North Side Stand Up

It’s not scary. It’s not gang-ridden. It’s not “the projects.” In fact, the north side can be a great place to live. Convenient to downtown and the mall, some neighborhoods on the north side border on idyllic. Some of the oldest homes in the city are in north side neighborhoods, and former mansions from Syracuse’s heyday and still tucked between newer homes.

The oldest section of the city is Washington Square, which used to be the center of the Town of Salina. Home in this section can be dated to the 1840s. Danforth St still holds 6 or 7 mansions, 2 of them designed by famed architect Archimedes Russell. 702 Danforth St is the George Zett House, built for the owner and founder of the Zett Brewery (also formerly located on the north side at Court St and Lodi St. 700 Danforth St is the Charles Frank House. Both mansions have now been converted to apartments.

German settlers found the north side ages ago, and today there is still Weber’s Restaurant. Authentic German food and beer, complete with their own line of spicy German mustard. Weber’s is at 820 Danforth St, at the corner of 1st North. Italians also have a big presence on the north side, with North Salina St now being labeled “Little Italy.” Mezzanote Lounge offers great live music, while Columbus Bakery has some of the best pastries in Syracuse. A great effort by the City of Syracuse, this revitalization has been a great example for other struggling neighborhoods.

Homes on the north side are affordable, and there is a big variety to choose from. You can find a single family home with a backyard for $50,000 - $70,000. If you work in the city, imagine the gas money you’ll save driving from the north side instead of from the suburbs. If you have a bit more money to spend, there’s Sedgwick, which holds the only residential Local Historic District in the city. Some grand old homes are hidden here, and its curved, tree-lines streets are nothing short of picturesque.

The north side is home to Schiller Park, which has an Olympic swimming pool complete with water slide. This hilltop park is beautiful in any season, and you can see a panorama of Syracuse from its tallest point.

People from all walks of life live in the north side. Families with small children, retirees, young couples just starting out and hard-working citizens call the north side home. You do not have to be afraid walking down the street, in fact it would probably be quite pleasant. The Syracuse Police Department provides neighborhood statistics for each sector of the city, and if you out the north side, you’ll see virtually no murders or manslaughters. Most crime centers around motor vehicle vandalism and theft. These crimes occur at a similar level in most areas of the city, as well as suburbs.

I’m not quite sure why the north side developed such a bad reputation, but I certainly hope homebuyers, investors, businesses and the general public give the north side a chance. Explore the north side!