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Revitalize
SYRACUSE II
THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION
Sponsored By: Endorsed By:
SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 I ISSUE 38 I $5.00
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Business Journal
News Network
4 The Evolution of Downtown Syracuse’s Revitalization REVITALIZE SYRACUSE II
6 The New Generation of Downtown Developers NEWS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
8 Downtown Syracuse Restaurants are Mushrooming Adam Rombel
arombel@cnybj.com
9 Allyn Family Foundation plans to build $22M mixed-use ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Maria J. Carbonaro
structure at 484 Salina St. mcarbonaro@cnybj.com
10
STAFF WRITERS
TCGPlayer’s new headquarters to transform The Galleries Eric Reinhardt
ereinhardt@cnybj.com
12 Syracuse’s festivals boost downtown spending, lifestyle CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Charles McChesney
14 Crews continue work on Whitney Lofts project on South Salina St.
Catherine Leffert
Norman Poltenson
16 Armory Square–based Beerboard plans to double in next year CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Erin Zehr
ewebb@cnybj.com
18 NBT Bank moves downtown branch to new location RESEARCH DIRECTOR
Vance Marriner
20 YMCA of Greater Syracuse downtown renovations include vmarriner@cnybj.com
men’s residence SALES
Dony Kuriakose
22 Gillibrand discusses historic preservation in Syracuse stop dkuriakose@cnybj.com
Alicia Zaret
24 Downtown Committee’s Treier highlights project activity azaret@cnybj.com
MARKETING
26 Crews convert 1st floor space at 250 S. Clinton St. into offices
BBB Marketing Inc.
CIRCULATION
34 Onondaga County visitor spending totals $865M in 2017 Circulation Management
(315) 579-3927
35 Viewpoint: Major UAS industry announcements spotlight ADMINISTRATIVE
region’s leadership
PUBLISHER
Marny Nesher
mnesher@cnybj.com
Sponsors:
PUBLISHER EMERITUS
Norman Poltenson
npoltenson@cnybj.com
BUSINESS MANAGER
Kurt Bramer
Endorsed By: kbramer@cnybj.com
2 I REVITALIZE SYRACUSE: THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION II
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TrimREVITALIZE SYRACUSE:
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// Cover DOWNTOWN Syracuse II I 3
TRANSFORMATION
Revitalize
ENGIE-0312_Syracuse_Sponsorship_Elements_Sponsor_Message_Ad.indd 1 8/14/17 11:13 AM
The EVOLUTION
of Downtown Syracuse’s
REVITALIZATION
BY NORMAN POLTENSON I Contributing Writer I news@cnybj.com
The Pioneers Center Armory as a mixed-use
facility. Shapiro, whose family
percent. Currently, downtown
Syracuse boasts a population of
The revitalization of down-
town Syracuse was launched owned a haberdashery, was 3,600 people. The demand for
over a bottle of wine. The year lured from his mall location by luxury lofts and apartments is
was 1982. Bob Doucette and Doucette, and Pat Heagerty, strong, and developers often
his wife were having dinner at the owner of Pastabilities, to be lease their units even before the
Phoebe’s with George Curry the anchor tenant in the Hogan buildout is completed. Just last
and his wife when the topic Block. Shapiro, the owner of the year, downtown celebrated the
turned to living in an urban Mr. Shop, confesses that when opening of 18 new retail shops,
setting that was vibrant, close he moved downtown in 1990 it and corporations continue to
to amenities, and diverse. That was a leap of faith. Twenty-eight move their headquarters down-
conversation eventually led to years later, he still peddles styl- town. Today, 29,000 people
the formation of the Armory ish garments and accessories work in the city’s core district
Development & Management from the same storefront on in a variety of industries, includ-
Co. in 1984, which focused on the corner of West Fayette and ing technology, engineering,
the Armory Square area com- South Franklin Streets. finance, accounting, law, insur-
prised of historic structures, ance, advertising, architecture,
slaughter houses, and dilapi- Fast forward to 2018 public relations, and marketing.
dated warehouses, many aban- To this writer, who has lived
doned because retailers and in Syracuse for 80 years, the Current urban trends
residents had fled to the sub- city’s core has been trans- About a half-dozen key
urbs. Doucette likes to quip formed. Just in the last decade, trends are driving this urban
that in the mid-1980s “… you downtown Syracuse has wit- redevelopment. First, millenni-
could have bought half of down- nessed investment exceeding als are attracted to the urban
town for a couple of million $660 million, of which one-third scene because downtowns
dollars.” has been invested in residential offer multi-functional uses.
Doucette and Curry were fol- development. Currently, there Where else can you find shop-
lowed by other developers such is $360 million of investment ac- ping, services, professional
as Steven Infanti, Sr. and retail- tivity underway or announced offices, hotels, churches, hous-
ers such as Joel Shapiro. Infanti in projects such as The State ing, entertainment, art, librar-
was a contractor who, in 1986, Tower, The Empire, the ies, dining, government offices,
worked on one of Doucette’s Tallman Block, 239 E. Water St., and more — all within walking PHOTOS CREDIT: ADAM ROMBEL/BJNN
projects — the Labor Temple. and the Whitney Lofts. The res- distance. Young people breathe
Infanti went on to develop the idential population has explod-
ed over this same period by 77
life into downtown districts not
just during the day but also on
4CONTINUED ON PAGE 38
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4 I REVITALIZE SYRACUSE: THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION II
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REVITALIZE SYRACUSE: THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION II I 5
THE NEW GENERATION OF
Downtown Developers
BY NORMAN POLTENSON I Contributing Writer I news@cnybj.com
Urban development has attract- apartments on the top three floors, a total of
37,500 square feet. The project is part of a
ed a new breed of developers to total redevelopment of the 400-block of South
downtown Syracuse. Steve Case Salina Street, which includes the Empire
Building, the Marriott Syracuse Downtown,
and Matthew Paulus represent and Sibley’s.
this new generation. Here is a Case is also a partner with Ryan Benz,
look at both men and their de- the director of property management at STEVE CASE
Acropolis, and Dr. Shashank Bhatt to develop
velopments. FOUNDER/PARTNER
the Whitney Lofts at 321-323 S. Salina St. The
$4.2 million project turns the building, which Acropolis Realty Group
is listed on the National Register of Historic
Steve Case Places, into a mixed-use structure with a
Steve Case grew up in Baldwinsville, speakeasy in the basement, a restaurant on
graduated from Bucknell University in 2007 the first floor, and on the upper four floors, 16
with a major in economics, and returned to apartments of which four are two-bedroom
Syracuse just in time to experience a national, and the remainder one-bedroom. The apart-
financial meltdown. ments range from 900 to 1,400 square feet.
