Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Salina's Hospitality Businesses Feel Ignored in State DOT's Community Grid Recommendation

Scott Willis
/
WAER News

Businesses on I-81 just north of Syracuse and the county legislators that represent them are continuing to insist that a high-speed highway be maintained through the city.  They’re urging residents and others to speak out against the state’s recommendation last week of a community grid to replace the aging viaduct that cuts through downtown.

Legislator Judy Tassone stood in front of dozens of workers from hotels located on 7th North St. to make her point:

Credit Scott Willis / WAER News
/
WAER News
Hotel workers are concerned their jobs might be at risk of the state moves forward with the recommended community grid plan, which would turn I-81 between the I-481 interchanges into a "business loop."

“If the hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and the mall lose business from the New York State DOT  recommendation of community grid, hundreds of jobs will be lost.”  

But Tassone couldn’t provide specific research to back up that claim.  Some hotel owners have, however, looked into the impact on tax revenue generated for the town, county, and city of Syracuse if I-81 through traffic is re-routed to I-481.  Carmen Emmi is with Homewood Suites.

These hotels represent 18% of the total supply in Syracuse.  And we produce 23% of room occupancy tax revenue, so we are relevant to the whole area.”

Credit Scott Willis / WAER News
/
WAER News
One of the many hotels located on 7th North St.

Salina officials are especially concerned about the potential hit to their tax base.  Supervisor Colleen Gunnip says they’re projecting $300,000 in lost revenue if the grid plan goes through, and a 50% drop in assessed value of properties on 7th North, Brewerton, and Old Liverpool Roads.  She adds that the I-81 recommendation has been assessed as a risk to their bond rating, which could make it more expensive to borrow money for intrastructure projects.  Gunnip says mitigiation would be helpful, but it might not be enough.

"How do you mitigate a truck stop down the road?  If truck traffic is not going to come this way, they're going to take 481 and continue north or south."

She and others feel the potential "devastation" of the town was completely ignored by the state.  They say "Salina" wasn't mentioned even once in the 15,000 page report.  The state is at least a year away from making a final decision.

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.