No one is happier than I to hear that the long awaited Westin Convention Center Hotel might never be built. There’s a generic Westin in every city, in places with better weather and a whole lot more going on than in Syracuse. A downtown Westin gives people a reason to leave our city to another chain hotel that’s closer to the morning flight at the airport or the on ramp to the thruway, or to a place that isn’t generic and has more charm. Have you ever known anyone to return from a trip and say “wow! you should have seen that Hyatt!” When you’ve seen one chain hotel, you’ve seen them all.
The Hotel Syracuse in better days
But the Hotel Syracuse? Now that’s a draw! Not now of course, the place is in dreadful condition, resembling something between haunted and condemned. The main entrance is blocked off, leaving the poorly conceived black granite hole on Warren Street the place to come and go which knocks the aesthetic off balance. The other side entrance which used to balance it on Onondaga Street, is covered with a monstrous modern brick skywalk. All of the retrofitting needs to go and we should bring it back to the way it was.
Frankly I’m surprised that such a sorry looking structure still gets bookings, but it does, and I attended a lovely affair there just two weeks ago. Something about the place keeps the people coming, past the grimy exterior and the peeling paint, with only the ghosts caring to explore the rooms above. It’s dead center in a pretty dead block of our city but people come in from all corners for their evening at ” the hotel”.
Why not put the $100 million intended for the Westin into the Hotel Syracuse? Think of what that kind of money would do to our magnificent structure from the Roaring Twenties. And you know? There’s only one in the world, and it is ours.
A couple of years ago I was traveling through Richmond, Virginia, a city with many similarities to our own. It’s a little bigger, crime is much worse,and the oppressively hot and humid summers are as challenging for residents and tourists as our winters up here.
Richmond has the one and only Jefferson Hotel. Built in 1895, it had a marvelous and somewhat ridiculous past like alligators in the lobby fountains. And like the hotel Syracuse, the Jefferson Hotel faced decline and the threat of demolition many times.
In 1983, after the hotel had been shuttered for 3 years, a $34 million restoration transformed the Hotel Jefferson into a magnet that exists today. It spawned revitilization of the surrounding neighborhood, and when I sought authentic accommodations that signified Richmond, everyone lead me to the Jefferson. It was splendid. Look at the two photos below. Can you deny it is magnificent?
What does the Jefferson Hotel have on us? Several million dollars and the will to make it work. It has community pride and citizens with the good judgement and good taste to know where to put the money. Mismanagement and hard times hit every city so Syracuse need not disable itself with pity. When God closes a door, he opens a window. I for one hope the door is closed for good on another generic business moving to Syracuse for a year or two until it moves out again.
The Hotel Syracuse sits neglected and maligned but defying the odds by hanging on and booking a stubborn number of weddings and events. It’s the only one in the world. Do it right, as Post-Standard columnist Sean Kirst suggests, and some of the world might come in and take a look.
Loading ...
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m not sure memory is serving me correctly here, but I think I read a couple of months ago about a movie being filmed in The Hotel Syracuse? Is that right? Anything ever come of that?
Cathy, I read that too. I’m not sure if they filmed already or not.
I agree with you completely, Maureen! I have so many memories of the “the hotel” and would love to see it returned to what it once was. Several years ago, a hotel in Utica underwent a similar restoration and it was spectacular!
Pat, and if they can do it in Utica, why can’t we? Thanks!
I agree with you too. Look at the Landmark since that was restored it is a great asset. I’ve never been in the hotel but I’m sure it must have a lot more character then a chain hotel. As far as the movie, It’s suppose to be filmed this summer with John Malkovich.
I tried to find what I had read about the movie. What I found was one article dated 3/9/10 which was pretty definitive in saying the filming would start this August; and another article (also by S. Kirst) dated 8 days later – 3/17/10, stating, ironically, that nothing was definite. Will be interesting if this comes our way. Links to articles below.
http://blog.syracuse.com/entertainment/2010/03/john_malkovich_to_star_in_film.html
http://www.syracuse.com/kirst/index.ssf/2010/03/hotel_syracuse_has_what_stardo.html
Maureen,
I attended many events in Hotel Syracuse but one of the most memorable evenings of all of my life was the first time I was there.