“I worked with my father who taught me “Our [commercial] focus is 95 percent on
at an early age a great deal about how to downtown development,” says Case. Still, the
run a business and manage employees,” he company doesn’t miss an opportunity even
says. “It was a great learning experience.” if it’s outside the urban center. Acropolis
In 2009, Case matriculated at the Martin J. Property Management is currently working
Whitman School of Management at Syracuse with Lionheart Capital, a Miami–based, glob-
University, earning his MBA in 2011. al, real-estate developer which owns the for-
One of his instructors was Bob Doucette, mer Macy’s store at Great Northern Mall in
the doyen of developing downtown real estate. Clay. Acropolis is responsible for the leasing
Case interned with Doucette at Paramount and management of the 88,000-square-foot,
Realty Corp. and went to work there after free-standing store. The plan is to develop the
PHOTO COURTESY OF MATTHEW PAULUS
graduation as the leasing director selling rebranded “The Shoppes at Great Northern”
commercial real estate and leasing condos. into restaurants and an entertainment com-
In 2015, Case left Paramount and launched ponent, along with high-end retail space. On
Acropolis Development, LLC. Acropolis the residential side, Case is a partner with his
Development, which focuses on commer- mentor in Xavier Woods, a residential devel-
cial development, is today complemented opment of 33 custom homes located within
with Acropolis Property Management, LLC, the city limits and one mile from Syracuse
which handles commercial properties, and University. To date the partners have sold
Acropolis Realty Group, LLC, which sells seven residences.
residential property. The corporations em- At age 33, Case is on the fast track and
ploy eight people full time and support 16 fueled by optimism. Six months ago, he MATTHEW PAULUS
independent agents. moved his companies into space at 247 W.
Some of Case’s projects include the Isabella
FOUNDER
Fayette St. in downtown Syracuse. Acropolis
Lofts at 1109 N. Townsend St., formerly the has already outgrown the space and is look- Paulus Development
home of the Assumption School. Partnering ing for a new location. While all facets of the
with Troy Evans, another member of the new business are growing, the residential real-es-
breed of urban developers, Case converted tate side is growing most rapidly. “There is a that’s not too bad either.”
the property to 29, one- and two-bedroom buzz downtown,” notes Case. “The demand
apartments. The two developers priced the for residential space opens opportunities for Matthew Paulus
units in the $900 to $1,200 range, quickly continued development, and the banks are Paulus, one of seven children, grew up
attracting young professionals. Isabella Lofts ready to finance these projects, especially if in Syracuse, attended Christian Brothers
is an example of the “ring-development” adja- you have a [successful] track record. We’ve Academy, and went on to enter Georgetown
cent to the city’s core. assembled a talented group of employees University. He graduated in 2004 with a
Case is also a partner in the redevelop- and independent agents at Acropolis support- bachelor’s degree in business administration
ment of the former, downtown, Addis Co. ed by a team of architects and contractors and a major in finance before returning to
department store, which remained empty … My goal is to model my career after Bob Syracuse. That summer, the new graduate
for nearly a quarter century. The $5.6 mil- Doucette who developed a vision of what joined the Pyramid Companies and began
lion project includes retail space on the first downtown could be. I want to continue that
floor, offices on the second floor, and 18 dream, and if I make money in the process, 4CONTINUED ON PAGE 36
6 I REVITALIZE SYRACUSE: THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION II
Had a Stroke.
Back on Stage.
Musician Todd Hobin
KNOW THE SIGNS • CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY
Central New York music legend Todd Hobin knew nothing about stroke —
F. A. S. T.
FACE ARM SPEECH TIME TO
but he does now. That’s why he’s raising awareness about stroke DROOPING WEAKNESS DIFFICULTY CALL 911
risk factors and its signs and symptoms.
Fact: Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S.
Important to know: Stroke can happen to both men and women — at any age.
Good news: Stroke is preventable by managing medical risk factors and healthy lifestyle choices.
What to do: Time lost is brain lost. So it’s vital to know the signs of a stroke — F.A.S.T.
Four words to live by: Call 911 and say, “Take me to Crouse.“
When it comes to stroke, every moment matters. As one of just 10 hospitals in New York State to
have earned Comprehensive Stroke Center status, and with the region’s newest ER and hybrid
ORs, Crouse offers the most advanced technology for rapid stroke diagnosis and treatment
Read Todd’s story and learn more: crouse.org/toddhobin.
Downtown Syracuse
Restaurants are
Mushrooming
BY NORMAN POLTENSON I Contributing Writer I npoltenson@cnybj.com
T
he key to every suc- ing on food with no chem-
cessful business is icals, pesticides, hormones,
understanding your cus- or antibiotics; and humane
tomers and segmenting them animal treatment. Another
by value. In short, what do trend is the emphasis on
your customers want, need, fresh food, being socially
and expect, and because responsible, and ensuring
every enterprise has limit- high quality. Customers want
ed resources, what are they to know about the ingredi-
worth to your firm in actual ents, the growing and pro-
or potential sales? Without cessing methods, fair trade,
a clear understanding of its diversity, the environmental
customers, every business is impact, and whether the
flying blind. employees are receiving a
Understanding your cus- living wage. Today the cus-
tomer is especially critical tomers are trending to vegan
and difficult in the restau- meats, edible flowers, sugar
rant business. Consumer alternatives, super powders,
demands change rapidly, sparkling drinks, and edible
with the current emphasis seeds. What will they de-
PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC HINMAN
on health and wellness; buy- mand tomorrow?
