IDA authorizes public hearings for downtown hotel and Wheaton House redevelopment; approves several routine project resolutions

The Syracuse Industrial Development Agency on Monday authorized public hearings and lead-agency actions for several downtown redevelopment proposals and approved routine project paperwork.

The board voted to: (1) authorize a public hearing for a proposed Hilton-branded, roughly 240-room hotel that would be built on parcels including the agency-owned M. Lemp Park and the adjoining Warren Street garage; (2) authorize a public hearing for the reuse of the long-vacant Wheaton House at 366 West Onondaga Street into mixed-use space with four studio apartments on the top floor and commercial space below; and (3) approve a change in ownership form for the McGuire Family dealership conversion to an LLC, among other routine items.

Why it matters: the hotel project would redevelop agency-owned parcels in downtown Syracuse, proposes a roughly 300-space parking structure and includes requests that could affect agency finances and land transfers (sales, PILOT and possibly tax-exempt bond issuance). The Wheaton House project is tied to the city—s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) funding and the Syracuse Land Bank—s strategy for reusing long-vacant properties.

Board action and discussion

Eric (Staff member) summarized the hotel proposal and said the developer plans a Hilton-branded hotel of approximately 240 rooms combining parcels that include the IDA-owned M. Lemp Park and the adjacent Warren Street Garage. "This is a proposal to…