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Problems At Skyline Apartments Spill Over To Surrounding Businesses

WAER file photo

The problems at Skyline Apartments have not only affected residents, but are also spilling over to surrounding businesses.  Syracuse Corporation Counsel Kristen Smith and Assistant Counsel Todd Long read letters submitted by business owners at Monday’s nuisance abatement hearing.  

Don Nodecker is the owner of Advanced Lighting Technologies, which up until two weeks ago, was a tenant at Skyline. For nearly 30 years, he says it was a safe, convenient location to run his business. That changed a few years ago when Green National took over. In his letter, Nodecker recalls the landscape transforming into an impossible business environment.

"The continued violence, hostility, unsanitary conditions that nurtured the commonplace occurence of the crime, murder, stabbings, and overdoses over the past few months finally compelled us to vacate this prooerty for fear of potential victimization by this element."

Across James street, a representative from Attilio’s Restaurant in Regency Tower says their business has been hurt because of the activity at Skyline. 

"We've had numerous occasions of residents coming from across the street and trying to panhandle customers in the parking lot, and we've recently had situations where they've come into the restaurant and gone up to our patrons sitting at the tables.  The parking lot staff at the Regency and my own staff have tried to police this."

Much the same activity has been observed by residents and operators of Villa Scalabrini across Willow Street who are concerned for their safety.  Property manager Janet Harrison says in her letter that there’s drug and suspicious activity, illegal parking, attempted entry, loud arguments, and loitering.   She says they’ve had to hire additional security to keep the activity at bay.  All of this has Northside Urban Partnership worried about the long-term impact on the neighborhood.  President Jonathan Link Logan says too often, a poorly managed building like Skyline can be felt on the surrounding blocks.

"As a result, the notoriety and negative reputation associated with the building impacts not only the property and its tenants, but also the neighboring buildings and businesses, creating a stigma about the people who live and work there, regardless if they are contributing to the problem, often resulting in further disinvestment."

Monday’s hearing was the latest step in the city’s nuisance abatement notice issued in March requiring safety and security improvements by the building’s owner.

Scott Willis covers politics, local government, transportation, and arts and culture for WAER. He came to Syracuse from Detroit in 2001, where he began his career in radio as an intern and freelance reporter. Scott is honored and privileged to bring the day’s news and in-depth feature reporting to WAER’s dedicated and generous listeners. You can find him on twitter @swillisWAER and email him at srwillis@syr.edu.