In Defense of an Aquarium and the Future of the Inner Harbor

February 28, 2022

In the fall of 2021 a surprise proposal for an $85 million aquarium at the Syracuse Inner Harbor was announced. The project would be paid for using a large budget surplus Onondaga County experienced as a result of federal pandemic funding and stronger than expected tax collections. This proposal also sparked a heated debate over what those funds should be used for and whether an aquarium is truly a viable project for this community. Should these funds instead go towards improving roads, starting new assistance funds, creating community programs, or simply stowed away for future uses? Should we bond for the required funding instead of paying for it in cash? If we are to build an aquarium, does it need to be so large?

Each of these questions are valid and should be considered, but I also think we should be looking at this project as part of a grander plan for the Inner Harbor. The Inner Harbor has been stuck in development Hell for decades (including the current legal troubles of the developer who purchased most of the land), which has resulted in an area ripe with opportunity sitting mostly vacant and overgrown. Perhaps it’s time to really consider what that future could be, with an aquarium as the spark.

Addressing Some Key Questions

First, we need to look at some of the key questions opponents and skeptics of the aquarium project bring up, since they are valid concerns. We’ll begin with the other possible uses for the funds.

Road construction is always a favorite issue to point to by critics, noting the many potholes and other issues we experience on a yearly basis in the northeast. But overall, the roads that Onondaga County is in charge of are kept in fairly good condition, as noted in SMTC’s annual pavement rating report. While this report only documents the federal aid eligible roadways, those same roads have the most impact on people’s day-to-day movements. Some of the funding could be pushed to the City of Syracuse to improve their roadways, but even then, the City has made some significant progress over the past decade of maximizing their paving budget. We must also remember that the City will also receive $123 million in federal funds as part of the pandemic relief fund, with some of that focused on improving roadways.

Others often point to providing additional services that are needed within our community, including social and health services. While I think we need further investment in those areas, it is not wise to start programs of that nature with a one-time surplus. Once those funds are gone, the services that may have become vital to some will be stripped away. We should instead look at our recurring costs and see where we can shift funding to better represent the needs of our communities. Additionally, we should be looking for ways to build our economy and create opportunities, which will help increase funding for future programs that will be more reliable than recovery funds.

But that still leaves questions on the specifics of the aquarium itself. Should we bond for it instead of paying for it with the surplus funds? And just how big should an aquarium be? The easier question to answer here is about the size. Did you know Niagara Falls has an aquarium? If you did, you’re probably one of the many visitors who was disappointed by how small the facility is. If you’re looking to build a regionally significant project, the size and scope of the project should fit that criteria. The proposed project would be the largest aquarium in the northeast, immediately bringing it attention throughout the larger region. While few people travel places just for an aquarium, the presence of a high quality aquarium might sway some to take a chance, or keep those already traveling to the area here longer. Think of fans of teams at SU or Canadian shoppers at the mall or visitors to the State Fair during the summer who might decide to extend their trip by a day to explore the aquarium. Those extra days can be a huge boon for businesses within Syracuse and leave people with a more positive view of the City as a whole, hopefully leading to return visits.

When it comes to bonding over using the surplus funds, the nice thing about using the surplus funds is that you already have them and you can act now with them. That can be subject to a larger debate on how best to fund a project of this scale, but sometimes its good to just rip off the bandaid.

The Inner Harbor’s Future

Now let’s look at some ways that the aquarium can play into the future of the Inner Harbor, and some ways we can improve upon this plan to give it a real chance at success.

First, it is an investment in the quality of life for the community. Aquariums provide an educational experience that is unique, which students at all age and grade levels can benefit from. One way we can push the current proposal to a new level is by creating a larger learning/ laboratory annex that is supported through partnerships with colleges throughout Central New York. Syracuse University, LeMoyne College, as well as the nearby SUNY campuses (Cortland, Oswego, and ESF) all have biology and environmental studies programs, which could benefit through more in-depth research opportunities at the aquarium. Providing these unique connections could encourage the expansion of these types of programs in the region as well as attract students who value this type of hands-on education. These partnerships will also provide financial support for the aquarium, which could ultimately support reduced price or free admission for City residents or low-income families. One of the main sticking points has been the proposed fee for admission, $21 per adult with reduced prices for many different groups. The financial support of colleges and universities could be geared towards creating a more equitable fee structure that ensures everyone access to this unique attraction.