Eric Hinman, a serial entrepreneur, kicks back from his travels around the country. ing products locally from
His passion for wellness led him to co-launch Original Grains in downtown sustainable operations; insist- 4CONTINUED ON PAGE 30
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472 South Salina Street
Syracuse, NY
Adaptive reuse of the 107-year old historic Empire
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• $8.4 million construction loan
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8 I REVITALIZE SYRACUSE: THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION IIAllyn Family Foundation
plans $22M mixed-use
structure at 484 S. Salina St.
BY ERIC REINHARDT I ereinhardt@cnybj.com
RENDERING COURTESY OF THE ALLYN FAMILY FOUNDATION
SYRACUSE — The Allyn Family Foundation by September 2020, she adds. O’Connell
has purchased the 484 S. Salina St property, spoke with CNYBJ on Aug. 23. the foundation has yet to choose, she notes.
which is currently a parking lot, and plans to The organization purchased the lot at 484 VIP Architectural Associates of Syracuse
build a multi-floor, mixed-use building with a S. Salina St. through the Syracuse Urban will design the building. The Allyn Family
total cost of about $22 million. Partnership, and the purchase closed in early Foundation chose the firm following a re-
The property is bordered by South Salina May. It bought the property from Molly 2 quest-for-proposal process.
Street on the east, West Onondaga Street on Inc. for $1.9 million. The property purchase VIP is the local architect, which will
the south, and South Clinton Street on the is part of the overall project, says O’Connell. work in collaboration with Minneapolis,
west. The Marriott Syracuse Downtown, the Syracuse Urban Partnership is a new non- Minnesota–based Snow Kreilich Architects.
Chimes Building at 500 S. Salina St., and the profit that the Allyn Family Foundation “We also have VIP as our construction
Rescue Mission are nearby landmarks. launched as a “supporting organization of manager … on this project,” says O’Connell.
The project will include a public market/ the foundation.” Environmental Design & Research,
food hall, mixed-income housing, and office The Allyn Family Foundation will use its Landscape Architecture, Engineering, &
space for the Allyn Family Foundation and own assets to pay for the building’s construc- Environmental Services, D.P.C. is also in-
other community partners. tion through a line of credit secured through volved in the project, she adds.
“We are now in the design-development JPMorgan Chase, the foundation’s bank, ac- The Allyn Family Foundation is also work-
stage,” says Meg O’Connell, executive di- cording to O’Connell. ing with ICRAVE, a New York City–based
rector of the Allyn Family Foundation. The Once the project is finished, the organiza- consulting firm that advises clients on the
91497_MH_
foundation Corp_Ad_CNYBJ
hopes T:the
to begin construction in 7” x 4.5”
tion willB: None the
transfer 4Cline of credit to a tradi-
spring of 2019 and have the project finished tional mortgage through a local lender that 4CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
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91497_MH_ Corp_Ad_CNYBJ.indd 1 REVITALIZE SYRACUSE: THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION II AM
5/25/18 9:12 I 9TCGPlayer’s new HQ to
transform The Galleries
BY CHARLES MCCHESNEY I news@cnybj.com
RENDERING CREDIT: QPK DESIGN
SYRACUSE — There’ll by a dragon statue and the entrance lobby will
have a castle theme, complete with turrets.
Potter-style outfits, Hampson says.
Introducing the plans before a crowd that
be dragons here. The dragon’s body will sit atop a castle wall
and, according to plans, its tail will be a slide
included area economic-development offi-
cials, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, and compa-
TCGPlayer.com, the online company that that will let employees make a quick trip from ny employees, Hampson traced TCGPlayer’s
helps collectors and dealers around the world the second floor to the first. roots back to his days of working, and loving
buy and trade game cards, has begun work on “I enjoy dragons,” Hampson says. his job, at Twilight Comic Book and Game on
its new headquarters in downtown Syracuse. Those walking along South Warren Street North Salina Street.
The company has leased 44,000 square will be able to look in at three themed rooms. Four years ago, he reminded his listeners,
feet on two floors of The Galleries of Syracuse, One will be themed for “Star Wars,” another TCGPlayer was made up of only 14 people.
the entire side of the building facing South for the “Harry Potter” stories, and the third The company has committed to providing
Warren Street. will feature a “Mario Bros.” theme. more than 300 new and retained jobs in the
At an unveiling in late July, company found- “They’re all appliques,” Hampson explains, region in the next five years, per a release
er and CEO Chedy Hampson shared artists’ making possible for the work to be completed from the state that come out after the an-
renderings of the renovations. He expects the in just four months. The Harry Potter-themed nouncement.
growing 230-employee business to move into room will include “portraits” that are actually The company has a record of growth that
the new space in November. television screens displaying moving images drew praise from other speakers at the July
The entrance to TCGPlayer will be topped of TCGPlayer employees dressed in Harry unveiling. James P. Fayle, regional director
IMAGE CREDIT: TCG PLAYER
10 I REVITALIZE SYRACUSE: THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION IIfor Empire State Development, recounted the
company discussing growth plans then com-
ing back to modify those plans to something
bigger and then doing it again. “Well, bring it
on,” Fayle said.
TCGPlayer’s growth has drawn support from
the state, the release noted. In 2016, $50,000 in
funding was made available to TCGplayer from
the CNY Rising Upstate Revitalization Initiative,
as well as $300,000 in performance-based
Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits.
“Due to the company’s exponential growth,
TCGplayer is now eligible for up to $2.4 mil-
lion through the Excelsior Program and up
to $550,000 will also be provided to the com-
pany through a Central New York Regional
Council Capital Grant, tied to job creation
commitments,” the release said.
