From renovations to rebirth: Marriott Syracuse Downtown welcomes guests again

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SYRACUSE — After a more than two-year, $76 million renovation project, the hotel now known as the Marriott Syracuse Downtown is back in business. The hotel’s owner and property-management group on Aug. 19 raised the flags on the newly renovated hotel — formally re-opening the former Hotel Syracuse. “We’re open,” Ed Riley, the hotel’s owner […]

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SYRACUSE — After a more than two-year, $76 million renovation project, the hotel now known as the Marriott Syracuse Downtown is back in business.

The hotel’s owner and property-management group on Aug. 19 raised the flags on the newly renovated hotel — formally re-opening the former Hotel Syracuse.

“We’re open,” Ed Riley, the hotel’s owner and developer, said in his remarks at the Aug. 19 opening event. “You can come here for lunch. You can come here for dinner. We even serve drinks here once in a while,” he quipped.

The historic hotel that’s been part of the downtown Syracuse landscape since 1924 will now serve as Onondaga County’s convention-center hotel.

It represents “the spirit of Syracuse,” Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner said in her remarks at the event.

Syracuse–based Hayner Hoyt Corp. was the general contractor and construction manager for the hotel renovation and restoration.

“We know we have a big responsibility, not only to ownership, but to the city of Syracuse to ensure that the Marriott Syracuse [Downtown] is successful,” Michael George, a Watertown native and president and CEO of Crescent Hotels & Resorts, said in his remarks at the morning event. Fairfax, Virginia–based Crescent Hotels & Resorts is the hotel’s property manager.

The property has 261 guest rooms; more than 41,000 square feet of meeting, wedding, and event space including a “completely modernized” Finger Lakes ballroom; two “historic” ballrooms; five in-house restaurants and bars; and eight meeting spaces, according to the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.

Each room and suite has been completely renovated. The work also included restoration of the hotel’s three ballrooms. Crews restored two of the ballrooms to their “original historic grandeur,” and the third was “modernized for today’s business needs,” the hotel added.

The hotel also includes restaurant Eleven Waters, described as a “Finger Lakes style bistro” serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It also boasts the Cavalier Room for cocktails and small plates during lunch and dinner.

In addition, restaurants Shaughnessy’s Irish Pub and the Legacy Steakhouse will open “later in the year,” according to the hotel.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com

Student-housing complex #BLVD404 is ready for new academic year

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Health Care, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — A new student-apartment complex has opened at 404 University Ave. in Syracuse. The 75,000-square-foot #BLVD404 is located near the intersection with East Genesee Street, a few blocks north of the Syracuse University campus. The property owner, Orange Grove LLC, formally opened the structure during an event held July 27. Construction on the $20

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SYRACUSE — A new student-apartment complex has opened at 404 University Ave. in Syracuse.

The 75,000-square-foot #BLVD404 is located near the intersection with East Genesee Street, a few blocks north of the Syracuse University campus.

The property owner, Orange Grove LLC, formally opened the structure during an event held July 27.

Construction on the $20 million project finished in early June, says Jared Hutter, a principal in Orange Grove, LLC, which includes Syracuse University alumni.

The ownership group is “extremely happy” with the way the project turned out.

“It came in ahead of schedule … under budget,” says Hutter. “It’s no doubt the best student-housing building in Syracuse,” he boasts.

Hutter spoke with CNYBJ on Aug. 19 from his office in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

The structure includes 54 apartments, which can accommodate about 163 students.

“We’re approaching the 90 percent mark on [occupancy],” Hutter says. “We effectively can lease to anybody we want; however, it was designed as a student-housing property.”

Occupants could be students at Syracuse University, Upstate Medical University, Le Moyne College, or Onondaga Community College, he says.

Charlotte, North Carolina–based Campus Evolution Villages will manage the property. It owns and manages a portfolio of 21 student housing assets across the U.S.

The rents for #BLVD404 are “comparable” with the rest of the Syracuse–area rental market, Hutter contends.

Construction effort
The principals used a construction loan from M&T Bank (NYSE: MTB) and their own assets to finance the project, according to Hutter.

The Syracuse Industrial Development Authority provided the project exemptions on the mortgage-recording tax and assistance on the sales tax for construction materials.

Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim is an investor in the property, and contributed memorabilia from his coaching career into #BLVD404’s hall of fame room, says Hutter.

Hueber-Breuer Construction Co. Inc. led the construction and design team on the project.

The group also included Albany–based CHA Companies, which has an office in the Galleries of Syracuse at 441 S. Salina St. in Syracuse; Buffalo–based Lauer-Manguso & Associates Architects; and Salina–based Palucci Engineering PC, according to a July 23, 2015, Hueber-Breuer news release.