Let’s also look at the accessibility of the proposed aquarium site. The Inner Harbor sits in a unique location in terms of access by residents across the City and the greater region. Yes, it sits between I-690 and I-81, providing easy access to visitors driving to the site from outside the City, but increasing access by bus, bike, and on foot are possible and already somewhat in place.

Community Grid Bike Connections

SMART1 Preferred Option

The BRT network that is considered the locally preferred option in the SMART 1 study would run nearby on North Salina Street. A slightly different route that runs up Solar Street, where the aquarium would be built, was considered but was not selected due to higher ridership demands on the Salina Street corridor. Even though the BRT system would not run directly to the aquarium site, improved pedestrian and bicycle facilities in the area would help create the needed connections. The I-81 Community Grid would help produce these new connections as wider sidewalks and new bike lanes that connect the Inner Harbor to North Salina Street are proposed across multiple bridges. This would not only help connect the Northside to the Inner Harbor, but also connect it to the Onondaga Creek Walk and Empire State Trail, making the location one of the easier places in the City to reach without a car.

For those who do choose to reach the aquarium and Inner Harbor by car, minimal parking should be built directly surrounding the site, and instead a partnership with Destiny USA should be forged to use the large swaths of overbuilt parking lots across Bear Street. We should be focused on creating a walkable neighborhood surrounding the Inner Harbor, filled with apartments, townhouses, shops, restaurants, and parkland. This can only be accomplished by reducing the amount of parking available directly on site and utilizing the already existing lots across the street.

Inner Harbor Site Plan

Inner Harbor Rendering

And on that note, we should be looking to use the development of the aquarium as leverage to force COR to continue their proposed build out at the Inner Harbor or sell the land to others who will develop it. The original proposal would have created a mixed-use neighborhood that finally provided the City a chance to fully connect with the waterways of its history. With the introduction of townhouses at the Harbor, we should require that at least half of them are for sale to own, providing a new homeownership opportunity in a denser development style than most of the City offers. An additional thing to note is that even if the original plan was fully built out, the land needed for the aquarium would remain open according to the site plan above. This would allow the aquarium to become an anchor institution at the Inner Harbor and pull the development currently occurring in Franklin Square northward.

While the Inner Harbor development shouldn’t hinge on whether an aquarium is built or not, I still think there are some unique benefits that an aquarium brings to the City that should encourage us to make the investment. The last point I’ll make, and this one can sometimes be overlooked, is that we should invest in quality of life amenities that can be enjoyed by all. The Amphitheater, while an amazing amenity, is often geared towards adults over kids. Restaurants and bars in Downtown Syracuse emphasize alcohol consumption as part of the experience (with many local breweries producing top notch beers and drinks). Destiny USA is a closer example to an amenity that can be enjoyed by all, but only if you want to spend and consume. An aquarium, like the zoo and the museums Downtown, can provide an afternoon or even a full day of fun for all ages without the pressure to consume. You’re truly there for an experience, whether to learn or to be calmed by the presence of nature, and that is truly a benefit to the community.

Note: The Central New York Regional Planning Board was involved in the aquarium study. While I have worked on the CNY Broadband Study with the agency, I have had no involvement in this study and this blog post is entirely my personal feelings on the proposal.

View of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse from the Crown Plaza Hotel

Why the Term "Superstar City" Needs to be Retired

January 6, 2020

Browse through articles dealing with urban planning or urban policy and you will continually come across terms such as “Superstar City,” “Cities of Relevance,” “Rust Belt,” etc. Each of these terms, while meant to describe cities of a certain nature, impact how people see the communities in which they live. More often than not, when coming from a city in Upstate New York, these terms offer a negative view of where you have spent your life. At the same time, those living in these so-called “Superstar Cities” have been left wondering why there has, at times, been an antagonistic view towards them. While there are many reasons for the divides within our country, the terms urban planning writers have decided to use to describe cities has only helped to further an us-versus-them mentality. We need to find better ways to describe the differences within cities without trashing some and elevating others.