The growth has required moves, first from
Chedy’s home where meetings used to take the company’s growth. “Imagine the oppor-
RENDERING CREDIT: QPK DESIGN
place, to downtown space at the State Tower tunity to go to work every day at a place you
Building in 2015, to two floors in AXA Tower in loved — I mean you just loved it!” A rendering of the inside of the new
2016. Last year, TCGplayer moved warehouse He had a ready example of TCGPlayer’s TCGPlayer building, located in the Galleries
operations to The Galleries and offices to the unique culture. “We’re the company that went in Downtown Syracuse.
Neal & Hyde Building in Armory Square. to the [JP Morgan] Corporate
With this fall’s move, the business will Challenge [running race] and
once again be altogether in one building.
The state estimated the cost of renovations at
wore superhero capes.”
Hampson sees his company’s
How to name your dragon
more than $3.3 million. expansion as a piece of a growing The red dragon that will perch above the South Warren Street entrance to TCGPlayer.com’s
“We’re looking five years out,” Hampson technology corridor in the area new headquarters doesn’t have an official name — yet (as of late July it didn’t)
said at the unveiling. To underline that, one that he thinks can inspire young “I call it Smaug,” says Chedy Hampson, TCGPlayer’s founder and CEO. That’s the name
of the artists’ renderings showed a news- people in the area and even at- of the fire-breathing antagonist in the J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit.”
paper front page from 2023 saying the then tract those who grew up here and However, he says, folks at QPK Design have been calling the dragon, “Fluffy.”That’s the
1,000-employee company was named the best moved away for opportunities in name of three-headed dog once cared for by Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter books.
place to work in New York. the Silicon Valley or New York The ultimate name of the dragon may be decided by a contest, Hampson says, or he
Providing a workplace that employees love City or elsewhere. “We are ready may rely on what company employees have to say. “We’ll see.” – CM
is one of the values that Hampson credits with for them to return home.” – CM
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Development
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REVITALIZE SYRACUSE: THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION II I 11Syracuse’s festivals Annual Downtown Syracuse
Festivals/Key Events
boost downtown
(Red denotes Downtown Committee
festival/related event)
spending, lifestyle
u Crawfish Festival, Clinton Square. This year’s
11th annual event was held May 5,
u Taste of Syracuse, Clinton Square. Typically
takes place first weekend in June; most recently
BY ADAM ROMBEL I arombel@cnybj.com held June 1-2, 2018
u Juneteenth, Clinton Square. Held around June
SYRACUSE — Annual festivals are a big boon nities… the convenience, whether it’s conve- 19, Most recently took place June 15-16, 2018
to downtown Syracuse. nience to your workplace or convenience to the
Taste of Syracuse, New York State Blues different type of events you may enjoy or the u Syracuse Polish Festival, Clinton Square. This
Festival, Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival, and restaurants and the cultural institutions.” year’s 64th annual event was held June 22-24.
Festa Italiana Syracuse. These are but a few of Most of the festivals in downtown Syracuse
the festivals that attract tens of thousands of vis- are held in Clinton Square, which operates as a u New York State Blues Festival, Clinton Square.
itors and their spending to downtown Syracuse city park. Each of the festivals tend to have a dif- Most recently held June 28-30, 2018
annually. ferent organizer, but the Downtown Committee
“The festivals provide a reason to come into helps promote them all, Treier says. u Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival, Clinton
downtown Syracuse, and so once they start to The Downtown Committee also directly op- Square. Most recently held July 27-28, 2018
get that experience, that positive experience, un- erates the AmeriCU Syracuse Arts & Crafts
derstand what downtown has to offer, I think it Festival, held in in the city’s Columbus Circle u Stage of Nations, Hanover Square on July 27-28
opens their eyes to keep coming down to enjoy area. This past year’s event took place July
the amenities,” says Merike Treier, executive di- 27-29 and attracted an estimated 50,000 visitors u Syracuse New Times Street Painting Festival,
rector of the Downtown Committee of Syracuse. to Columbus Circle and surrounding streets along Montgomery Street (300 block); Most
for the weekend-long, recently held July 28, 2018
48th edition of the festi-
val, which featured 170 u AmeriCU Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival, Held
artists, craftspeople, and in and around Columbus Circle; Most recently
entertainers from 20 took place July 27-29, 2018
states. Artists came to
downtown Syracuse from Note: Dates for the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festi-
as far away as Florida,
val, Stage of Nations, NewTimes Street Painting
Arizona, California, as well
as Ontario, Canada, the Festival and AmeriCU Arts & Crafts Festival
Downtown Committee of always fall on the last full weekend in July. Next
Syracuse says. year’s dates are July 26-28, 2019.
Visitors checked out
ceramics, computer art, u Syracuse Bacon Festival, in and around Clinton
painting, fabric and fiver, Square. This year’s second annual event was held
sculpture, photography, on Sat. Aug. 18.
jewelry, glass, and more.
The free event also fea- u Syracuse Irish Festival, Clinton Square. Most
tured a variety of street recently held Sept. 7-8, 2018
ADAM ROMBEL/ BJNN
performers, kids’ activi-
Visitors check out the attractions at the 2018 AmeriCU Syracuse Arts & ties, and traditional festival u Syracuse Italian Festival (Festa Italiana Syra-
Crafts Festival held in late July. The event is just one of many annual foods and sweet treats. cuse), Most recently held Sept. 14-16, 2018 at the
festivals that are a big boon to downtown Syracuse. Downtown Syracuse’s corner of Montgomery & Washington Streets, in
festivals are also a key front of City Hall.
