1. Local businesses grow and innovate
Think that the progress happening in Syracuse is limited to upscale neighborhoods like Armory Square? Think again!
Posted by Believe in Syracuse on Monday, September 8, 2014
In 2014, the dredging project at our counties biggest lake was completed a year ahead of schedule. Capping and habitat restoration will be complete in 2016. There's plenty more work to be done at Onondaga Lake. It's potential as a resource to the Syracuse area is enormous and cleaning it up right is critical to our community. One thing is for sure: no matter what you think about the lake and the cleanup, it's undeniable that the lake is much better off going into 2015 than it was going into 1965 or 1995.
Downtown development has been moving faster every year for 5-10 years now. 2014 however was a particularly good year. Clark's Ale House re-opened. Funk n Waffles opened it's 2nd location. Alto Cinco opened another cinco (Otro Cinco). The Downtown housing boom continued with projects like Creekwalk Commons, Pike Block and the courier building. Sky Armory is Downtown's newest event space and in 2015 we should see Byblos open it's 2nd location and Modern Malt diner open in Armory Square.
The city made major news when after a decade of inactivity, they were finally able to seize Hotel Syracuse and they immediately flipped it to a local developer Ed Riley. Since then, work has already begun to stabilize the building and repair the roof. They are shooting for a March of 2015 reopen date. Although this is far from the first attempt to bring the historic hotel back from the dead, it is very encouraging that it has been transferred to local ownership.
We've been amazed by the willingness of Syracuseans to chip in and help when needed and are in awe of the ability of ordinary Central New Yorkers to make a difference. You were the biggest difference maker in Syracuse in 2014 and we know you'll do the same in 2015.
Thanks!
John DeSantis
Believe in Syracuse
[email protected]