Syracuse, N. Y. — For 16 years, the annual Syracuse Downtown Living Tour has offered a glimpse into the residential opportunities in one of Syracuse’s fastest growing neighborhoods.
This year, the tour presented by the Downtown Committee of Syracuse adds elements that lets people know what it would be like to make downtown their home. That means the tour will include features that showcase some of the dining and cultural offerings near the residential units.
”We’ve always showcased the apartments and condos, but what we’re doing this year is trying to get people to think about all the amenities available in downtown Syracuse as a neighborhood,” said Merike Treier, the Downtown Committee’s executive director. “That includes the museums and other cultural institutions, along with the dining and shopping opportunities.”
Nine stops are featured as part of this year’s self-guided walking tour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 24). Tickets are $15 (children under 10 are free) and include admission to four downtown museums. Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the Downtown Committee kiosk in Perserverance Park on Saturday.
Also new this year are several Airbnb units in addition to apartments and condos, Treier said.
Tour stops may be visited in any order:
• Merrell-Soule Lofts, 600 N. Franklin Street
• Gere Building, 121 E. Water Street
• Montgomery House 315, 311-315 Montgomery Street
• Apartments on Warren, 413-417 S. Warren Street
• Piper Phillips Residences, 227 W. Fayette Street
• Erie Canal Museum, 318 Erie Blvd. East
• Onondaga Historical Association, 321 Montgomery Street
• Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison Street
• The MOST, 500 S. Franklin Street
The official tour “rest stop’ will be the Tasting Room at Epicuse, 334 S. Salina Street. It includes rest rooms open to the public, along with indoor and outdoor seating. It also hosts free chair massages from Hand in Health Massage Therapy, music from a Symphoria woodwind quintet and a complimentary wine and whiskey sampling. Epicuse also offers 10% off any purchase.
Other downtown culinary deals offered Saturday during the tour are:
• Wine, well cocktail or draught for $4 at Limerick Pub
• Half-dozen freshly baked cookies for $12 at Cathy’s Cookies
• 20% off order at Salt City Coffee
• Drink and pastry for $12 at Cake Bar
• Free 16-ounce coffee or tea with purchase at Parthenon Books
• $1 off at Wolff’s Biergarten
Downtown Syracuse is now home to more than 4,300 residents, more than double the number 15 years ago, according to the Downtown Committee. The number of residential units has increased 108% since 2010. There are now 2,736 completed residential units downtown, with 166 under construction and 332 more being planned, the Downtown Committee reported.
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Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.