For years, businesses and homeowners have been turning out the lights and leaving downtown Syracuse, but now, the trend is reversing with big changes in neighborhoods around Armory and Clinton Square, and in Little Italy.
They Buy a Lifestyle
"When people by downtown they pay more per square foot than if you buy in the suburbs, but you buy a lifestyle," said Ann Clifford, owner of Enlighten Realty in Armory Square.
An urban revival is currently underway downtown with new building projects, and new pioneers are discovering downtown life can be both a curse and a blessing.
"There is more activity down here," said Clifford.
Typical Downtown Resident
The typical downtown resident is either a young professional or an empty-nester.
Rick Albright said his condo in the Loews Building is where he lives during the work week because his hour-long drive from his home in Canandigua got to be tiring.
Buyers are paying up to $2,000 monthly mortgages for one and two bedroom condos, and taxes are a little over $3,000 a year.
Albright said he also purchased a second condo downtown in the new Jefferson Clinton Commons. Ground was just broken on this new development two weeks ago. It will be located across the street from the MOST near Armory Square.
Buyers are paying up to $500,000 for two bedroom condos in the JCC.
Jay Dietershagen is a bartender and part-owner of Al's Wine & Whiskey--convenience was the selling point for him. He can see his newly purchased $220,000 condo in Center Armory from his position behind the bar.
"A lot of people, they're like, 'oh, you're gonna live at work,' and the reality is, I live at work now, so the fact that I can run home and make a sandwich, or take a shower, or do whatever I have to do--the convenience is so key for someone like me," said Dietershagen.
Paying More for Quality
"Quality is selling best," said Clifford.
High ceilings, exposed brick, granite counter tops, and hardwood floors are common expectations from a downtown buyer.
David Tiberio is the owner of cheapbooks.com, and rents an apartment on East Water Street for $1,700 a month.
"If you go into a suburban home and rented some place there--they usually don't remodel it for someone like me--who wants to pay more for a quality place," said Tiberio.
"It's good for the area--clean up the whole area and every body's happy," said Cosimo Zavaglia, a downtown developer.
Zavaglia is a trail-blazing developer, he has developed several buildings in the past and more recently renovated 466 Salina Street--an old bowling alley turned luxury apartment building.
Downfalls
While the perks to living downtown are closeness to restaurants, bars and shopping, some every day necessities are limited--like parking and grocery stores.
"You have to go out in the suburbs pretty much to do your grocery shopping--there's a store down here that's small and not open a lot of hours," said Albright.
That store is C.L. Evers Grocery in the Amos Building--the only downtown grocery store.
"The experience is worth the little extra inconvenience," said Clifford.
"I couldn't ask for anything more than to be where I am right now," said Dietershagen.
Residents say the limited services do not outweigh their excitement and comfort over their downtown lifestyles, and they say they are optimistic for further downtown growth as the Downtown Committee has more than twenty development projects in the works.
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