Richard Florida is credited with creating the term of “Superstar City,” primarily to describe large metropolitan areas that have robust financial resources and are often linked closely with other commercial capitals throughout the world. But this is not the only term used to elevate these cities over others. Throughout my education I have also come to hear these cities described as “Cities of Relevance.” This term, more than any others, has frustrated me. By describing cities in this manor you have determined that the majority of cities, where the majority of people live, are irrelevant. While I understand that many smaller cities, including my hometown of Syracuse, do not have as close economic ties to international hubs as others, to write them off as irrelevant is a simple way of sewing resentment within these communities.

You don’t have to look too hard to find people or organizations that believe these larger cities have made it worse for their communities, even when the opposite may be true. New York State offers a perfect example. New York City is the economic heart of the state, generating immense amounts of wealth and taxes that help support the rest of the state. At the same time, many communities in Upstate New York feel as though their voices are not being heard and their problems are being ignored in favor of Downstate priorities. Downstate residents often do not understand, or appreciate, the economic issues facing Upstate communities, a fact that I have routinely run into while living and studying in New York City. Both communities simply see each other as the problem, often because they have continually been labeled in ways to pit them against each other.

This us-versus-them mentality can be seen on the national scale as well, with many communities in the Midwest and the Great Plains feeling forgotten, often due to being referred to as “Flyover Country.” And yet, many discussions on urban planning and policy being had in the major hubs on the coasts, often forget to mention, or simply write-off, the problems faced by these smaller cities. They then wonder how it is that voters in these same communities vote in ways counter to how these “Cities of Relevance” believe they should.

Having lived in cities labeled as both relevant and irrelevant, I do not believe our current terminology is benefitting anyone. Elevating cities to “Superstar” status leads to a mentality that their concerns should be prioritized over others. This is foolish when considering that most people do not have the opportunity to choose where they live and work. What zip code you are born into has been shown to determine what type of access you will have to opportunities throughout your life. Instead of elevating cities over one another, we should be looking to embrace their unique qualities and find ways to connect them. Yes, we will need terms to discuss the differences between cities, both economic and culturally, but we should be looking to use terms that look to clarify differences, not make a value judgement.

What Going to the Ballpark Means to Me

October 16, 2019

Increasingly it feels as though society has become more isolated. Often we blame phones and social media, but those don’t necessarily have to isolate us. In the right context they can be used to bring us together and keep us involved with those that matter to us. Another usual talking point is the decreasing importance of organized religion in much of the country. While I don’t believe the specific religion is important, I do believe there is something about having a set aside time to be with others that you don’t work with and are not related to. Religion is not the only thing that brings people together, but in some ways it is the most apt comparison to how I feel about going to a ballgame.

Growing up, every family trip revolved around a baseball game. Pittsburgh, Toronto, New York, Cleveland, all great cities to visit and all have a major league baseball team. Two things were guaranteed on a family trip: church on Sunday and a baseball game Friday or Saturday, sometimes both. I wasn’t always the most interested in the game but I still loved the atmosphere at the big stadiums in these cities I always wanted to go to.

PNC Park

Yankee Stadium

Citi Field

Dodgers Stadium

This past year was the first time I had invested in season tickets for the Syracuse Mets (previously the Chiefs), but over the last decade or so I’ve attended more and more games each season. While I was raised in a family that loved baseball, it took going to games with two of my closest friends, Rebecca and Terry, in high school to revive my interest in the game. We’d borrow extra tickets from Rebecca’s parents, who had season tickets, and sit amongst their usual seat neighbors in section 207. At first it was just an excuse to hang out outside on a summer night, but quickly became something I just plain loved to do.

An article from The Athletic described baseball as a sport that you come back to as you get older. Some people stay with the game their entire life, others drift away and return, but almost always to the team of their childhood. That is something unique to baseball over most other sports; the dedication to a team and a place, not a big name player (which is often the case in the NBA and, at times, soccer). But there is a reason that you come back to baseball, and it may be that communal experience that, to me, is unlike other sports.