New Years Eve 1958 one of my high school friends worked for one of the most eccentric people I was ever to know, Mr. Del Digney, of the family that owned Oberdorfer Foundry. So my date and my cousin who was Bill’s date were invited to attend Del’s New Year’s eve festivities.
Now Del was just about the coolest looking old guy I ever had seen, think of Peter O’Toole, tall, skinny, chiseled features, man dressed in black, with a flat brim floppy black hat. The man lit up any room he entered.
There were two very attractive blue haired ladies sitting near us and Del made the moves. He presented his card which said nothing more than “Del Digney” and the two beautiful women joined “the kids”. We were of legal drinking age but maybe just.
Around midnight the music stopped and a very excited orchestra leader excitedly shouted into the microphone, “The Rebels have taken over Havana. Batista is OUT! Yeah….! “Cuba Libre’s all around!”
Man little did we know what we were cheering.
Cathy, this is terrific! Thank you for sharing.
Wow Rich. Quite a history lesson. Marvelous story. Thank you.
Hi Maureen-
I hope your hopes come true. The best statement in your whole piece is: It’s the only one in the world. What more needs to be said to those who would desire to destroy treasures such as these.
I’ve had the privilege of visiting some restored visions to our past. The Union Pacific Depot in Salt Lake City and St. Louis Union Station come to mind. There is the Hotel Alex Johnson in Rapid City, SD. Locally, our own Landmark Theatre, the Stanley Theatre in Utica, and the Utica Hotel are all proof that right here in CNY it can be done. And of course my personal favorite, the Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall complex (or practically anything restored in Boston for that matter!).
Each one presents us with a unique window to those who came before us. They link us to our ancestors. We need that. It is good for our eyes and good for our soul. And for the callous bean counters, it is also good for business.
That Jefferson Hotel you highlighted is just magnificent. And as you said, they are all one of a kind. I can’t imagine anyone ever wanting to preserve the current Syracuse train station, or the movie theatres at Shoppingtown or at that other mall. Our current Ikea design school of building will never inspire anyone to say such things are worth saving.
So yes, let’s save the Hotel Syracuse for all time. Sean Kirst is right on all levels. We have to look beyond just the bricks and mortar. I have to believe it will become one of the shining examples of our city’s rebirth in the years to come. And maybe someone should tell Jim Reith that, as I seem to recall him, in broadcasts past, calling for the demolition of this grand hotel.
Don
Well put Don, and thanks for all those other good examples. I’ll search them and check them out. It amazes me how many Central New Yorkers take vacations to Europe and marvel at the architecture and customs and then return home to level our architecture and customs! Preservation doesn’t happen by itself. It begins with appreciation. Thanks as always for your most eloquent posts.
Why can’t they design an underground passage from the Hotel Syracuse to the Convention Center? Imagine waterfalls and plants at both entrances where you walk or elevator to a moving sidewalk (like big airports) below street level. Along the garden-like way, you pass locally made products along with scenes and displays from the past. (This could be a project for the Onondaga Historical Association.) The corridor would have controlled access for safety and security of guests and be well protected from our unpredictable weather.
I love your creativity Mike. I think I agree with Sean Kirst, that cities need people on the streets and not underground or on skywalks, but your idea does sound intriguing. I admit I wouldn’t mind traversing something like what you describe, especially on a 90 degree day or a 10 degree day! Thanks.
I tend to disagree with your thoughts about a new hotel. I think a new hotel would have been better due to the fact that all ventures with Hotel Syracuse end in disaster…as if it’s jinxed. I agree though THe character of Hotel Syracuse is magnificent and leaves a lasting impression. If It is going to work they MUST create that rooftop walkway to the convention center, enlarge the rooms and put quality into it. THey should even consider making it half suite hotel and half single rooms. I say either go all out and do it right or don’t do it at all.
Hi Kevin, glad to hear a dissenting voice! It makes it more interesting. Please keep the thoughts coming. I love to be persuaded that my ideas are not perfect.
You make some great points, especially about going all out. Let’s see what happens.