building (which I think has been for sale for 17 years) will be getting a much-needed redevelopment. Having said that, without much familiarity with homeless services, is this a good location? It's on a major bus route, is somewhat close to downtown and is walking distance to a Price Rite grocery store. I suppose those are all positives. On the downside, Erie Blvd isn't the most walkable street.

Syracuse homeless shelter gets $6M and new home after losing old spot to 5G factory

The state grant will help Catholic Charities convert a vacant commercial building into an emergency shelter.

www.syracuse.com

 

[OttoMets]

Good to see this rundown building (which I think has been for sale for 17 years) will be getting a much-needed redevelopment. Having said that, without much familiarity with homeless services, is this a good location? It's on a major bus route, is somewhat close to downtown and is walking distance to a Price Rite grocery store. I suppose those are all positives. On the downside, Erie Blvd isn't the most walkable street.

Syracuse homeless shelter gets $6M and new home after losing old spot to 5G factory

The state grant will help Catholic Charities convert a vacant commercial building into an emergency shelter.

www.syracuse.com

The City (or State? really not sure) has done a good job plowing the new sidewalks and cycle track on Erie this winter. Exceptions obviously for the businesses that clear their parking lots in a way that blocks the sidewalk, but from Beech all the way out to Thompson I've never seen the boulevard so consistently passable for pedestrians.

 

[shandeezy7]

The City (or State? really not sure) has done a good job plowing the new sidewalks and cycle track on Erie this winter. Exceptions obviously for the businesses that clear their parking lots in a way that blocks the sidewalk, but from Beech all the way out to Thompson I've never seen the boulevard so consistently passable for pedestrians.

That's good to hear. It will be interesting to see how much that new trail gets used this coming Spring/Summer.

 

[IthacaMatt]

A bit of bad news, as a new deli downtown has closed. Many people made bets on starting businesses before COVID came back.

Downtown Syracuse deli opened during Covid. Now it’s closing

Shop just off Clinton Square will close at end of February.

www.syracuse.com

 

[OttoMets]

A bit of bad news, as a new deli downtown has closed. Many people made bets on starting businesses before COVID came back.

Downtown Syracuse deli opened during Covid. Now it’s closing

Shop just off Clinton Square will close at end of February.

www.syracuse.com

In particular, National Grid being remote for 23 months and counting has hurt a lot of businesses on that end of downtown. That's probably the better part of 800 or so employees who aren't eating lunch, picking up dry cleaning, etc.

As far as that deli goes, their exhaust system was terrible; I was waiting for a sandwich one day and left smelling like a diner. The food was OK, but I'm sorry they're gone.

 

[KellySyracuse]

In particular, National Grid being remote for 23 months and counting has hurt a lot of businesses on that end of downtown. That's probably the better part of 800 or so employees who aren't eating lunch, picking up dry cleaning, etc.

As far as that deli goes, their exhaust system was terrible; I was waiting for a sandwich one day and left smelling like a diner. The food was OK, but I'm sorry they're gone.

Any place that does not have a good exhaust system only gets one visit from me. If I'm all dolled up and go out for lunch/dinner/drinks the last thing I want is to leave smelling like I just spent the night cooking fried chicken in a closet. The front of the house is as just important as the back of the house.

 

[SWC75]

Any place that does not have a good exhaust system only gets one visit from me. If I'm all dolled up and go out for lunch/dinner/drinks the last thing I want is to leave smelling like I just spent the night cooking fried chicken in a closet. The front of the house is as just important as the back of the house.

Years ago I was at a previous version of Boreo's on Oneida Lake and they set a fire in the fireplace but forgot to leave the fleu open and the place filled up with smoke. One guy said it was the first time he'd ever had smoked salad.