The festivals are also an enticement to the amenity to the growing employee base in the
growing downtown residential population, city as more businesses establish or move u Downtown Farmers Market runs every Tues-
which has increased by more than 75 percent in their headquarters downtown. Today, 29,000 day from 7 am to 3 pm in Clinton Square from
the last decade to 3,600. The festivals are a key people work in the city’s core district in a mid-June through mid-October (ends Oct. 9 this
part of the urban lifestyle. variety of industries, including technology, en- year)
“Our residents certainly enjoy the festivals. gineering, finance, accounting, law, insurance,
They love being able to walk out their door and advertising, architecture, public relations, and u Holidays in the City, Clinton Square. Set for
experience these festivals,” says Treier. “They marketing. Dec. 8-9 this year
love knowing what’s happening in the down- “We do have a number of festivals that actual-
town area and be able to bring people, you know ly start on a Friday, so it has that added benefit u WinterFest typically runs throughout
their friends and family, to be able to experience of not only bringing people down here on the
downtown Syracuse during the middle two
their new lifestyle. So certainly, it adds to that weekends, but also being able to cater a little bit
vibrancy that the residents feel.” more to the downtown employee crowd,” Treier weeks of February; dates are set for Feb. 14-24
She continues, “When you’re looking to live says. “Most of the festivals that start on Friday in 2019.
in downtown, you’re looking for that level of target the lunch hour and they love that dining
vibrancy, that kind of quality of life, and ame- type of experience there.” – AR Source: Downtown Committee of Syracuse and
event websites
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John F. Krisanda,
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REVITALIZE SYRACUSE: THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION II I 13
revitalize II pub.indd 13 8/28/18 6:25 PMCrews continue work on
Whitney Lofts project
on South Salina Street ERIC REINHARDT / BJNN
BY ERIC REINHARDT I ereinhardt@cnybj.com The exterior of the properties at 321 S. Salina St. and
323 S. Salina St. in Syracuse, as seen on Aug. 24.
SYRACUSE — Work is progressing on the ect $75,000 in funding from its participa- 323 S. Salina St., as both were for sale.
project to turn the buildings at 321 S. Salina tion in New York’s Main Street program. Case and Benz felt the 323 S. Salina St.
St. and 323 S. Salina St. in Syracuse into the The Central New York Regional Economic building was important because it had two
Whitney Lofts, a $4.4 million, mixed-use Development Corporation recommended staircases, which they would need for a sec-
development. the projects for $320,000 in state funding, ond exit at the structure if they were going
It will have 16 apartments on the upper according to Benz. to include residential units on the top floor.
floors, as well as a restaurant, juice bar, and
speakeasy on the ground floor. A rendering of the $4.4 million Whit-
The renovation work started in the ney Lofts mixed-use development
spring and the interior construction kicked project along South Salina
off in June, says Ryan Benz, project devel- Street in Syracuse.
oper and licensed real-estate salesperson
with Acropolis Development.
“We’re expecting to open up by the end
of this year, so it’s a very aggressive time
schedule,” he adds.
Benz is among four partners on the
project. The additional developers include
RENDERING CREDIT: WHITNEY LOFTS WEBSITE
Steve Case, project developer and bro-
ker/owner of Acropolis Development in
Syracuse; Benz’s wife, Leigh Ann Boatman-
Benz; and Shashank Bhatt.
The project takes its name from the
Whitney Department Store which once
operated in 321 S. Salina St., the developers
say.
Crews have installed demising walls
and handled electrical and plumbing work.
They’re also handling sheet rock work in
the buildings’ upper floors as they prepare
apartment units. A vendor is also installing
a new elevator. “It made more sense to buy both build-
Rich & Gardner Construction Company Project origin ings, make it a bigger project,” says Case,
of Syracuse is the contractor on the project, Case and Benz met while students at noting they started looking at the buildings
while Dalpos Architects & Integrators, also Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman in January 2017.
of Syracuse, is the designer. School of Management late last decade. Gary Ritch owned 321 S. Salina St., says
We’re looking to lease up mid-Decem- Benz later moved to New York City, and Case. Chao Lin previously owned 323 S.
ber, maybe January 1st,” says Benz. “The Case started working for Paramount Realty Salina St., according to the property record
exterior [work] is scheduled to start in Group, LLC in Syracuse before starting on the website for the Onondaga County
September, so that work will be running Acropolis Development about three years Office of Real Property Tax Services. That
[through] September and October.” ago. property was previously home to a Chinese
Community Development Corporation Benz contacted Case and told him he restaurant, Case adds.
provided a $3.5 million loan, representing wanted to move back to Syracuse and noted The entity 321 S. Salina St., LLC owns
the majority of the funding. “They covered he was interested in some local buildings, the buildings now, including the principals
the bulk of the project working on both the including the ones in the Whitney Lofts Case, Benz, and Bhatt.
mortgage and the construction loan for the project. Case was also familiar with the Case describes Bhatt as a “silent inves-
project,” says Benz. buildings. tor” in the project. Case knew Bhatt from
The financial package also included his- Then, after a series of text messages, when Bhatt purchased the Hogan Block
torical tax credits. Pathfinder Bank provid- Benz and Case say they decided that work- building where Acropolis currently oper-
ed a bridge loan for the project’s historic tax ing together would be a good idea. ates.
credits, according to Benz, who declined to “That’s when we started forming our
disclose the amount of that loan. partnership,” says Case, noting they even-
The City of Syracuse awarded the proj- tually looked at 321 S. Salina St. and later at 4CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
14 I REVITALIZE SYRACUSE: THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION IIBy investing in the community, curiosity is renewed. We’re a proud sponsor of “Powering Our Future,” an exhibit at the Syracuse Museum of Science and Technology about renewable energy. It’s just one of many ways we encourage children to take an interest in STEM: science, technology, engineering, and math.
Armory Square–
based Beerboard
plans to double
in next year
BY CATHERINE LEFFERT I Contributing Writer I news@cnybj.com Mark Young, CEO and
founder of Beerboard.
