Tagged: community redevelopment

Empty storefronts used to be a common site in downtown Syracuse, but now more are being leased out thanks in part to a growing demand from people to live in the city's urban center.

Downtown Syracuse's population rose about a quarter in the past decade. Now businesses are following the young people and "empty nesters" (older couples without kids living at home anymore) downtown.

Twenty-four new businesses opened downtown from October 2011 to October 2012, according to the Downtown Committee. That's up from 13 the year before and from just nine in 2009-2010.

The move to downtown Syracuse was three years in the making for Nicole Samolis. That’s how long it took her to convince her husband to forgo their home in the suburbs.

The couple lives in the newly renovated Dey’s Plaza. The building was once a large department store, and then failed as an office building.

But since it was converted to apartments a few years ago, there’s been a waiting list to get in. Samolis was sold on the place by its view of Syracuse landmarks like the county courthouse.