Reviving a Classic
In the FOCUS vision-setting sessions in 1998, the community called for a hotel near the convention center between State and Montgomery Streets. There had long been talk about building a new convention center hotel and the need for more hotel rooms to accommodate large events. Since then, at least six hotels in the area around downtown have opened or undergone complete renovation.
The most recent is the historically renovated Marriott Syracuse Downtown opened in 2016. The award-winning Marriott is one block from the convention center and has been designated as the convention center hotel. Other efforts are enlivening that end of the downtown corridor. The Allyn Foundation recently announced construction plans for a mixed used commercial and residential structure in the Salina Street parking lot on the corner across from the hotel.
The wave of hotel construction and renovation began in 2001 with the Jefferson Clinton Hotel in Armory Square. The Marx, now the Crowne Plaza, followed as did the Genesee Grande; Parkview; and Skyler hotels. In 2013 Marriott had opted for new construction downtown with its Courtyard and Residence Inn at Armory Square. It has not dampened hotel development outside downtown. In the lakefront district bordering on downtown the Aloft hotel opened in 2016 and Embassy Suites opened near Destiny in 2017. Hotels also opened near the Fairgrounds and at Carrier Circle.
Progress in welcoming visitors is just one of the 20 highlights of the 87 goals set and advanced in the past 20 years. See what can be done and has been done, not necessarily by FOCUS, but by Forging Our Community’s United Strength. To learn more about the 87 Goals and the 20 highlighted go to www.focussyracuse.org.