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The Syracuse area has a serious image problem. Most outsiders either have a negative image of Syracuse, an image of Syracuse that doesn't reflect reality or no image at all.
Even our neighbors to our west and east do not give much respect to the Syracuse area. Most Buffalo, Rochester and Capital District residents all look down on the Syracuse area. That means that the Syracuse area is the only major metropolitan area Upstate that isn't even respected by the majority of people living in Upstate NY. Clearly, there’s a major problem with Syracuse's image that needs addressing.
I think it depends on what aspect of Syracuse it is. When it comes down to SU sports, it is usually positive. You do get some that like things like Armory Square, the affordable housing, the usually friendly people, the relatively safe area for it's size and the schools.
I think a lot of the problem could be the way the people that live here see themselves. I've at times said that our area had self esteem issues and a lack of forward thinking, instead of looking at the potential it has and what the area could be.
You're right. Most natives tend to think the Syracuse area is 1) smaller than it truly is, 2) more dangerous than it really is 3) has worse weather than it really does and is 4) doomed to forever have a terrible economy.
I've stated this many times before, but if Syracuse civic leaders really desired to improve Syracuse's image...one easy way to do it is to simply combine all the four separate developments proposed for downtown Syracuse into one tall modern skyscraper. Turning Stone Casino's image was drastically improved after it built the Tower Hotel. Now when you drive past on the Thruway, the hotel makes you feel like there is a beckon of hope, pride and sophistication out in the middle of nowhere. Now just imagine if a similar tall building was constructed, not in some cornfield, but in the middle of downtown Syracuse! Just one building over 25 stories high as nice or nicer than the Turning Stone Tower Hotel would create pride in Syracuse again. I can almost guarantee it.
Too bad most local leaders fail to see that modern looking new buildings and the way the city looks is much more important than throwing money at social programs and parks.
You're right. Most natives tend to think the Syracuse area is 1) smaller than it truly is, 2) more dangerous than it really is 3) has worse weather than it really does and is 4) doomed to forever have a terrible economy.
I've stated this many times before, but if Syracuse civic leaders really desired to improve Syracuse's image...one easy way to do it is to simply combine all the four separate developments proposed for downtown Syracuse into one tall modern skyscraper. Turning Stone Casino's image was drastically improved after it built the Tower Hotel. Now when you drive past on the Thruway, the hotel makes you feel like there is a beckon of hope, pride and sophistication out in the middle of nowhere. Now just imagine if a similar tall building was constructed, not in some cornfield, but in the middle of downtown Syracuse! Just one building over 25 stories high as nice or nicer than the Turning Stone Tower Hotel would create pride in Syracuse again. I can almost guarantee it.
Too bad most local leaders fail to see that modern looking new buildings and the way the city looks is much more important than throwing money at social programs and parks.
I remember when I was a kid, I thought of an idea of a new skyscraper in the shape of a salt shaker that you would see at diner or restaurant, with lights coming out of it from the top. In a sense, the lights would give the appearance of salt coming out of a salt shaker. I just got the idea from knowing the areas history with salt mining and a salt shaker. I called it simply the Salt Tower. It really doesn't take much to come up with something new and different, but tangible.
Like you said, Syracuse could be a city with a nice combination of old and modern architecture. I've even heard of an idea of bringing the old Erie Canal waterpath back, with gondolas or boats to transport people. Then, in the winter, people could ice skate on this same path, like they used to do in the past.
A creekwalk along Onondaga Creek and boardwalk along the southern shore of Onondaga Lake by the Inner Harbor and Carousel Center would be nice too.
I also wish there was a plan for the Park Ave. area of the Westside. Why not revamp the old Marcellus Casket building into apartments or an office space, along with using some of the abandoned buildings as cafes, businesses in a neighborhood with some old houses with beautiful architecture and the Middle Ages Brewery nearby.
I've heard that Driscoll has had problems with trying to get people to buy properties in the city, but sometimes I wonder if it is due to a lack of proper marketing to investors or even effort.