Over the last season in Syracuse I became one of those fans at a majority of games and began to recognize many of the same faces day after day. You don’t know them, but at the same time it’s nice to know they are there with the same spirit you have for the team. The GM wanders the stands and greets fans, often stopping to talk as he gets to know you more. Baseball has a pace that lets you wander the stadium and see people that you didn’t come to the game with but know they are there. While the game is the central focus, the social atmosphere adds to the experience and is part of why we think of our memories of coming to the ballpark with such fondness. These are the moments that remind me of church and the feeling of being part of a community.

This community continues online with local fan pages that post photos of kids and families at the ballpark and organized events to root for the team. In some ways, this fanbase feels more intimate because it’s for a minor league team in a smaller stadium. It lets the fans feel more connected to the game and to each other. These are some of the reasons I have focused so much on how to improve the area around NBT Bank Stadium as I feel the community of fans and neighbors deserve a place that reflects the communal aspect of the game of baseball. But these same feelings can be felt at major league stadiums, which is why fans make journeys to see their favorite teams play and why so many people wear baseball caps of those teams.

I may not consider myself to be a very religious person, but I do believe the ballpark is a special place that can help provide that sense of belonging that religion has in the past. How people find community does not matter, as long as they feel as though they belong. For me that is how I feel when I’m at the ballpark.

Flags, Marketing and Civic Pride

March 3, 2019

Civic pride is a powerful tool and can help cities overcome great obstacles. When the residents of a city and a metropolitan area feel this sense of pride they’re more willing to make sacrifices or go the extra mile to improve their community. I’ve discussed this idea throughout a few posts, but I think it’s a concept that needs to be explored in different ways. I believe how we show ourselves to the outside world is important, as is having a symbol to rally around, which is why I begin with the need for Syracuse to change its city flag.

Most people reading this may not even realize that the city of Syracuse has a flag to begin with. You’re only likely to find it flying in front of city offices, and even then it doesn’t stand out. It may seem strange to focus on a flag that few people recognize, but that is at the heart of the problem. There are no unifying symbols within our community for civic pride. The closest thing we have as a city is the logo for Syracuse University. To understand what a flag can mean and symbolize, there is a wonderful Ted Talk about what makes a great city flag. Chicago’s city flag is a great example and is showcased throughout the video.

Chicago City Flag

Syracuse City Flag

The video goes through five major principles of how to design a flag:

Keep it simple
Use meaningful symbolism
Use 2-3 basic colors
No lettering or seals
Be distinctive (or related)

Now you can see how Chicago’s flag follows these principles, and how Syracuse’s flag does not. While it’s simple and only uses a couple colors, our city’s seal makes it impossible to visually understand from a distance and blends in with any other seal we may see.

If you look at the Google searches for each city’s flag you notice how prominent Chicago’s flag is, not just in the city but to anyone searching for the city. Syracuse, on the other hand, is dominated by Syracuse University. The city itself is an afterthought with only one image result. While I think we should be proud of the university that bears our name, we should be able to stand on our own and have pride in the city itself.

Above I have a quick rendering that I made of what an alternative flag for Syracuse may be:

Blue Line: the Erie Canal
Top White Line: Snow
Bottom White Line: Salt mining
Orange Arrow: Center of the state/ major stop on the underground railroad for slaves heading north

This is just one idea, and I believe it should open up the conversation to the city for us to decide how we want our city symbolized. I used orange and blue since those have become the unofficial colors of our city and there’s no reason to fight that. I think we deserve to have a better city flag, one that we’re proud to fly on our homes, have hats emblazoned with it, or bumper stickers on our cars.

At the same time, our flag is only one way in which people recognize a city. Another important aspect is how we are seen online.

When you’re researching a restaurant or business, often times your first impression comes from their website. If they have a sleek layout, easy navigation, videos, etc., you’re likely to have a better impression of that business. You’re likely to trust the quality of their product. The same holds true for cities.

Syracuse

New York City

Camden, NJ

Los Angeles County

Portland, OR

Buffalo

Above is a selection of city/county websites from across the country. Some, like NYC and Los Angeles, you’d expect to have sleek, easy to use websites. Then there are some like Camden, NJ and Buffalo that have spent time reworking their images and understand that their websites are their first impressions to many. Camden has been working especially hard to revitalize their image along with their dramatic restructuring of their police department which has seen huge improvements in safety. They understand that they have to reintroduce people to their city.

