Development in and Around Syracuse Discussion

[cuse10]

That could have brought some $$$$s at sports memorabilia trade shows. I possessed Some Bobby Orr rookie cards, my mother threw out. I priced them between 400 and 800 dollars a piece.

To this day, my dad has a very icy relationship with his cousins who threw out his baseball card collection that he had curated from when he was a child. Among them were autographed Pete Rose and Hank Aaron cards along with generic autographs, filled out game cards and hotel phone numbers from when the visiting teams would stay in the city before heading over to Shea.

 

[upperdeck]

I think the branding of the mets and the use of S is great because it now lends itself to the school logo/colors but a new Mets hat and wear it to Su games.

 

[OttoMets]

Syracuse has A LOT of promise in that area and the east side.

Really interested to see what happens with the North Side, it seems to be going downhill while everywhere else is rebounding.

Crime's gotta go somewhere, unfortunately, and that's where it seems to have scattered to from all the demolished East Side and Presidential Plaza projects (along with some other microtrends in local housing). It bears watching. I'd hate to think of where some North Side neighborhoods would be if it weren't for some conscientious local businesspeople and a lot of hard-working refugees.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Good to see the east side of downtown getting some love too. Even though those proposed extensions on the bottom floors look hideous to me.

Former Nynex building in downtown Syracuse to get more apartments, no office space

Big shout out to Rob Simpson. He has been the driving force behind so much of the redevelopment of Downtown. I had an interview for a position with him about 4 years ago, to head up the Tech Garden, and he was talking about how he has been putting these deals together, building by building, block by block, for years. I could see him being a very effective politician, if he ever chooses to run. His accomplishments with the revitalization of Downtown have been spectacular, in my opinion.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Interesting times we’re progressing towards in downtown. I hope they eventually find a way to safely and aesthetically connect tipp and downtown with retail/restaurants/etc.

That would take 20 years. Nice thought, though.

 

[sutomcat]

This one? Any details?
View attachment 142013

Yes, the big 5 story building on the right. I know parts of it have been restored, but looking at it, it looks like the whole thing might have been fixed up. There are a lot of cars parked in the parking lots anyway.

Here is a better view of the building (it is huge). Similar to the old Midtown Plaza, another huge old factory that was unfortunately torn down a while back. Believe it was home to the Smith Corona typewriter factory back in the day.

When you take a minute to review all the progress that has been made recently, it is really amazing.

 

[SU68]

After reading the "factories are closed, woe is me" posts for so many years, I'm curious: what new jobs have come to the downtown area to fill all of the new apartments?

 

[shandeezy7]

Yes, the big 5 story building on the right. I know parts of it have been restored, but looking at it, it looks like the whole thing might have been fixed up. There are a lot of cars parked in the parking lots anyway.

Here is a better view of the building (it is huge). Similar to the old Midtown Plaza, another huge old factory that was unfortunately torn down a while back. Believe it was home to the Smith Corona typewriter factory back in the day.

When you take a minute to review all the progress that has been made recently, it is really amazing.

View attachment 142014

That building is a great urban renewal success story, especially with it being so close to one of the roughest neighborhoods in the city. At least part of it was renovated into office space many years ago. I remember going there with my aunt when her office was there probably 20+ years ago. I believe that building also has the headquarters of Oneida Air, which is a very fast growing local company.

After 'Shark Tank' appearance, Syracuse manufacturer to double employment

Turning Dust Into Dollars | Oneida Air Systems' Metal Fabrication Tools

 

[OttoMets]

Yes, the big 5 story building on the right. I know parts of it have been restored, but looking at it, it looks like the whole thing might have been fixed up. There are a lot of cars parked in the parking lots anyway.

Here is a better view of the building (it is huge). Similar to the old Midtown Plaza, another huge old factory that was unfortunately torn down a while back. Believe it was home to the Smith Corona typewriter factory back in the day.

When you take a minute to review all the progress that has been made recently, it is really amazing.

View attachment 142014

Ah, thought you meant the one on the east side of Seneca. I represent another property owner on that stretch and was fishing for more details.

Not sure about the status of the big building; I know that the center section is finished and occupied, but I'm not sure about the east and west wings. As you note, it's huge (~450,000 square feet) and it can be tough to find a parking space during the week.

There's a picture framing shop on the ground floor that does mainly commercial work but accepts jobs from individual customers. Media Finishings. They do awesome work and I highly recommend them. That's all I've got.

 

[sutomcat]

After reading the "factories are closed, woe is me" posts for so many years, I'm curious: what new jobs have come to the downtown area to fill all of the new apartments?

Some of the people moving downtown are empty nester types, who don't need as much space and don't want to take care of a house and a yard any longer.

Some of the development has added more office space downtown, which has brought more jobs downtown.

But I think a lot of the demand is from relatively young people who would not have lived downtown in the past. They probably would have rented an apartment in Liverpool, Camillus or Manlius in the past. Downtown is the cool place to live right now. No question about that.

 

[OttoMets]

After reading the "factories are closed, woe is me" posts for so many years, I'm curious: what new jobs have come to the downtown area to fill all of the new apartments?

Mostly start-ups and professional service firms. Rent is still relatively low, though downtown isn't as competitive with suburban office parks for companies who want free parking for employees (this includes most insurance companies that make up a solid chunk of the local economy).

