Development in and Around Syracuse Discussion

[OttoMets]

Very nice. We have an Asian place here in Buffalo that my wife and I love called Street Asian Food. It's a husband and wife duo that must work 12 hour days at least (I've never been when they weren't there). They make dishes with Thai, Burmese, Japanese and South Asian influence. The Burmese flat noodles are so good.

HOT take: Asian fusion is actually great. (When it's good, of course.)

 

[Trueblue25]

The new market’s fantastic. The beef shawarma was very good

 

[shandeezy7]

New development planned for the former Uncle Sam's/Country Club site:

Chick-fil-A restaurant proposed in DeWitt; would be 3rd location in Onondaga County

Chick-fil-A has a location in Cicero and is opening another restaurant in Clay.

www.syracuse.com

 

[KellySyracuse]

Not sure how much I trust Katko's involvement here

Kirsten Gillibrand invites Pete Buttigieg to visit I-81 in Syracuse, view revitalization plans

U.S. Senate OKs Buttigieg for post as U.S. secretary of transportation.

www.syracuse.com

"Washington – U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has invited the nation’s new transportation chief to visit Interstate 81 in Syracuse for a first-hand view of plans to tear down the elevated highway and use a new street-level boulevard to spur development.

“He understood the importance of federal funding and support for projects like the I-81 community grid, Rochester Inner Loop, Kensington Expressway in Buffalo, and reimagining I-787 in Albany,” she said.

Separately, Rep. John Katko said he will invite Buttigieg to meet with him in Syracuse to discuss the importance of the I-81 project to Central New York and the need for strong federal support. The federal government generally pays 90% of the cost of interstate highway projects.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., met with Buttigieg last month and emphasized the importance of replacing I-81 in Syracuse with a street-level boulevard that would cost $2 billion or more.

Schumer told syracuse.com that Buttigieg liked the idea of tearing down the highway and using the new “community grid” to spur development in historic Black neighborhoods that were bulldozed to build the interstate."

 

[OttoMets]

Not sure how much I trust Katko's involvement here

Kirsten Gillibrand invites Pete Buttigieg to visit I-81 in Syracuse, view revitalization plans

U.S. Senate OKs Buttigieg for post as U.S. secretary of transportation.

www.syracuse.com

"Washington – U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has invited the nation’s new transportation chief to visit Interstate 81 in Syracuse for a first-hand view of plans to tear down the elevated highway and use a new street-level boulevard to spur development.

“He understood the importance of federal funding and support for projects like the I-81 community grid, Rochester Inner Loop, Kensington Expressway in Buffalo, and reimagining I-787 in Albany,” she said.

Separately, Rep. John Katko said he will invite Buttigieg to meet with him in Syracuse to discuss the importance of the I-81 project to Central New York and the need for strong federal support. The federal government generally pays 90% of the cost of interstate highway projects.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., met with Buttigieg last month and emphasized the importance of replacing I-81 in Syracuse with a street-level boulevard that would cost $2 billion or more.

Schumer told syracuse.com that Buttigieg liked the idea of tearing down the highway and using the new “community grid” to spur development in historic Black neighborhoods that were bulldozed to build the interstate."

I have no reason to believe that Katko knows good transportation policy from a hole in the ground.

That said, he's got every reason to tack left (and do something for the City of Syracuse) since the 24th district could look a little different next time he runs for office.

 

[shandeezy7]

I have no reason to believe that Katko knows good transportation policy from a hole in the ground.

That said, he's got every reason to tack left (and do something for the City of Syracuse) since the 24th district could look a little different next time he runs for office.

If Katko meets separately with him, you almost have to believe he is at least going to pitch the rebuild option (or the idiotic tunnel) to him. I just hope he doesn't pitch the "dumbest idea I've ever seen I can't actually believe someone thought it was feasible" suspension bridge option.

 

[OttoMets]

If Katko meets separately with him, you almost have to believe he is at least going to pitch the rebuild option (or the idiotic tunnel) to him. I just hope he doesn't pitch the "dumbest idea I've ever seen I can't actually believe someone thought it was feasible" suspension bridge option.

View attachment 195896

You might be right about that, he's close with local Republicans who are in bed with Pyramid.

 

[shandeezy7]

You might be right about that, he's close with local Republicans who are in bed with Pyramid.

He has to at least keep up appearances to keep the campaign donations coming in.

 

[KellySyracuse]

I have no reason to believe that Katko knows good transportation policy from a hole in the ground.