PHOTO CREDIT: BEERBOARD
SYRACUSE —Beerboard, a Syracuse– track the performance of their draft these major operators and groups and
beer business. It also provides services bars.”
based international provider of to brewers to allow them to “control The office in downtown Syracuse is
technology to monitor draft-beer the messaging and information of their more than 6,000 square feet, Young says
flow and improve inventory man- brands and beers and have a direct and employs about 20 full-time workers.
connection to consumers through the The company also has remote employ-
agement, has plans to double its BeerBoard platform.” ees in Hoboken, New Jersey; Denver,
revenue over the next 12 months. Based in Armory Square, at 225 W. Colorado; and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Jefferson St., the company started 13 He says the company intends to double
Mark Young, CEO and founder of years ago with no revenue, and has now by next year by continuing to improve
Beerboard, says the company has grown grown to serving more than 2,500 bars marketing and technology.
more than 50 percent every year since its and restaurants in the U.S. and Canada. “We continue to make the platform
founding in 2005 as US Beverage Net. He It’s adding about 30 more establishments more and more robust with more value to
says he rebranded it to Beerboard in April every month, Young tells CNYBJ. He says the customers.”
2016 as the firm broadened its services. Beerboard typically charges locations a Young says he is based in Syracuse
Beerboard uses technology that can monthly fee of about $150 to $200 per because it’s where he’s originally from
monitor draft-beer flow to help control month for its services. He declined to and started his business in Armory
inventory levels and detect waste and disclose his company’s annual revenue Square. He also adds that most work
theft at bars, restaurants, and other es- totals. for Beerboard can be done remotely,
tablishments selling the suds. It employs Beerboard serves major national restau- because while it provides the technology
third-party, independent installers so the rant chains such as Buffalo Wild Wings and the platform to use the technology,
company can reach and Hooters, as independent contractors install the equip-
any restaurant in the well as local restau- ment at the bars and restaurants to moni-
country, and some rants and bars, like tor the draft-beer flow.
in Canada, Young Coppertop Tavern Beerboard is one of the entrepreneur-
says. and Tully’s Good ial businesses that has helped contribute
“It was created for Times. BeerBoard to recent growth in downtown Syracuse
inventory management and supply chain, monitors more than 50,000 draft lines and and that has helped generate employ-
it now it controls inventory,” Young says. 35,000 products. ment opportunities.
“We put a heavy focus on retailers cutting “We started from zero revenue,” Young “I’m not familiar with all the companies
waste and theft.” says. “So we had no locations and we [in the area], but I’m familiar with a few
Through real-time data, compiled by added some. We added local companies and I think what you’re seeing is really
its patented platform, BeerBoard says initially, then we added some regional new, innovative products really create
it helps bar and restaurant operators accounts, and now it’s grown to some of new jobs for the area,” Young says. –CL
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Norwich–based NBT Bank is now operating its downtown Syracuse branch at 126 N. Salina St., having moved to the new ERIC REINHARDT / BJNN
location from 300 South State St. in April. A branch of First Niagara Bank previously operated at the North Salina Street site.
NBT Bank moves
Ohio–based KeyBank (NYSE: KEY) closed
after its acquisition of First Niagara Financial
Group (NASDAQ: FNFG), which was head-
quartered in Buffalo.
downtown branch
The new location offers “enhanced ser-
vices and parking,” NBT Bank said.
“We wanted to take advantage of this op-
portunity to serve our customers and the
community from a more modern and conve-
to new location
nient banking facility,” Rick Shirtz, regional
president of NBT Bank, said in a release. “We
have completely renovated our new space
and are now able to offer our downtown
customers a better experience through an
BY ERIC REINHARDT I ereinhardt@cnybj.com easy-deposit ATM, two drive-up lanes and off-
street parking.”
NBT Bank offers personal banking, busi-
SYRACUSE — NBT Bank has moved its Salina Street location on April 30 after re- ness banking and wealth-management ser-
downtown branch to 126 N. Salina St., having locating from its previous branch at 300 vices. Its network of more than 150 branches
formally opened the Clinton Square office South State St. in Syracuse. A branch of First spans six states — New York, Pennsylvania,
branch on June 13. Niagara Bank previously operated in that Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
It’s now operating in the building known location. and Maine.
for the mural of Clinton Square and sur- That First Niagara office combined with The bank and its parent company, NBT
rounding area on the structure’s north-facing the KeyBank branch at 201 S. Warren St. in Bancorp (NASDAQ: NBTB), are headquar-
façade. Syracuse, a few blocks away. It was among 18 tered in Norwich. NBT Bancorp had assets
NBT Bank started operations at the North Central New York branches that Cleveland, of $9.5 billion as of June 30. –ER
18 I REVITALIZE SYRACUSE: THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION IINascentia Health
A Proud Member of the Downtown Syracuse Community
Nascentia Health, Central New York’s premier home healthcare system, is
proud to participate in the revitalization of Downtown Syracuse through the
completion of our new, state-of-the-art operational headquarters at 1050
West Genesee Street. As we build upon our 128-year legacy of service to the
community, we look forward to new opportunities for innovation and growth.
1050 West Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY 13204
888.477.HOME • nascentiahealth.org
REVITALIZE SYRACUSE: THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION II I 19The YMCA will use a “phasing plan” that
won’t dislocate any residents during construc-
tion, she adds.
Hueber-Breuer Construction Co. Inc. will
handle the work on the residential part of
the project, and Irish-Millar Construction of
Syracuse will complete the non-residential por-
tion of the project. Syracuse architect William
Walton is providing the design work on the
project.
Project purpose
The downtown YMCA branch is more than
a century old, an “aging” facility, as Pusztai
describes it.
“It’s really our [desire] to be able to provide
better service and do what we do better and
provide a good recreational space and a sense
of community and then also to improve the
quality of life of our residential component
and improve the living environment for our
residents,” she says.
ERIC REINHARDT / BJNN
The organization has discussed the project,
The YMCA of Greater Syracuse plans to add nine rooms to its 99-room men’s residence in a project that
particularly the residential component, “for
totals $7 million. The work will begin in September. The non-residential part of the project started in
several years” because of the planning involved
May, targeting building infrastructure and recreation space at 340 Montgomery St. in Syracuse. and pursuit of funding.
