Below is our list of our top 6 reasons to believe in Syracuse in 2016. Check it out and while you're at it, check out an event that is all about celebrating local progress and community: our 3rd Birthday Party and the annual Believe in Syracuse Awards. We hope you'll join us January 28th at the Landmark Theatre. The event is free, open to everyone and will be a lot of fun.
1. Hotel Syracuse will Reopen in 2016
After a decade of standing vacant and falling into disrepair, in the spring of 2016 Hotel Syracuse will be brought back to life. Recently the Board of Believe in Syracuse took a tour of Hotel Syracuse to see the renovations first hand and we were impressed by the progress that is being made.
Over the years there have been numerous efforts to obtain Hotel Syracuse from the former owners that left the property vacant. Where previous efforts failed to obtain the property, in July of 2014, the city seized the building and flipped it to local developer Ed Riley. Hotel Syracuse holds such rich history. The project itself has created many jobs. Its reopening can also help spur economic development in the surrounding section of Downtown in 2016. Just one of many reasons why Syracuse is a city on the rise. |
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2. Local businesses make Syracuse unique and fun
2015 was a great year for small and locally owned businesses. A lot of great new restaurants, shops and businesses of all kinds opened their doors for the first time, added new locations and hired more employees.
Local businesses make Syracuse fun, unique and a vibrant place to live. In the past year, Cafe Kubal opened its 4th location, this one near Clinton Square. Recess expanded to Downtown. Wolff's Biergarten, Liehs & Steigerwald, Modern Malt, Evergreen and others opened their doors. As did shops like Ish Guitaurs, Projex214, Tenacious Sound, Olive on Brooklea and Showoffs Boutique. When you spend your money at a locally owned business, a great deal of that money is then spent by the business in Central New York, creating a multiplying effect for our economy. Chris Fowler and Syracuse First work hard to promote buying local and supporting our independent economy. Chris will be presented with one of our Believe in Syracuse awards at our 3rd Birthday Party January 28th. |
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3. Great things to come for local jobs
While our local economy is becoming more and more independent of the big corporations, we have many reasons to be hopeful for the future of major employers in Syracuse.
Sounds like an exciting potential project for Central New York!
Posted by Believe in Syracuse on Friday, September 25, 2015
4. Volunteers and Local Charities Give Back
So many Syracuse and Central New York residents truly have a passion for volunteering, donating to charity and giving back. Time and time again we've seen their giving spirit first hand. When we put out a call for volunteers for an improvement project at the Latin School in the SCSD and for help distributing school supplies at Mary Nelson's Youth Day, the volunteer support was overwhelming.
The Syracuse community has no shortage of great non-profit organizations and charities that make a big impact in our city. One great example is The Samaritan Center, a soup kitchen that feeds the homeless and hungry of Syracuse. They are located near downtown and have a beautiful new facility. On January 28th they will be presented with the 2nd Annual Believe in Syracuse Organization Award! If you'd like to join us for the event and to celebrate the occasion at our 3rd Birthday Party, click here. |
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5. 2016 looking bright for Downtown
The good news has been rolling in for Downtown on a consistent basis for a number of years. Downtown apartments are at a 99% occupancy rate and more and more living spaces are being constructed. Beautiful old buildings are coming back to life, (see item #1 on this list as just one example). There are currently over $300 million in capital investments being made in the Downtown area.
Reality and perception haven't quite aligned when it comes to our downtown section of the city. We admit that parking is not as simple Downtown as it is in Manlius. However when it comes to parking or traffic, there is no comparison between the problems we face and those in major cities like Boston, Philadelphia or New York City. Downtown is a lot of fun. Downtown has so much history and culture. It's accessible for all of us to enjoy, regardless of where in CNY you live or how much money you make. |
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6. Syracuse is Beautiful
From Beautiful architecture in Downtown Syracuse, to county parks like Beaver Lake and Highland Forest, it's hard to deny the unique beauty of Central New York.
When you look at the skyline of our city, it's hard to not feel hopeful about our future and see the potential it holds. The sky is the limit here in Syracuse and no matter what we're up against and what problems we have, there's nothing we can't do as a community when we work together. On January 28th, Believe in Syracuse will be hosting their 3rd Birthday Party, but the purpose of the event is to celebrate these six reasons why we continue to believe in our community in the new year. We hope you'll join us and together we'll be make Syracuse a better place for our children and grandchildren. |
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