That said, he's got every reason to tack left (and do something for the City of Syracuse) since the 24th district could look a little different next time he runs for office.

Yep, I agree with that especially with COVID and the decimation of Destiny and the surrounding hotels that were pushing for a new viaduct. There is a damning story about Destiny on Syracuse.com today, their outstanding loan situation and value on the property is in bad, bad shape. You have to be a subscriber to read it

In Covid era, Destiny USA staggers under pre-existing conditions: debt, vacancies, Amazon

The mall’s appraised value fell by more than half to $203 million. It's outstanding debt totals $730 million.

www.syracuse.com

"...The mall once had more than 250 places to shop, dine and play, but it now has just 205 open tenants, according to a directoryon its website.

In the older, original portion of the mall, the occupancy once stood at 90%. But by September, it had fallen to 59%, according to a report last month by the Kroll Bond Rating Agency.

In the newer, expanded section of the mall, the occupancy rate once stood at 78%, but by September had fallen to 70%.

Things have gotten so bad that a lender recently agreed to allow the mall’s owner, Pyramid Management Group, to skip monthly payments on $430 million in mortgage loans from April 6, 2020 through Nov. 6, 2020 and agreed to extend the loans through June 6, 2022, according to the Kroll agency. The loans had been coming due on Oct. 6 of this year."

 

[KellySyracuse]

more about Destiny:

"The 2.4-million-square-foot mall’s appraised value has taken a huge hit as well. It has fallen by more than half, from $445.7 million in 2014 to just $203 million in September 2020, with most of that decline coming in the last year, according to Kroll.

That means Pyramid’s debt on the mall, which amounts to $730 million when nearly $300 million in bonds issued by the Syracuse Industrial Development Agency are included, far exceeds the value of the property."

 

[KellySyracuse]

If Katko pushes to do the bidding of a dying mall and a handful of hotels in 7th North St. then we might as well just burn the city to the ground.

 

[shandeezy7]

If Katko pushes to do the bidding of a dying mall and a handful of hotels in 7th North St. then we might as well just burn the city to the ground.

I'd be more worried if there was a Republican administration running things at the federal level. With Pete in charge, and with NYSDOT recommending the community grid option, I'd have to assume things will work out ok. The issue is going to be who funds what.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I don't know what the city can do about it, but it's a problem -- both perception and reality, IMO. The street population has exploded in the last decade; you can't sit on a park bench and eat lunch without being imposed upon, so you've got to wonder how Salt City Market is going to address this.

We've got to help provide social services, but it would be nice if there were a way to do that while not affecting quality of life for the rest of us. (The easiest way to do that seems to be density, but it's a chicken and egg problem that's gotten worse during the pandemic: without more normal people around, normal people won't want to be around. The ratio is out of whack.)

The thing that could / should be done is take down those overhead train tracks. It's the space underneath there that makes crime more likely.

 

[Trueblue25]

Art Jones was over at the market today I guess

 

[tptcuse]

Art Jones was over at the market today I guess

I have been following that market on social media. It looks fantastic. I know it has been discussed here, but has anyone been there? How is the food? Any suggestions? I might try to get to Syracuse this month or next for a couple of days.

 

[Trueblue25]

I have been following that market on social media. It looks fantastic. I know it has been discussed here, but has anyone been there? How is the food? Any suggestions? I might try to get to Syracuse this month or next for a couple of days.

Went there last saturday and had shawarma at the Baghdad spot and coffee from the salt city bar. All great. They’re operating at 25% capacity right now for how many people they can let in. Just something to keep in mind because you may have a little line before you can get in

 

[OttoMets]

Went there last saturday and had shawarma at the Baghdad spot and coffee from the salt city bar. All great. They’re operating at 25% capacity right now for how many people they can let in. Just something to keep in mind because you may have a little line before you can get in

Did your shawarma come on a typical pita?

I had the beef yesterday and was floored when it came on a sort of poofy commercial bakery sub roll. Surprising, and very mediocre. The beef was great, though.

Yet again, the line at Sley's was long. And this time he only had one other person working (very, very slowly) alongside him.

Does Salt City serve booze or just coffee? Because the former would be a great addition.

I have been following that market on social media. It looks fantastic. I know it has been discussed here, but has anyone been there? How is the food? Any suggestions? I might try to get to Syracuse this month or next for a couple of days.

Yeah, I've had a couple meals there. And I've probably tried half the other vendors at various pre-opening pop-up events. I believe the savory pie stand and the Jamaican place are the only vendors I'm unfamiliar with (and we did order one of the dessert pies from the pie folks at Thanksgiving last year, very good).

