property
Syracuse Planning Commission Grants Approval for 14-Story Mixed-Use Tower Near CBD
The project at 312 East Fayette Street will add 175 apartments and ground-floor retail space to a block two blocks from Clinton Square.
How we reported this
The Syracuse Planning Commission approved a 14-story mixed-use building on East Fayette Street on July 7, clearing the way for 175 apartments and 18,000 square feet of retail space two blocks east of Clinton Square.
The vote came as downtown vacancy rates for Class A office space sit at 11.4 percent and city planners push to convert underused parcels into housing before federal infrastructure funds tied to the Onondaga Creek corridor run out in 2028. Local officials have cited the need to add at least 1,200 downtown units by 2030 to support new employers moving into the former Hotel Syracuse building.
The site sits one block south of the Creekwalk trail entrance at West Fayette Street and Armory Square. The developer will connect a new plaza to the existing trail, giving residents direct pedestrian access to the Museum of Science and Technology and the 500,000-square-foot headquarters of National Grid on Erie Boulevard.
Project Scale and Timeline
Construction documents filed with the city show a $58 million total cost, with 22 units reserved for households earning 60 percent of area median income under the state’s 485-a tax abatement program. The building will rise to 168 feet, matching the height of the nearby State Tower Building completed in 1928. Demolition of three single-story structures on the parcel is scheduled to begin in October, with vertical construction targeted for March 2027 and occupancy in late 2028.
Next Steps for Residents and Businesses
City staff will hold a public information session on traffic and loading plans at the Downtown Committee offices on July 22. Property owners within 500 feet of the site can submit comments on curb-cut locations until July 31. Once permits are issued, the project will be subject to quarterly progress reports posted on the Syracuse Department of Neighborhood and Business Development website.
This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.