Then there is the Syracuse website which is clunky and dated. The website states that a new website is coming soon, which is long overdue, but I hope they are taking cues from some of the most successful cities in our country in how to present ourselves as a modern city.

Take NYC: their city logo is modern, bold, but simple. We should be embracing our initials, using SYR more often. The Syracuse Airport has embraced this idea with their new logo and the city should follow suit, making an interchangeable symbol that we can alter to embrace every individual department.

Syracuse Airport logo

Sadly we don’t have such an easy symbol to embrace like the Buffalo buffalo. They have made that symbol so universal throughout the city, with every sports team having its own version. Syracuse doesn’t have that singular figure, but there’s no reason SYR cannot become more prevalent in our city.

In the end these are not ground breaking ideas, but it’s a conversation about how we want our city to be presented to the rest of the world. Let’s give ourselves an identity beyond the university. The first thing you see when you search for Syracuse should be the city itself and our flag, not a private institution, no matter how closely its tied to the city. But most of all, let’s stop being our own biggest critic and start becoming our own biggest fan. How we feel about ourselves shapes what the world thinks of us.

For further reading on civic pride in mid-sized cities, avoiding our city becoming a clone of other cities, and more city flags, I recommend reading the following:

The Comeback of the Mid-Sized American City - City Lab

Cities: Don’t Fall in the Branding Trap - City Lab

Which City Flags Are America's Best? - Governing

I also recommend the book “The Next American City” by Mick Cornett. Out of all mayors, he understands what it means for a city to have pride in itself and what that can do to transform it.

I-81 near the Syracuse Regional Transportation Center, December 2018

Think Big About Syracuse In Winter - The Salt City Games

February 2, 2019

One of the things I hear most often from people who have moved out of Syracuse, or even from those who live there, is that there isn’t anything to do. They say that’s especially true in the winter months when everyone is hunkered down, only venturing out for the occasional SU basketball game or a Syracuse Crunch hockey game. While I disagree with Governor Cuomo that the main reason people move away from New York is the cold weather, I do think there is something to that.

We’ve let the narrative of people suffering through the long, cold winter months define what Syracuse is. Beyond Syracuse University, the first thing people think of when they hear “Syracuse” is cold and snow. We let that become a negative thought that helps push people away from the city and from the region as a whole. But does our long winter with feet upon feet of snow have to be a bad thing? Or is there a way that we can rebrand ourselves and embrace what makes us unique: the snowiest big city (population over 100,000) in the United States.

Growing up in Syracuse, sledding was always my go-to winter activity. I was terrible, and still am, at ice skating, and I never quite got the hang of snowboarding or skiing. Yet here I was in a city that gets blanketed with ten feet of snow every year. Some of my friends picked up these sports and some ended up being great at them, but it was never a large number. Part of the reason might be because a lot of the winter sports require a financial investment up front; buy/rent the skates, buy/rent the skis, join ski club which may cost $200 that most families don’t have lying around. I bring this fact up because the city of Syracuse is home to many families who can’t afford to take up the winter sports, even though we’re in a prime location to not only take them up but excel at them.

This is my starting point and it will lead to an idea of how to celebrate winter throughout the city while shouting to the outside world that Syracuse is a winter destination that you need to experience.

Syracuse Northside, 2017

Franklin Square, 2018

Invest In Winter for Kids

While there are free skate nights at the rinks in Syracuse and plenty of hills to sled and snowboard down (if you have equipment), we need to invest in bringing kids into these sports. Unless you grow up in a family that has been involved with hockey, or skiing, or skating, you’re not likely to get involved with it yourself. Unlike basketball or soccer, you can’t just go up to the nearby park and start playing. There’s a learning curve that you need someone to reassure you about. This has resulted in hockey leagues being travel leagues, meaning it’s out of reach for anyone that doesn’t have the ability to commit to such a schedule.

Investing in programs in the city schools and other neighboring districts to introduce and encourage winter sports could open up a whole new world to some of these kids. Start at a young age, get them comfortable being on the ice, and watch kids with untapped athleticism embrace a new sport. Much like the donations of bikes to kids in need every summer, why not encourage donations of winter athletic gear? Lower the point of entry and provide the support needed to start a new sport.