The food is almost uniformly good. Really slow so far, though. Not that that matters to most people, but for a weekday lunch spot it's a little leisurely for what's supposed to be quick-serve.

 

[shandeezy7]

Does Salt City serve booze or just coffee? Because the former would be a great addition.

I believe booze will eventually be added to the menu.

 

[MeloMan]

Did your shawarma come on a typical pita?

I had the beef yesterday and was floored when it came on a sort of poofy commercial bakery sub roll. Surprising, and very mediocre. The beef was great, though.

Yet again, the line at Sley's was long. And this time he only had one other person working (very, very slowly) alongside him.

Does Salt City serve booze or just coffee? Because the former would be a great addition.



Yeah, I've had a couple meals there. And I've probably tried half the other vendors at various pre-opening pop-up events. I believe the savory pie stand and the Jamaican place are the only vendors I'm unfamiliar with (and we did order one of the dessert pies from the pie folks at Thanksgiving last year, very good).

The food is almost uniformly good. Really slow so far, though. Not that that matters to most people, but for a weekday lunch spot it's a little leisurely for what's supposed to be quick-serve.

I have the same critique regarding the shawarma sandwich. Beef itself is very good, but it got lost in the big sub roll. If they are going to use those rolls, they need to increase the beef.

 

[shandeezy7]

Shawarma on a sub roll definitely seems like a no go for me. Pita 4 life.

 

[OttoMets]

Shawarma on a sub roll definitely seems like a no go for me. Pita 4 life.

Late at night, a gyro or shawarma sub can be amazing.

In general, though, no thanks. There's Middle Eastern bakeries all over the place who bake their own flatbreads. Use that, not a commercial bakery roll.

Plus, I thought I saw some pitas back there behind the counter.

 

[Trueblue25]

Did your shawarma come on a typical pita?

I had the beef yesterday and was floored when it came on a sort of poofy commercial bakery sub roll. Surprising, and very mediocre. The beef was great, though.

Yet again, the line at Sley's was long. And this time he only had one other person working (very, very slowly) alongside him.

Does Salt City serve booze or just coffee? Because the former would be a great addition.



Yeah, I've had a couple meals there. And I've probably tried half the other vendors at various pre-opening pop-up events. I believe the savory pie stand and the Jamaican place are the only vendors I'm unfamiliar with (and we did order one of the dessert pies from the pie folks at Thanksgiving last year, very good).

The food is almost uniformly good. Really slow so far, though. Not that that matters to most people, but for a weekday lunch spot it's a little leisurely for what's supposed to be quick-serve.

I just ordered the sandwich so it came on the sub roll. I agree, the roll itself resembled what I’d get at a student union eatery. However it was less than $7 and pretty sizable so whatever. The wrap will come with the pita. I think based on social media pictures the sub rolls being used were only temporary, looks like they may be upping to better quality ones

The Salt City bar will serve cocktails as well. I don’t know if they’re pending a license at this time or not. Local spirits will be used. Hoping beer too.

 

[OttoMets]

I just ordered the sandwich so it came on the sub roll. I agree, the roll itself resembled what I’d get at a student union eatery. However it was less than $7 and pretty sizable so whatever. The wrap will come with the pita. I think based on social media pictures the sub rolls being used were only temporary, looks like they may be upping to better quality ones

The Salt City bar will serve cocktails as well. I don’t know if they’re pending a license at this time or not. Local spirits will be used. Hoping beer too.

I think I see where I screwed up with the bread: Menu — Baghdad Restaurant LLC (baghdadcny.com)

I should have ordered the "Iraqi Saj"...though I don't remember seeing that on the menu board.

 

[Trueblue25]

I think I see where I screwed up with the bread: Menu — Baghdad Restaurant LLC (baghdadcny.com)

I should have ordered the "Iraqi Saj"...though I don't remember seeing that on the menu board.

To your defense I don’t either, I would have definitely ordered it.

 

[shandeezy7]

I just ordered the sandwich so it came on the sub roll. I agree, the roll itself resembled what I’d get at a student union eatery. However it was less than $7 and pretty sizable so whatever. The wrap will come with the pita. I think based on social media pictures the sub rolls being used were only temporary, looks like they may be upping to better quality ones

The Salt City bar will serve cocktails as well. I don’t know if they’re pending a license at this time or not. Local spirits will be used. Hoping beer too.

Turns out booze is being added to the menu sooner rather than later.