Армори-сквер: История и современность района Сиракуз

Armory Square is a small neighborhood on the west side of Downtown Syracuse, New York. It began life as a busy commercial and industrial area just to the west of the central city. After World War II, Syracuse's central city became less and less populated as more housing and business facilities were built in the suburbs. In the 1980s, plans were first made to transform the languishing district into a small shopping/arts/nightlife district surrounding the former Syracuse Armory. These plans came to fruition during the 1990s, when new stores and restaurants opened, and several new buildings were constructed in a compatible style to the middle and late 1800s and early 1900s architecture dominating the district.

Today, Armory Square is the home of some of Syracuse's better restaurants, at least two coffeehouses, a radio station company, dozens of small shops selling everything from band instruments to used records to women's clothing, several bars and nightclubs, Urban Outfitters, Armory Massage Therapy, a newly restored upscale hotel and two tattoo parlors. A number of professional firms are also located in Armory Square, including Eric Mower and Associates, O'Brien & Gere, and the Sugarman Law Firm. The area is popular with students from Syracuse University and Le Moyne College. Its borders are generally considered to be the circular road around the armory (Jefferson Street) to the south, Onondaga Creek to the west, Washington Street to the north, and Clinton Street to the east. Armory Square is also home to the Shot Clock Monument, which includes a 24 second shot clock whose invention, here, was crucial to the successful development of basketball as a major sport. A paved multi use trail, the Onondaga Creekwalk, connects the neighborhood with Onondaga Lake.

Forty six industrial and commercial buildings make up the Armory Square Historic District. West Fayette Street is the northern boundary of the district, the rear property lines of the buildings on South Clinton Street the eastern boundary. The southern boundary is a raised railroad track, while the western boundary includes the buildings on Walton Street. The buildings in the district include the Armory, a former Lackawanna Railroad passenger station (1941), hotels, warehouses and commercial buildings. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Landmark name ImageDate Built StyleLocation Description 1874 307 09 South Clinton Street 5 stories; brick commercial building; segmental window arches; fifth story added 1885 1874 311 13 South Clinton Street 4 stories; brick commercial building; recessed windows; fancy cornice Donohue Building (portion) c. 1885 Queen Anne 312 16 South Clinton Street 4 stories; red brick; decorative sandstone, granite and terra cotta elements Butler Block 1893 Romanesque 317 21 South Clinton Street 5 stories; red brick; broad arches; cast iron columns Neal and Hyde Block (portion) c. 1887 Queen Anne Romanesque 318 22 South Clinton Street 5 stories; brick warehouse; limestone trim; architect Asa Merrick Clinton Building 1876 400 08 South Clinton Street 3 stories; brick; 1920s alterations Onondaga Music Building 1914 410 416 South Clinton Street 4 stories; buff brick commercial building 1874 415 17 South Clinton Street 4 stories; patterned brick commercial building; Loew Building 1928 423 31 South Clinton Street 2 stories on S. Clinton St.; 8 stories on S. Salina St.; large theater, also known as Loews State Theater or the Landmark Theatre; individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Passenger Station 1941 Art Moderne 500 South Clinton Street 2 stories; buff brick; arched windows c. 1874 306 South Franklin Street 2 stories; brick; arched windows c. 1880s 308 10 South Franklin Street 3 stories; brick; original storefront c. 1887 309 15 South Franklin Street 4 stories; brick; granite piers c. 1900 317 21 South Franklin Street 2 stories; brick; originally carriage makers; 1940 became garage; 1983 offices Hall & McChesney Building c. 1892/1906 402 10 South Franklin Street 4 stories; brick; warehouse Bentley & Settle Warehouse c. 1894 5 120 24 Walton Street 6 stories; brick; intact loading dock c. 1885 128 Walton Street 2 stories; yellow brick; second floor loading door c. 1890s 134 Walton Street 2 stories; brick; plate glass windows c. 1890s 136 Walton Street 2 stories; brick; paired windows Gray Brothers Shoe Factory 1873 200 02 Walton Street 4 stories; brick walls and window hoods c. 1930 204 10 Walton Street 2 stories; factory; brick c. 1872 215 19 Walton Street 3 stories; brick; arched windows c. 1870s 1880s 216 Walton Street 2 stories; ornamental brick c. 1902 221 23 Walton Street 3 stories; commercial building; brick piers c. 1910 Renaissance 113 17 West Fayette Street 5 stories; brick Kirk Block c. 1869 127 29 West Fayette Street 4 stories; brick; commercial building c. 1871 215 17 West Fayette Street 4 stories; brick; commercial building; 1930s modern facade Tallman Block c. 1871 Italianate 219 25 West Fayette Street 3 stories; brick; commercial building; rear entrance on Walton Street; architect Archimedes Russell Piper Phillips Block c. 1872 Italianate 227 37 West Fayette Street 3 stories; brick; commercial building; original storefronts Seubert & Warner Building c. 1875 Romanesque 239 41 West Fayette Street 3 stories; brick; commercial building; rear entrance on Walton Street; architect Charles Colton c. 1895 Italianate 227 37 West Fayette Street 3 stories; brick with stone trim; commercial building; prism glass in storefronts Hogan Block c. 1892 Romanesque 247 59 West Fayette Street 5 stories; brick with limestone trim; factory building; prism panels in storefronts Crown Hotel c. 1876 Italianate 301 27 West Fayette Street 3 stories; brick; commercial building c. 1872 309 11 West Fayette Street 3 stories; brick; commercial building c. 1873 313 17 West Fayette Street 2 stories; brick; commercial building; molded keystones Stag Hotel 1869 321 West Fayette Street 3 stories; brick; intact storefront 1875 329 31 West Fayette Street 4 stories; brick; warehouse; rear entrance on Walton Street Jefferson Clinton Hotel 1927 227 37 West Jefferson Street 10 stories; brick; stone facade first two floors; architect Gustavas A. Young New York State Armory 1907/1932 West Jefferson Street Housed Army National Guard; brick and limestone; central drill hall added in 1932