Outside of sports, why not use the snow as part of our education system. Use the snow to teach architecture, engineering, physics, etc. Build igloos and other structures to tap into cultural education about how these structures have been used throughout history. Art classes could introduce ice sculpting along with more traditional forms of sculpture.

Creating this connection to the snow, connection to the cold, and connection to our environment as a whole will help to reshape our relationship with winter. It doesn’t need to be seen as the season of darkness. but instead we should embrace hygge (pronounced hue-guh), which is a Danish and Norwegian term about coziness and wellness especially in the colder months. It is in the spirit of hygge that we should not only get kids more involved with winter sports and crafts, but also create a full on celebration of the city during this time.

Syracuse has worked to create events in the winter, including the introduction of the New York State Winter Fair this year. While these festivals and events have done a lot to get people out and active, in some ways they aim too low. Winter shouldn’t just be about getting our residents out, but about introducing new reasons for travelers to come to town. With this I look to borrow the name of the Salt City Games from the Park Department’s summer event and repurpose it as almost a regional Olympic Winter Games. Before you say that this could never work (because I know many people will be thinking in that way) it’s worth exploring what exactly this could be. At least what I envision for it.

The Salt City Games

Syracuse would become the epicenter of winter sports and culture for two weekends in the winter. Not just downtown, but throughout the city and into the inner rings suburbs as we attract athletes and artists from across the region to compete.

Syracuse Crunch, 2018

Syracuse Crunch Fans, 2018

Hockey

One of the major draws would be a youth hockey tournament played across the city. Teams from neighboring cities and towns would join our local high school teams in a tournament that would culminate in an outdoor game at NBT Bank Stadium. On the same weekend as the final for the high school tournament would be games played by Syracuse University, SUNY Oswego, and RIT at the stadium, with the last game of the event being played by the Syracuse Crunch (ideally against either Rochester or Utica to bring in additional regional fans).

This would allow NBT Bank Stadium to thrive in the winter and promote businesses that line Hiawatha Blvd. to fans flocking to the games. The Crunch have repeatedly expressed interest in doing an outdoor game at the stadium, much as Rochester did at the Red Wings stadium years ago. While the Syracuse Chiefs originally balked at the idea recently, by including these other events and institutions in the discussion may put enough pressure on the Syracuse Mets to embrace the idea moving forward.

Cross Country Skiing

A signature event for the Salt City Games would be the 30km (about 18 miles) cross country skiing race. What would make this race dramatically different than other races in the sport would be its urban nature. By this I mean filling city streets with snow to allow the course to wind its way through different neighborhoods and straight through Downtown Syracuse before working its way out to NBT Bank Stadium for the finish line. Treating this event like an urban marathon will give it a unique appeal to athletes looking for a new, challenging event. At the same time showcasing the beauty of the city in winter.

Curling

Curling is one of those sports that’s often mocked by people who haven’t spent much time watching it. And yet every Winter Olympics it becomes a hot topic once again. With multiple curling clubs across Upstate New York this could become a vibrant event to attract new players. Similar to hockey, this would be a tournament format but will culminate in the semi finals and finals being played at the War Memorial.

Art and Culture Showcase

Much like Winterfest, this festival will also include ice sculpting, chili cook-offs, and any other cultural touchstone that can be incorporated. This is the part of the festival that is the most flexible and would hopefully include music and performances, both outside and inside. The city should be a constant ebb and flow of life, light, and music throughout these weekends.

Invest In Winter

Through these events and these investments we should be looking to change our perspective on winter and what it means for our city. There will always be people who look to travel to warmer climates during winter but there’s no reason we can’t catch the eye of plenty of people looking to embrace the snow.

Beyond these programs I still believe major bus stations should be outfitted with heating systems for patrons, and additional heating lamps throughout the city in high traffic areas. We shouldn’t fear going outside because of the cold. Through these heating spots you show residents and the world that we’re a city that cares and a city that embraces its lot in life. That’s a community people want to visit and live in.

While these aren’t your normal economic development ideas, I think we need to think bigger and think boldly about how we want the world to see us.