The New York State Office of Temporary
YMCA of Greater Syracuse
and Disability Assistance (OTDA) awarded
a grant of $4.1 million for the project, which
comes from OTDA’s homeless and housing-as-
sistance program, according to Pusztai.
downtown renovations
The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York
(FHLBNY) also awarded a grant of $1.8 mil-
lion. NBT Bank is the YMCA’s local sponsor
and a member of the FHLBNY and through its
include men’s residence
support and advocacy, the YMCA was able to
secure the funding.
In addition, the City of Syracuse’s
Department of Neighborhood and Community
Development provided a grant of more than
BY ERIC REINHARDT I ereinhardt@cnybj.com $383,000, the Central New York Community
Foundation, Inc. contributed $150,000, and the
Gifford Foundation awarded a grant of $25,000
for the renovation effort.
SYRACUSE — The YMCA of Greater Syracuse plans to renovate The YMCA secured the OTDA grant in
its 99-room men’s residence, adding nine units in the down- early 2017, which triggered the pre-develop-
ment process involving permits and designs
town location in a project that totals $7 million. for a “substantial” renovation project.
“That really was the catalyst to then real-
ize that we secured the largest chunk of the
The effort also includes a “non-residential” started in May. The work on the men’s resi- money, but we needed more and we secured it
component that involves work on the building’s dence will begin in September. Construction through other funding sources,” Pusztai says.
infrastructure and its recreational space, says crews should finish their work by October
Cheryl Pusztai, district VP – city district of the 2019, Pusztai said. Men’s residence history
YMCA of Greater Syracuse. Crews will build nine new rooms on the The YMCA’s men’s residence dates back to
“It does include new windows [for] the facil- roof of the building’s fifth floor, adding to the the 1930s and was established initially for men
ity, a new boiler, some new lighting upgrades, building’s sixth floor. That construction will returning from military service and needing a
as well as some work on our gymnasium floors, take the total number of units from 99 to 108 place to stay.
which directly impacts our recreational space,” single-occupancy rooms. In the 1950s, the facility would accommo-
says Pusztai. She spoke with BJNN on Aug. 15. Crews are painting, adding flooring to ad- date business travelers.
The downtown YMCA branch is located at dress “cosmetics,” and working to improve “It was very much like a hotel would be in
340 Montgomery St. in Syracuse. ventilation. They’re also adding new windows, downtown Syracuse at that time,” according
Pusztai noted that even though the renova- a new boiler, and community space on each to Pustzai.
tions will “substantially improve the quality of floor. In the 1970s, the YMCA recognized a need
some components” of the downtown location, The facility currently has 99 single-occupan- to address homelessness and provide “sup-
the YMCA “continues to seek avenues to ad- cy rooms. “Normally we are about 95 percent portive” housing for men dealing with a transi-
dress other facility needs to ensure program occupied on a typical month during the year tion in their life.
quality.” … There’s never not a need for our service,” “That’s really when our current model evolved
The non-residential part of the project says Pusztai. into what we are today,” she explains. – ER
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REVITALIZE SYRACUSE: THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION II I 21U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D–N.Y.) on Aug. 3
addressed a gathering at the Marriott Syracuse
Downtown, the former Hotel Syracuse, which
re-opened to the public in August 2016 following
massive renovations. She discussed the U.S. Senate’s
effort to preserve the federal Historic Preservation
Fund in the 2019 federal budget. Hotel owner Ed Ri-
ley said the renovation wouldn’t have been possible
without historic tax credits.
ERIC REINHARDT / BJNN
Gillibrand
SYRACUSE — The owner of the Marriott ing amount is $56.2 million higher than
Syracuse Downtown, the former Hotel President Trump’s budget request for the
Syracuse, stresses that the project program. The funding supports historic
wouldn’t have been possible without the preservation and economic-development
discusses involvement of historic tax credits.
“This project was keystoned by the
state grants that were available that were
earmarked for this, and, again, with the
projects around the state, including the
Marriott Syracuse Downtown.
The former Hotel Syracuse property
was vacant for more than a decade but
historic combination on the historic tax credits.
Without that, you wouldn’t be in this
building today,” Ed Riley said in response
was renovated and reopened with the help
of $14 million in federal historic tax-credit
investments to help pay for more than
preservation
to a reporter’s question at an Aug. 3 event $70.3 million in project costs.
at the hotel with U.S. Senator Kirsten “It’s called the historic-preservation
Gillibrand (D–N.Y.). fund, and what it does is helps projects
Riley is the managing member of the like this receive more money through
in Syracuse
entity Hotel Syracuse Restoration that led federal historic tax credits and through
the drive to restore the hotel and reopen it grants … this building is a particularly
in August 2016. good example because it got $14 million
“For more than a decade, the hotel just through the tax credit,” Gillibrand noted
stop sat empty. It wasn’t being used. It wasn’t
being revitalized. It wasn’t this center of
great economic opportunity for our city,”
in her remarks.
Additional Syracuse projects
Gillibrand said in her remarks at the The Democrat’s office also noted other
gathering. local projects that have benefitted from the
She visited the Syracuse landmark to tax credit.
announce “her successful push” to in- They included $400,000 in federal his-
BY ERIC REINHARDT clude nearly $89 million in the fiscal year toric tax-credit investment to help pay
2019 Senate interior appropriations bill for $2 million in project costs to reno-
ereinhardt@cnybj.com for the U.S. Department of Interior’s his- vate the historic Courier Building at 110
toric-preservation fund, the Democrat’s Montgomery St. in Syracuse, which fea-
office said in a news release. tures space for restaurants and apart-
Gillibrand’s office noted that the fund- ments.
22 I REVITALIZE SYRACUSE: THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION IIMore than $1.6 million in federal his-
toric tax credits helped pay for more than
$8.1 million in project costs to turn the
former West Brothers Knitting Company
factory at 700-710 Emerson Ave. into afford-
able housing.