You're right. Most natives tend to think the Syracuse area is 1) smaller than it truly is, 2) more dangerous than it really is 3) has worse weather than it really does and is 4) doomed to forever have a terrible economy.
I've stated this many times before, but if Syracuse civic leaders really desired to improve Syracuse's image...one easy way to do it is to simply combine all the four separate developments proposed for downtown Syracuse into one tall modern skyscraper. Turning Stone Casino's image was drastically improved after it built the Tower Hotel. Now when you drive past on the Thruway, the hotel makes you feel like there is a beckon of hope, pride and sophistication out in the middle of nowhere. Now just imagine if a similar tall building was constructed, not in some cornfield, but in the middle of downtown Syracuse! Just one building over 25 stories high as nice or nicer than the Turning Stone Tower Hotel would create pride in Syracuse again. I can almost guarantee it.
Too bad most local leaders fail to see that modern looking new buildings and the way the city looks is much more important than throwing money at social programs and parks.
I have said this before in another thread but it should be repeated here as well regarding the local leaders. The local leaders are too busy listening to developers like Congel and have placed all of their hopes for economic revival in the form of a mega mall, that to be honest if it gets repeat visits (from other than local residents) will be a miracle. They anticipate traffic from all over the east coast and Canada but there will be nothing in that mall that will differentiate it from the malls in their local communities. It may be a curiosity for some but considering the rising fuel prices, etc it is very unlikely to draw the numbers they hope. Instead of giving all of these tax incentives and money in this development they should invest in bringing new businesses to the area, or atleast retaining the companies that are in Syracuse currently. Syracuse is centrally located, has a decent airport, and on major transportation corridor thus making it ideal for r&d companies, corporations seeking regional offices, companies seeking the newly college graduate or those that seek to work in tandem with higher education institutions. Syracuse leaders has to get out of the retail mindset--retail only benefits an area so much--especially if that area has economic problems which limits disposable income, but the jobs that are created from retail are typically low pay with limited advancement--and those jobs do nothing to help build the surrounding community around it. Whens the last time you heard of the local gap employee buying a house?
As far as the city having a hard time enticing people to buy city properties, whats the real incentive especially when crime is rampant throughout the city. What the city should do, which is what Las Vegas used to do, is offer teachers, law enforcement, fire fighters, and doctors mortgage incentives to live and work in the city--for example (Vegas example) if you are employed as one of the above, you buy a house within the city, and pay that mortgage for 3 or 4 years and after that time the city will pay a portion of that mortgage as long as you keep your employment--its a win win for both parties. But perhaps thats too much of forward thinking for them
I have said this before in another thread but it should be repeated here as well regarding the local leaders. The local leaders are too busy listening to developers like Congel and have placed all of their hopes for economic revival in the form of a mega mall, that to be honest if it gets repeat visits (from other than local residents) will be a miracle. They anticipate traffic from all over the east coast and Canada but there will be nothing in that mall that will differentiate it from the malls in their local communities. It may be a curiosity for some but considering the rising fuel prices, etc it is very unlikely to draw the numbers they hope. Instead of giving all of these tax incentives and money in this development they should invest in bringing new businesses to the area, or atleast retaining the companies that are in Syracuse currently. Syracuse is centrally located, has a decent airport, and on major transportation corridor thus making it ideal for r&d companies, corporations seeking regional offices, companies seeking the newly college graduate or those that seek to work in tandem with higher education institutions. Syracuse leaders has to get out of the retail mindset--retail only benefits an area so much--especially if that area has economic problems which limits disposable income, but the jobs that are created from retail are typically low pay with limited advancement--and those jobs do nothing to help build the surrounding community around it. Whens the last time you heard of the local gap employee buying a house?
