Save Wilson-- A Downtown Syracuse NY Building Redevelopment Campaign

Adapt CNY, Inc. (Adapt CNY) is a, not-for-profit corporation and an outgrowth of the 2004 40 Below Summit. The purpose of Adapt CNY is to encourage and create a vibrant downtown through the redevelopment of vacant and under-utilized property in Syracuse’s blighted urban core.

The Wilson Building is a unique architectural treasure at the heart of the 300 Block of South Salina Street. Today, the property sits vacant.

Built in 1898 by architect Charles Erastus Colton, who apprenticed under Archimedes
Russell. Colton also built Syracuse’s City Hall.
The building is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
The building was constructed after a devastating fire in 1897 destroyed much of the block.

Adapt CNY proposes to redevelop the historic Wilson Building
The project would include:

33 market-rate residential units;
7,500 square feet of street-level retail space; and,
A pedestrian “pass-through” connecting South Salina Street
with historic Armory Square.

The project is intended to be a catalytic project on the 300 Block of South Salina Street. It would result in more than 50 new downtown residents, new downtown businesses and new jobs.

The 300 Block of South Salina Street has long been considered Syracuse’s own “main-street”– serving as the primary commercial corridor for the City for many years. Today, 73.35% of the square footage in the 300 block of South Salina is vacant. Three buildings – including the Wilson Building – are completely vacant. There are 12 buildings with vacant upper floors.

The phrase “Someone ought to do something...” just doesn’t exist in our vocabulary. When there’s a problem, fix it. When there’s a gap, fill it. Adapt CNY will bring life back to our main street and ensure that our history plays a prominent role in our future.

Today. As in right now. Planning has been underway for months. Community support is building. Cleanout is complete, preparation for environmental remediation is underway.

Talk is cheap. Preserving our history and rebuilding our urban core is not. But easy isn’t what we’re after. A challenge, a community effort, a transformative project – that’s something to get excited about. The total cost of this rehabilitation is $3.83 million. Of that, we expect to raise $1.2 million through individual and corporate donations, foundations, grants and other mechanisms. We cannot do it alone.

We need:

Financial contributions
Volunteers
Donations of services and materials

A study by Builder Magazine noted that the economic impact of 1 resident in a downtown district equaled the impact of 4 downtown office workers.

Architect Charles Erastus Colton was one of Syracuse’s greatest 19th Century architects. He designed more than 40 properties in Syracuse during his career. Today, only 12 remain standing.

On the night of January 25, 1897 a devastating fire destroyed many buildings on the West side of the 300 Block – a group of buildings originally known as the Dillaye Block.

The Wilson Building was originally known as the Dillaye Memorial Building. It was renamed in 1943 when the property was purchased by John D. Wilson – owner of Wilson’s Jewelers.



Adapt CNY, Inc. 1900 State Tower Building, 109 South Warren Street, Syracuse, NY 13202

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