A protracted and sometimes heated battle between the City of Syracuse and Syracuse University over the future of a historic mansion owned by SU came to a quiet end in council chambers Monday. Councilors voted to designate the property on Comstock Avenue as a protected site, siding with preservationists. Councilor Pat Hogan says the move spares the house from the wrecking ball.
“We want to really do something with this House and we're prepared to work with them, but the idea of demolishing this site didn't really appeal to any of us,” Hogan said.
The 7,800 square foot mansion built in 1905 for a prominent attorney was used as a fraternity house since the 1920's. SU bought it in 2022, and planned to demolish the structure as part of a much larger plan to build dormitories behind the property along Ostrom Avenue. Councilor Hogan says he offered a suggestion:
“This would be a perfect opportunity for them to sort of renovate that place along historical guidelines, perhaps turn it into offices right near one of the big dormitories they wanted to build," Hogan said. "But they decided they didn't want to go that route.”
Instead, SU withdrew its demolition request in late August, but did not respond to an email asking about future plans for the mansion. The house sits vacant with broken windows and damaged siding. The city's Landmark Preservation Board is considering designating the entire 700 block of Comstock as a protected district because it includes several other potentially historically significant mansion-type properties.
