Development in and Around Syracuse Discussion

[OttoMets]

Speaking of W. Onondaga St, the Syracuse Land Bank just put out an RFP for this beautiful old mansion:

This is where the Land Bank really shows its worth.

There's a market for converted residences. The location, despite the situation with street people and the reputation, is actually pretty good. And tax incentives can mostly bridge the gap in getting the building renovated. Piece by piece, this is how to stabilize a troubled neighborhood.

 

[OttoMets]

And Assemblywomen Pam Hunter just endorsed the Community Grid.

That's big news, as she was a vocal holdout. She lives on the east side of the city but represents a district that straddles the DeWitt line and includes a lot of neighborhoods with very vocal opponents. Apparently groups like Suburbs for the Grid helped her change her mind.

Now do you all want some OttoMets editorializing? No? Too bad. This is politically advantageous, but I've been disgusted by her stance from the beginning and am disappointed at the praise she's beginning to receive for this endorsement. She was wrong from the jump. There were two proper stances for a politician to take: 1) "Urban and transportation planning decisions should be made by the knowledgeable paid professionals who do this for a living, and I'm not included in that group," or 2) "The paid professionals who make urban and transportation planning and policy decisions recommend Course of Action X, so that's what I support."

But she didn't. And she's still stubbornly resisting all propriety and logic. What's her rationale now? That enough constituents support it that she now supports it. No acknowledgement that politicians should stay out of these policy decisions. Just a tacit support for some type of asinine "policy by referendum" approach.

Not a fan, even if I like the outcome.

 

[Trueblue25]

There an initiative to bring some energy to the Westcott/university area this year? I saw a bunch of new restaurant/coffee places planned or already established there

 

[OttoMets]

There an initiative to bring some energy to the Westcott/university area this year? I saw a bunch of new restaurant/coffee places planned or already established there

NIMBYs have crushed a very solid proposal for the Dorians/Fast Break site. Stay tuned.

 

[shandeezy7]

There an initiative to bring some energy to the Westcott/university area this year? I saw a bunch of new restaurant/coffee places planned or already established there

This is from a few weeks ago:

Westcott developer proposing new retail, apartment space for neighborhood

 

[shandeezy7]

NIMBYs have crushed a very solid proposal for the Dorians/Fast Break site. Stay tuned.

Wow really? That's awful.

 

[Trueblue25]

NIMBYs have crushed a very solid proposal for the Dorians/Fast Break site. Stay tuned.

Thats a shame. I saw a wine and dine was going in. Peaks mountain coffee went in more towards the bottom of the hill.

That whole area south of e. fayette has a lot to offer imo.

 

[OttoMets]

Thats a shame. I saw a wine and dine was going in. Peaks mountain coffee went in more towards the bottom of the hill.

That whole area south of e. fayette has a lot to offer imo.

I think the wine bar's still on. There's brown paper on the windows. So that's good. But what's really needed is more residential density, especially more 12-month-a-year density. It is difficult for high-quality food places to survive in the summer.

I agree that the adjacent neighborhood around East Fayette is in an interesting position; it's changed a lot in a decade and it's anyone's guess what the continued residential construction in the East Genesee corridor does to both development of services and residential demand.

 

[JrodCuse]

Speaking of W. Onondaga St, the Syracuse Land Bank just put out an RFP for this beautiful old mansion:

Man this looks like the house from american horror story season 1. What a creepy show that season was!

 

[Trueblue25]

I think the wine bar's still on. There's brown paper on the windows. So that's good. But what's really needed is more residential density, especially more 12-month-a-year density. It is difficult for high-quality food places to survive in the summer.

I agree that the adjacent neighborhood around East Fayette is in an interesting position; it's changed a lot in a decade and it's anyone's guess what the continued residential construction in the East Genesee corridor does to both development of services and residential demand.

Though absurdly expensive, I believe the higher quality off campus student housing lofts/apartments popping up will only help.

 

[Cusefan0307]

And Assemblywomen Pam Hunter just endorsed the Community Grid.

That's big news, as she was a vocal holdout. She lives on the east side of the city but represents a district that straddles the DeWitt line and includes a lot of neighborhoods with very vocal opponents. Apparently groups like Suburbs for the Grid helped her change her mind.

Now do you all want some OttoMets editorializing? No? Too bad. This is politically advantageous, but I've been disgusted by her stance from the beginning and am disappointed at the praise she's beginning to receive for this endorsement. She was wrong from the jump. There were two proper stances for a politician to take: 1) "Urban and transportation planning decisions should be made by the knowledgeable paid professionals who do this for a living, and I'm not included in that group," or 2) "The paid professionals who make urban and transportation planning and policy decisions recommend Course of Action X, so that's what I support."

But she didn't. And she's still stubbornly resisting all propriety and logic. What's her rationale now? That enough constituents support it that she now supports it. No acknowledgement that politicians should stay out of these policy decisions. Just a tacit support for some type of asinine "policy by referendum" approach.

Not a fan, even if I like the outcome.