The building’s amenities include a gymnasium, a convenience store, and a study room in the basement.

“Everything’s kind of built right in there,” says Hutter.

Hatched idea as students
Hutter and business partner, Michael Edelman, had discussed the possibility of leading an on-campus construction project during their days as students at Syracuse University.

“We said we should come back and do a project here,” Hutter said in a July 30, 2015, interview during an event marking the start of construction of #BLVD404.

Hutter is a 2006 graduate of SU’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management. Edelman graduated from the Whitman School in 2005, according to his LinkedIn page.

#BLVD404 is a joint-venture development between Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey–based BLVD Equities and Rosen Property Group.

Brian Rosen, principal of the Rosen Property Group, is also a Syracuse graduate.

Rosen graduated in 2001, according to Hutter. Rosen’s brother also lived with Hutter and Edelman during their time as students, Hutter added.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com

Keuka College opens first new building on campus in 40 years

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Health Care, Subscriber Only

KEUKA PARK — Keuka Commons, a student union and mixed-use facility, is the first new building on the Keuka College campus in more than 40 years. The school formally opened the structure on Aug. 18, the Finger Lakes regional economic-development council (FLREDC) announced. The building serves as the new home of Keuka’s Division of Business

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KEUKA PARK — Keuka Commons, a student union and mixed-use facility, is the first new building on the Keuka College campus in more than 40 years.

The school formally opened the structure on Aug. 18, the Finger Lakes regional economic-development council (FLREDC) announced.

The building serves as the new home of Keuka’s Division of Business and Management and the Center for Professional Studies, the FLREDC said.

Keuka Commons is also home to the college bookstore, the Office of Health and Counseling, Center for Business Analytics & Health Informatics, Wertman Office for Digital Education, and the Wolf Den Café.

Founded in 1890, Keuka College is located on the shore of Keuka Lake in Yates County in the Finger Lakes.

The FLREDC provided funding for the project, council co-chairs Danny Wegman and Anne Kress said in a FLREDC news release. Wegman is CEO of Wegmans Food Markets and Kress is president of Monroe Community College.

“This project marks a major milestone for the college and for the entire Yates County community. Keuka College is a key contributor to the area’s economy, and the Council’s investment in its future will help the college better serve its students and help the region grow,” they added.

The FLREDC through Empire State Development provided Keuka College with a $250,000 grant for the Commons construction project. It didn’t disclose in its release the total cost of the construction project.

Keuka College called for the construction in its long-range strategic plan.

The Penn Yan–based Finger Lakes Economic Development Center [FLEDC] is “excited” for the school and “would like to congratulate” it on the opening of Keuka Commons, Steve Griffin, CEO of FLEDC, said in the news release.

“Keuka College is a major economic driver for Yates County and their continued investment in their campus is a welcomed sight. The opportunities that come with the opening of Keuka Commons, including housing their new Center for Business Analytics and Health Informatics, hold great promise for future economic development initiatives generated by the school, for Yates County and the entire Finger Lakes Region. We enjoy our close partnership with Keuka College and look forward to what is to come.”

This announcement complements “Finger Lakes Forward,” the region’s blueprint to generate economic growth and community development, the FLREDC said.

The region is accelerating Finger Lakes Forward with a $500 million state investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced last December.

The $500 million investment will “incentivize” private business to invest more than $2.5 billion. The region’s plan projects up to 8,200 new jobs, according to the FLREDC.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com

Bonadio Group survey: Upstate contractors pursue improvement

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Insurance & Financial Services, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Subscriber Only

Upstate New York contractors and construction businesses want to “do what they do better.” That’s one of the key findings of the 2016 Upstate New York Contractors State of the Industry Study that the Bonadio Group released July 20. Rochester–based Bonadio describes itself as upstate’s “largest independent provider of accounting, consulting, and financial services.” In all,

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Upstate New York contractors and construction businesses want to “do what they do better.”

That’s one of the key findings of the 2016 Upstate New York Contractors State of the Industry Study that the Bonadio Group released July 20. Rochester–based Bonadio describes itself as upstate’s “largest independent provider of accounting, consulting, and financial services.”

In all, 44 contractors participated in the survey, according to a Bonadio Group spokesperson.

The study found that construction companies are hiring additional employees and expanding the scope of services and capabilities, as well as looking for ways to trim costs, reduce bid prices, and improve productivity.

As they pursue improved performance, construction companies have put a “greater emphasis” on boosting productivity, with 54 percent of firms saying they noted an increase in 2015. The figure represents a 21 percent rise compared to the 2014 survey, which yielded a 33 percent increase in that area.

“We’re finding that the competition is pretty fierce in the construction industry,” says Mike Smith, partner and construction-team leader at Bonadio Group.