As far as the city having a hard time enticing people to buy city properties, whats the real incentive especially when crime is rampant throughout the city. What the city should do, which is what Las Vegas used to do, is offer teachers, law enforcement, fire fighters, and doctors mortgage incentives to live and work in the city--for example (Vegas example) if you are employed as one of the above, you buy a house within the city, and pay that mortgage for 3 or 4 years and after that time the city will pay a portion of that mortgage as long as you keep your employment--its a win win for both parties. But perhaps thats too much of forward thinking for them
the frustration, but I disagree about crime being "rampant throughout the city". That's not true and there are plenty of nice neighborhoods in the city.
I do know of some housing initiatives by places like SU and St. Joe's Hospital to attract people to the city, through HomeHeadquarters. So, there are some things out there.
Will also say that I've noticed that may Canadians come down to shop quite a bit. I think they are banking on that lasting, but we'll see how the Canadian dollar holds up and if it there are some changes, will they continue to come down here.
Small college town X
Large college town
Big Ghetto X
Rust Belt Metropolitan Area X
Ugly city with an equally ugly skyline X
Sorry no image comes to mind
Nice Metropolitan Area that has a struggling economy
A city that time forget X
I avoid the area at all costs X
I love some of the surrounding areas, but Syr itself is butt. Sorry.
the frustration, but I disagree about crime being "rampant throughout the city". That's not true and there are plenty of nice neighborhoods in the city.
I do know of some housing initiatives by places like SU and St. Joe's Hospital to attract people to the city, through HomeHeadquarters. So, there are some things out there.
Will also say that I've noticed that may Canadians come down to shop quite a bit. I think they are banking on that lasting, but we'll see how the Canadian dollar holds up and if it there are some changes, will they continue to come down here.
Maybe I was generalizing the crime situation a tad but what I meant was nolonger is there a truly "nice" side of the city--there but be pockets of niceness--for lack of a better word, but unlike years past residents cant say that the north side, or west side are nice family areas, and it seems year after year crime or atleast crime control gets worse. And that I think is a major problem for the potential families looking to buy a home.
I have seen canadians drive down as well, but the canadian dollar is really strong against the US right now, and once they reach parity or reach prior pro-US levels that will dry up to a degree--especially with high fuel prices
My main point was the fact it is retail. Retail might, and I say might loosely sustain an area economically for a short period but eventually that will fade--other metro areas building a bigger/better mall, mall loosing its "newness", etc. Syracuse has to find sources of revenue besides retail, especially if it wants to rebuild a strong middle class core
I am not slagging on Syracuse--believe me I can not wait to move back home from the faux paradise known as Las Vegas but it frustrates me to see the same, and almost typical Syracuse answer to its economic woes
Maybe I was generalizing the crime situation a tad but what I meant was nolonger is there a truly "nice" side of the city--there but be pockets of niceness--for lack of a better word, but unlike years past residents cant say that the north side, or west side are nice family areas, and it seems year after year crime or atleast crime control gets worse. And that I think is a major problem for the potential families looking to buy a home.
I have seen canadians drive down as well, but the canadian dollar is really strong against the US right now, and once they reach parity or reach prior pro-US levels that will dry up to a degree--especially with high fuel prices
My main point was the fact it is retail. Retail might, and I say might loosely sustain an area economically for a short period but eventually that will fade--other metro areas building a bigger/better mall, mall loosing its "newness", etc. Syracuse has to find sources of revenue besides retail, especially if it wants to rebuild a strong middle class core
I am not slagging on Syracuse--believe me I can not wait to move back home from the faux paradise known as Las Vegas but it frustrates me to see the same, and almost typical Syracuse answer to its economic woes
what you are saying about sides of town, but the East side is the nicest side of town. Syracuse as far as I known and since I've lived here, has been a city with rough inner city neighborhoods, regardless of the direction one take from Downtown. Some are rougher than others, of course. Yes, Syracuse has seen better days, but it's not as bad as many similar sized cities. I think the economic/job issues is the biggest thing that the area needs to deal with. Personally, right now, we might be going in the direction of gentrification, with vision of a big college town look due to the things SU is getting involved in.
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So true.......