When are we going to get an answer from Albany? The string along here is getting ridiculous...

 

[KellySyracuse]

it's astonishing to me that Katko is conducting town halls about 81 at this late date. When you look at how much property would need to be demolished in the city to accommodate the tunnel it should be taken off the table as an option.

 

[OttoMets]

When are we going to get an answer from Albany? The string along here is getting ridiculous...

I'm amazed it's not public yet. No clue what the delay is.

 

[OttoMets]

it's astonishing to me that Katko is conducting town halls about 81 at this late date. When you look at how much property would need to be demolished in the city to accommodate the tunnel it should be taken off the table as an option.

Read between the lines and you just answered your own question, Kelly. His timing says everything about what the DEIS eliminates as an option.

 

[OttoMets]

Though absurdly expensive, I believe the higher quality off campus student housing lofts/apartments popping up will only help.

Though there are still reasonable questions about their effect on demand on the existing rental stock, I agree that higher-quality options are a good thing. But I'd feel better still if they were unfurnished with fewer bedrooms and 12-month lease terms. Even better if they included an affordable component.

 

[KellySyracuse]

Read between the lines and you just answered your own question, Kelly. His timing says everything about what the DEIS eliminates as an option.

what do you mean? I know he is the worst and should have been voted out but are you saying his agenda is to lobby for the tunnel? lol, I have no idea other than he is a typical GOP lackey despite his claims of being bipartisan

 

[OttoMets]

what do you mean? I know he is the worst and should have been voted out but are you saying his agenda is to lobby for the tunnel? lol, I have no idea other than he is a typical GOP lackey despite his claims of being bipartisan

Yep. He's pro-tunnel, he's dialed in enough to know that the very leaky NYSDOT has ruled out the tunnel option in the DEIS, so after years of saying that we should wait on the results of the DEIS in order to have an informed discussion (really, he's said this), he's jumping the gun and trying to get one last bit of tunnel momentum going before NYSDOT kills it once and for all.

Then the viaduct is going to be portrayed as a fair compromise.

He's scum.

 

[oldpinepoint]

what do you mean? I know he is the worst and should have been voted out but are you saying his agenda is to lobby for the tunnel? lol, I have no idea other than he is a typical GOP lackey despite his claims of being bipartisan

. Clarification, all politicians are are a typical lackey for whatever party they represent. This wouldn’t be any different if he had been voted out. Bottom line, is all this delay, additional studies, etc is to appease and try to make everyone happy which is impossible. Just grow a pair and support what the experts recommend.

 

[oldpinepoint]

Yep. He's pro-tunnel, he's dialed in enough to know that the very leaky NYSDOT has ruled out the tunnel option in the DEIS, so after years of saying that we should wait on the results of the DEIS in order to have an informed discussion (really, he's said this), he's jumping the gun and trying to get one last bit of tunnel momentum going before NYSDOT kills it once and for all.

Then the viaduct is going to be portrayed as a fair compromise.

He's scum.

The tunnel and viaduct is dumb as hell. What a waste of money.

 

[bnoro]

While we're on the subject, now that it's public: Exclusive: $100M plan to transform public housing

Not the best writing, but this is a very exciting project.

Ugh, why did I read the comment section...

 

[Todoubled23]

Ugh, why did I read the comment section...

beyond toxic, really scary stuff sometimes.

 

[KellySyracuse]

Yep. He's pro-tunnel, he's dialed in enough to know that the very leaky NYSDOT has ruled out the tunnel option in the DEIS, so after years of saying that we should wait on the results of the DEIS in order to have an informed discussion (really, he's said this), he's jumping the gun and trying to get one last bit of tunnel momentum going before NYSDOT kills it once and for all.

Then the viaduct is going to be portrayed as a fair compromise.

He's scum.

Oh my god, no way.

 

[KellySyracuse]

Good god I have to hope that Jim Walsh's reputation will influence Katko's decision. A bigger viaduct would be a history changing mistake for Syracuse.

 

[richmondcuse03]

Speaking of W. Onondaga St, the Syracuse Land Bank just put out an RFP for this beautiful old mansion:

So sad to see. Anyone know if the school may be interested in a private / public partnership on renovating something like this? I could see it being a great project for the school of architecture. Anyone have a contact? I’m going to email someone from the development office but think it’s be a great opportunity to donate the money for the land bank fee and donate the property to the school. My wife and I love these sorts of things. Wish we had the money to do the renovation ourselves and were local. It’d be a fun project.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Yep. He's pro-tunnel, he's dialed in enough to know that the very leaky NYSDOT has ruled out the tunnel option in the DEIS, so after years of saying that we should wait on the results of the DEIS in order to have an informed discussion (really, he's said this), he's jumping the gun and trying to get one last bit of tunnel momentum going before NYSDOT kills it once and for all.

Then the viaduct is going to be portrayed as a fair compromise.

He's scum.

Rebuilding the viaduct would be the worst possible decision in all of this. Talk about a waste of money and the destruction of even more of downtown.