Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - Downtown Syracuse is about to see its next big development start soon. Upstate Medical University is creating what it's calling "West Campus" by taking over and renovating two vacant high rises. The plan is to encourage other development by transforming the buildings into housing for medical students, residents and staff.
Upstate Medical will spend close to $20 million on renovating the Townsend Tower and Harrison House high rise buildings. Upstate President David Smith says they will become a useful recruiting tool, especially for attracting young faculty and for retaining people who are already at the University. "We want them to have a good experience so they stay in this region, so I think it's going to be more vital there and for the residents because they've already gone to medical school or our school so I think its that retention issue that's going to be important and that first experience for young faculty," said Smith.
Plans are to start work by the end of the year, and to have both buildings ready by fall of 2012.
West Campus is located near all the features of downtown, which the CenterState Corporation (the former Metropolitan Development Association) sees as a mutual benefit. "This is a great day for downtown, this going to bring new life and vitality in downtown Syracuse," said CenterState representative Dave Mankiewicz.
Smith says with this kind of growth it should encourage others to take a look at downtown for redevelopment. "We're looking also for other partners because, obviously, the ability to have milk and bread and other amenities within the area is going to be important because our goal is not just a campus but to create a community," he said.