“Everybody’s just trying to get a little bit of a leg up on the competitor by being a little bit more efficient.”

The respondents indicated plans to boost productivity either through processes or through hiring and training, he adds.

He spoke to CNYBJ on Aug. 23 from his office in Albany.

The information contained in this year’s report has been designed to help construction-industry executives evaluate their position and standing on issues ranging from financial-management techniques to economic outlook.

Findings
More than half of the survey participants identified hiring additional employees as an “important mechanism” to generate increased profitability.

Along with hiring and training construction employees, the survey’s “key” findings focused on topics that included technology, productivity, and safety and risk management.

Survey results indicate that technology, based on the type of work a company performs, can be an investment that can “prove to be profitable and yield a strong return on investment (ROI),” according to Bonadio.

“If you improve your processes, you get a little bit more efficient — productivity and profitability should therefore follow,” says Smith.

Safety and risk management has also grown in importance in the construction industry, with 54 percent of contractors surveyed referring to it as an important strategy in improving overall profitability.

“It isn’t a direct driver of profitability, but it’s part of their tool kit,” says Smith.

Respondents say having healthy employees keeps their rates for workers’-compensation insurance low, maintains their knowledge in the workplace, and prevents the need to train someone new, he adds.

“So, more and more, over the last few years, construction contractors have seen the importance of safety and … risk management,” says Smith.

Contracts
The Bonadio survey found that 48 percent of the contracts that respondents serviced were in the public sector, while 52 percent focused on jobs in the private sector, according to the Bonadio report.

Respondents also indicated that about seven of 10 contracts are based on competitive bids, while three of 10 are negotiated.

The data also indicates that the average number of competitors per bid has decreased from what was reported in 2014.

At that time, 55 percent of respondents said that, on average, they faced six to 10 competitors; today, that number has dropped to 42 percent.

The impact of this decrease in competition is reflected in a slight increase in bid-success rates.

For example, 11 percent of respondents indicated a bid-success rate of more than 50 percent in this survey, compared to a rate of 7 percent in the 2014 survey, the Bonadio report said. At the same time, 33 percent of respondents indicated a bid-success rate of between 26 percent and 50 percent, compared to 27 percent of respondents in the 2014 survey.

Overall, the effects of competition are “still” preventing bid-success rates from reaching pre-recession levels.

The figures also demonstrate that “consolidation has occurred inside the industry, reducing the number of competitive bidders. However, margins remain low, despite contracts being easier to win,” the Bonadio report said.

About the survey
The Bonadio Group organized the 2016 Upstate New York Contractors State of the Industry Study into four sections.

They include overall aggregated results; results for small-sized companies (less than $9.9 million in revenue), results for medium-sized companies ($10 million to $49.9 million), and results for large-sized companies (more than $50 million).

The Bonadio Group conducted the survey online between February and March of this year, says Smith.

Since 2016 is an even-numbered year, this survey focused on the state of the industry.

In odd-numbered years, the study hones in on construction firms’ benefits and compensation, says Smith.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com

Investments in CNY Tourism Amenities Drive New Economic Impact

Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

A great place to live is a great place to visit, and that is as true for Central New York as anywhere. With new tourism amenities like the Lakeview Amphitheater complementing existing venues and experiences such as the newly renovated Hotel Syracuse (Marriott Syracuse Downtown) and the New York State Fair, the region is not only

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Each year, travel spending across the five county Central New York region contributes $1.4 billion to the economy and supports 25,000 jobs. Over the past several years, we have seen an increase in this spending with many visitors highlighting shopping at places like Destiny USA as the purpose of their visit. In Onondaga County this all translates to about $585 in local and state tax savings annually for residents.

Downtown Syracuse has emerged as a livable, walkable destination for leisure and group travelers. Investment in the transformational $60 million renovation of the Hotel Syracuse has added 30,000 square feet of meeting space and 261 rooms, and is expected to bring an additional 10,000 room nights each year in convention-center business to the region.

And we are already reaping the benefits of the new Lakeview Amphitheater. In June, the Dave Matthews Band performed to a sellout crowd of more than 17,500 people. The new venue wasn’t the only area business to benefit from the incredibly popular weekday show. Local hotels saw a 13 percent spike in guests the night of the concert compared to the previous year. With typical overnight visitors to Syracuse spending more than $1,000 per trip, and day visitors spending about $400, area businesses are also seeing an impact.

During the Great New York State Fair, visitors are seeing the results of a $50 million renovation, the most significant transformation since the gates first opened in 1890. This investment is expected to drive additional economic impact as visitors to the 12-day event will also spend money at area restaurants, hotels, and shopping and entertainment venues. The additional exhibition space at the Fairgrounds also means events like the Syracuse Nationals, which this year attracted 90,000 visitors, can grow their footprint.

