SYRACUSE — The makeover of the 280,000-square-foot downtown Syracuse building that was once home to Sibley’s department store is nearly complete. Jeremy Thurston, president of the Hayner Hoyt Corporation, figures the workers involved had about 98 percent of the exterior work done. On the inside, about 75 percent of City Center is occupied with some small […]
SYRACUSE — The makeover of the 280,000-square-foot downtown Syracuse building that was once home to Sibley's department store is nearly complete.
Jeremy Thurston, president of the Hayner Hoyt Corporation, figures the workers involved had about 98 percent of the exterior work done. On the inside, about 75 percent of City Center is occupied with some small spaces yet to be leased.
“As we get tenants lined up, we’ll finish building out the interior,” Thurston said in an Aug. 29 telephone interview with CNYBJ.
Hayner Hoyt has been working to redevelop the building at 400 S. Salina St. in Syracuse, which is now known as City Center. The structure is situated on a block that is bordered by South Salina Street, West Jefferson Street, and South Clinton Street.
Thurston notes that Hayner Hoyt was scheduled to use a $125,000 grant from the City of Syracuse for work on sidewalks around the building. The company has also been working to finish some work on building’s façade as well.
“Then what’s left is really just interior fit-outs with the remaining tenant spaces,” says Thurston.
Hayner Hoyt is hoping to hold a formal-opening event for City Center in October, he adds.
The project development cost is “north of $30 million,” he tells CNYBJ. The project cost is listed at $37 million in a document on the website of the Syracuse Industrial Development Agency.
Schopfer Architects, LLP of Syracuse is the project architect.
Interior tenants
Hayner Hoyt moved into the City Center building on Aug. 1, occupying 22,000 square feet on the structure’s second floor. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) moved in March 1, occupying about 50,000 square feet total. Its space will include 30,000 feet on the fourth floor and 20,000 on the ground floor, Thurston says.
CXtec moved into City Center in early July, occupying about 30,000 square feet on the second floor.
Another tenant, the Redhouse Performing Arts Center, has occupied part of the building since 2018.
Besides those building tenants, Tompkins Community Bank was scheduled to open a branch in early September, Thurston told CNYBJ. “They have about 6,000 square feet on the first floor on the corner of Jefferson and [South] Salina [Streets],” he added.
Hayner Hoyt has also had conversations with other possible tenants, but as of the Aug. 29 interview, no additional leases had been signed, according to Thurston.
“We still have a little bit of space left for class-A office … If anyone’s looking to move downtown with a parking garage,” he adds.