An historic building in the shadow of St. Joseph’s Hospital could avoid the wrecking ball after Syracuse Common Councilors Monday voted to designate it as a protected site. The 115-year-old Angeloro Building at 429 N. State St. is currently home to a Mexican restaurant. Councilor Latoya Allen says the building is worth keeping.
"I enjoy new buildings. I enjoy new businesses coming in. But I also want to preserve some history in the city of Syracuse," Allen said.
Councilor Steve Thompson agrees.
"According to [the developer's] architect, there's a way to develop this and keep the structure. If it can be developed and kept, that would be wonderful."
Thompson and Allen acknowledge the additional challenges and paperwork that come with a protected site. However, owner Tino Marcoccia still has the option to demolish the building. He’d like to build five to six stories of retail space, offices, and apartments on the site. But Marcoccia says the foundation of the building does not allow for as much underground parking as he needs, which limits the site’s appeal.
"For us to accommodate the parking and to attract tenants for this building, we need underground parking. The way the streets are situated, we can't accommodate what we need."
He says keeping the building would cut available parking by half. Marcoccia has re-developed numerous city properties for at least three decades. He bought the Angeloro building in 2002.