Additionally, $558,000 in federal historic
tax credits helped pay for $2.79 million in
project costs to convert Syracuse’s historic
Odd Fellows Lodge and Temple into afford-
able housing.
“Historic preservation … it’s an econom-
ic-development tool,” Syracuse Mayor Ben
Walsh said in his opening remarks during
Gillibrand’s appearance on Aug. 3. “What
makes communities like Syracuse unique
and authentic is our historic building stock.”
In the federal historic tax credits and the
historic-preservation fund, Syracuse has “ex-
tremely valuable tools” to help us restore that
building stock and help it leverage the “revi-
talization of our urban cores,” Walsh added. ERIC REINHARDT / BJNN
Federal funding for historic districts and The Marriott Syracuse Downtown, the former Hotel Syracuse, reopened more than two years ago after
investment in historic sites “encourages an extensive renovation effort.
and supports economic development that is
critically important to the preservation and
revitalization of communities throughout Gillibrand’s release. SHPOs have an annual programs required by federal statute. These
New York,” according to Gillibrand’s office. funding agreement with the National Park programs include historic resource survey
Service that requires a non-federal match- work, the National Register of Historic Places
About the law ing share equal to at least 40 percent of the program administration, compliance review
The National Historic Preservation federal allocation. of federally funded and permitted projects,
Act of 1966 requires all states to have a After 10 percent of the federal share is re- federal historic tax-credit program imple-
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) served for grants to participating communi- mentation, and the certified local-govern-
to preserve historic sites in the U.S., per ties, funding is allocated for administration of ment program. – ER
NEXT-Revitalize Syracuse-7x4.5.indd 3 8/22/18 8:58 AM
REVITALIZE SYRACUSE: THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION II I 23Downtown Committee’s
bring new density,” she said.
A $950,000 renovation is underway at
205 East Jefferson St., which will add six
apartments and a new restaurant, which
Treier highlights project
Treier described as a “long-vacant structure
near Columbus Circle” that “will see new
life soon.”
Armory Square
activity during annual- Treier’s remarks also acknowledged
some housing projects in Armory Square.
Mike Wicker has activated the Tallman
meeting remarks
Block on West Fayette Street, she said. A
$3.2 million investment resulted in 16 new
apartments and a “shared sense of commu-
nity through a unique courtyard space,” said
Treier.
Next door, the Seneca Building will un-
BY ERIC REINHARDT I ereinhardt@cnybj.com
dergo a $3.5 million renovation. The struc-
ture will have 18 new residential units that
SYRACUSE — More than $360 million of in- apartments “will bring density to Hanover will be ready for occupancy in 2019.
vestment activity is underway or announced Square,” Treier said in her remarks. In addition, developer Robb Bidwell will
in Syracuse’s downtown area. In addition, developer Luke Esposito’s start construction this fall at 415 South
That’s according to Merike Treier, exec- Lofts at 239 is a $650,000 investment. It Clinton St. on a $3 million project that will
utive director of the Downtown Committee includes two units and a new bagel shop create 16 residential units, including a
of Syracuse, Inc., who noted several of the planned for the ground floor, which was “ex- four-bedroom penthouse, and a ground-level
lounge space.
Merike Treier, executive
South Salina Street
In addition, developers Steve Case and
director of the Downtown Ryan Benz are focusing on two vacant struc-
Committee of Syracuse, tures in the middle of the 300 block of S.
Inc., delivers her “State of Salina St. The $4.4 million investment in the
Downtown” report during the Whitney Lofts project will create 16 residen-
organization’s annual meeting tial units, a ground floor restaurant space,
held June 21 at the Marriott and an underground speakeasy.
Syracuse Downtown. Owners Derek Persse, Rich DeVito, and
Dave Schlosser in May held a ribbon-cutting
event after completing an $11 million project
at the Empire at 472 S. Salina St. It includes
51 “upscale” apartments that now overlook
both South Salina and South Clinton Streets.
Construction work is also underway next
door at 476 South Salina St., Treier said in
her remarks. Developers Tom and Ryan
Goodfellow are focused on a $2.7 million in-
vestment that will bring 24 residential units
and commercial space to attract new tenants.
The Allyn Family Foundation has ac-
quired the parking lot at 484 South Salina St.
ERIC REINHARDT / BJNN
and has a $20 million plan to construct a new,
seven-story building.
Abe Einhorn continues work at the
Chimes building with a $15 million plan
to build 90 additional apartments, upgrade
the commercial spaces, and restore this
projects during her remarks at the orga- pected to open by the end of the summer.” property’s position as an iconic landmark,
nization’s June 21 annual meeting at the Just outside Hanover Square, construc- Treier said.
Marriott Syracuse Downtown, the former tion activity at the former NYNEX telephone Across the street, an investment of
Hotel Syracuse. hub continues. Scheduled for an early 2020 $26 million will introduce upstate New York’s
Treier’s remarks included a focus on completion, this $43 million development first Hyatt House. Construction on the 120-
residential projects that are either completed will result in 180 residential units and new room extended-stay hotel begins soon and
or in progress in the downtown area. They commercial space, Treier said. will result in 52 permanent jobs.
include “the 61 top-of-the-line apartments Treier also noted VIP Structures’ work in Next door, the development team of Steve
and fresh commercial space at State Tower,” the former Post-Standard building to make Case, Tim Lynn and Joe Gehm have a
she said. the structure its new headquarters. “Three $6.2 million investment at the former Addis
A $2.4 million investment is adding to new stories will be added, offering 50 res- Department Store. The project has 18 apart-
the nearby Grange building’s “residential idential units with balconies overlooking ments, office space, and street-level retail
success.” When construction at GrangeX Clinton Square. Ten of those units will be businesses that will be part of this property
is complete, two new stories and nine affordable, and fresh commercial space will “later this year,” Treier said. – ER
24 I REVITALIZE SYRACUSE: THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION IIYou can also read