But most residential development has been conversion of Class B and Class C office space rather than ground-up construction. This has tightened up a very soft local commercial market at least a little bit. And I would guess that half of downtown residents work elsewhere (including both faculty/staff or students at SU and Upstate) or are empty-nesters. There's a decent amount of reverse-commuting going on.

 

[shandeezy7]

Ah, thought you meant the one on the east side of Seneca. I represent another property owner on that stretch and was fishing for more details.

Not sure about the status of the big building; I know that the center section is finished and occupied, but I'm not sure about the east and west wings. As you note, it's huge (~450,000 square feet) and it can be tough to find a parking space during the week.

There's a picture framing shop on the ground floor that does mainly commercial work but accepts jobs from individual customers. Media Finishings. They do awesome work and I highly recommend them. That's all I've got.

I'm fairly certain that a large majority of the building is occupied. The city school district has a good-sized presence there through their professional development center, which I'm pretty sure is in the west wing. Oneida Air Systems' headquarters is there. Usherwood Office Technology's headquarters is there. Urban Life Crossfit is one of the ground floor tenants. I believe there are also a few non-profits and smaller businesses located there as well.

I wish that Hand Prints Irish store was still there. I loved that place. The owners retired and closed up shop a few years back, I believe.

 

[cuse10]

Mostly start-ups and professional service firms. Rent is still relatively low, though downtown isn't as competitive with suburban office parks for companies who want free parking for employees (this includes most insurance companies that make up a solid chunk of the local economy).

But most residential development has been conversion of Class B and Class C office space rather than ground-up construction. This has tightened up a very soft local commercial market at least a little bit. And I would guess that half of downtown residents work elsewhere (including both faculty/staff or students at SU and Upstate) or are empty-nesters. There's a decent amount of reverse-commuting going on.

What's relatively low? Median rent is ~$2,000 Downtown.

 

[OttoMets]

I'm fairly certain that a large majority of the building is occupied. The city school district has a good-sized presence there through their professional development center, which I'm pretty sure is in the west wing. Oneida Air Systems' headquarters is there. Usherwood Office Technology's headquarters is there. Urban Life Crossfit is one of the ground floor tenants. I believe there are also a few non-profits and smaller businesses located there as well.

I wish that Hand Prints Irish store was still there. I loved that place. The owners retired and closed up shop a few years back, I believe.

Yeah, meant to mention the school district; I've noticed a sign for their disciplinary hearing facility there in the past as well.

What's relatively low? Median rent is ~$2,000 Downtown.

I'm only thinking of commercial rents here: $14.00 to $20.00 per square foot for what passes as good Class A office space around here. Really competitive.

 

[DownTheField]

Good to see the east side of downtown getting some love too. Even though those proposed extensions on the bottom floors look hideous to me.

Former Nynex building in downtown Syracuse to get more apartments, no office space

I think the lower levels have always stuck out like that.

 

[shandeezy7]

I think the lower levels have always stuck out like that.

You're correct, they have.

I happen to think that the new design is pretty appealing. Hopefully the actual finished product is approximately close to that drawing.

 

[shandeezy7]

Interesting times we’re progressing towards in downtown. I hope they eventually find a way to safely and aesthetically connect tipp and downtown with retail/restaurants/etc.

Speaking of Tipp Hill, I think people are going to enjoy the new bar that is going into the former Rosie's space.

 

[Trueblue25]

Speaking of Tipp Hill, I think people are going to enjoy the new bar that is going into the former Rosie's space.

Oh man spill the beans, everyone’s dying for info on this

 

[sutomcat]

You're correct, they have.

I happen to think that the new design is pretty appealing. Hopefully the actual finished product is approximately close to that drawing.

Ah, this isn't the building I thought it was.

I thought it was One Park Place, which is an attractive building that would have been ruined by that ugly and weird doughnut at the base. I don't care about this building; it was ugly from day one. I don't think any amount of lipstick can save it.

But I am glad someone is trying.

 

[Newhouser]

Speaking of Tipp Hill, I think people are going to enjoy the new bar that is going into the former Rosie's space.

I heard it was a Chick-Filet

 

[shandeezy7]

Oh man spill the beans, everyone’s dying for info on this

Info should be coming out soon enough

 

[Trueblue25]

I heard it was a Chick-Filet

Wouldnt even be angry

 

[Trueblue25]

Info should be coming out soon enough

Dont do this to me!

 

[KellySyracuse]

follow up letters to this article should be interesting

Kirsten Gillibrand: Interstate 81 grid would help revitalize Syracuse

"I just don't see where the support from the tunnel comes outside of folks who want the mall (Destiny USA) to be the only destination in Syracuse for economic growth," Gillibrand said.

A state study recommending one of the options for Interstate 81 is due to be completed in January."

 

[shandeezy7]

follow up letters to this article should be interesting

Kirsten Gillibrand: Interstate 81 grid would help revitalize Syracuse

"I just don't see where the support from the tunnel comes outside of folks who want the mall (Destiny USA) to be the only destination in Syracuse for economic growth," Gillibrand said.

A state study recommending one of the options for Interstate 81 is due to be completed in January."

Was happy to see this from her today. Waiting on Senator Schumer to stop waiting on the sidelines and throw in his support.