I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy these great events and, perhaps, welcome new visitors to our region. In doing so, you are contributing to our economic vitality and our livability.

Robert M. (Rob) Simpson is president and CEO of CenterState CEO, the primary economic-development organization for Central New York. This editorial is drawn and edited from the “CEO Focus” email newsletter that the organization sent to members on Aug. 18.

Repeated Corruption Prompts Meaningful Pension-Forfeiture Reform

Opinion, Subscriber Only

During the last week of session, the New York State Legislature passed a resolution to amend the state constitution to permit the forfeiture of state pensions for those public officials convicted of a felony (bribery, for example) related to their public duties. This is a commonsense measure that should have passed last year. Unlike most other

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Unlike most other bills the state legislature passes, in order for this reform to be enacted, the state constitution must be amended because pension benefits are protected by the state constitution. To amend the New York Constitution, the state legislature will again need to pass the same resolution next year after members of both the Senate and the Assembly have been sworn in. Following this subsequent passage, there will then be a statewide referendum in which the public will be able to vote “yes” or “no” on the amendment.

Given its overwhelming popularity, I have every confidence that New Yorkers will vote in favor of the measure. Many government reformers have long demanded this change. Over the past 10 years, we have seen more than 22 state officials who have either pled guilty or were found guilty of corruption-related criminal charges. Due to the way the state constitution currently protects retirement benefits, these individuals are eligible to collect their state pensions.

Many lawmakers, including myself, have recognized and fought for changes. All the way back in 2009, I, and others in the Republican Assembly conference proposed to change the constitution to allow for pension forfeiture, but that resolution was not considered in committee. Since then, legislators have introduced various resolutions in both houses of the state legislature to make pension forfeiture possible but they failed to gain support in the Assembly Democratic majority.

In 2011, we passed the Public Integrity Reform Act, which allowed for the potential forfeiture of pensions for certain public officials convicted of felony offenses directly related to their assigned duties. But the law only applies to certain individuals who entered the NYS retirement system after 2011 and did not amend the constitution. Under current law, anyone who joined prior to 2011 can still continue to collect a pension regardless if he/she has been convicted of a public corruption felony.

In the wake of continued high-profile, ethical, and criminal cases, the 2015 enacted budget included language to allow for pension forfeiture of public officials who entered the retirement system prior to 2011. However, for inexplicable reasons, the Democrat majority in the Assembly went back on the agreement and refused to pass the resolution. Thankfully, due to public outcry and by actions of legislators in both the Assembly and Senate being vocal on this issue, the resolution was finally taken up and passed this year.

Passing this measure was a step in the right direction to bring accountability to Albany. When the legislature returns to Albany for the 2017 session, it is critical that the legislature follow through and pass the subsequent resolution. We owe it to every resident in this state to prevent future public officials convicted of felonies from collecting a state pension, regardless of whether they were elected prior to 2011.

William (Will) A. Barclay is the Republican representative of the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses most of Oswego County, including the cities of Oswego and Fulton, as well as the town of Lysander in Onondaga County and town of Ellisburg in Jefferson County. Contact him at barclaw@assembly.state.ny.us, or (315) 598-5185.

Pinckney Hugo Group

People on the Move, Subscriber Only

Pinckney Hugo Group has promoted ADAM JWASKIEWICZ to VP of digital services; CHRISTINE DURNIN to digital marketing manager; and MAGGIE GOTCH to senior account manager. Jwaskiewicz has worked at the agency for eight years and was previously director of interactive services. He also has experience at several marketing agencies in New York City. Jwaskiewicz received a bachelor’s degree from the New York

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John Warobick

People on the Move, Subscriber Only

JOHN WAROBICK has joined the architecture division of LaBella Associates, D.P.C. as a project manager in its Ithaca office. He has 35 years of experience in design and project management of various project types, ranging from educational design to large-scale commercial. Warobick graduated from the University of Buffalo with a master’s degree in architecture. Contact The Business

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NBT Bank

People on the Move, Subscriber Only

NBT Bank has promoted JOHN STAFFORD and RENEE LOUCKS to vice presidents. Stafford, a retirement-plan administrator, has been with the company since 2007. Before joining NBT Bank’s Wealth Management Division, he was director of human resources and 401(k) administrator for the Blueox Corporation. Prior to that, Stafford was a workers’-compensation case manager for Wausau Insurance Company. He earned his

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Maggie Seward

People on the Move, Subscriber Only

The Summit Federal Credit Union has promoted MAGGIE SEWARD to branch manager of its Camillus branch in Township 5. She previously worked as a relationship specialist for Summit. Contact The Business Journal News Network at news@cnybj.com

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