Destiny USA, Syracuse, NY.
I recall reporting in the pouring rain from the parking lot of Carousel Center when paving companies were laying down the parking lot just days before the October 1990 opening of the brand new mall. It was an immediate attraction. People had to come to see what was inside the emerald colored glass top. They had to see what stores were fresh to the Central New York region.
22 years later on the same site another opening is about to take place. It is a greatly expanded shopping mall and entertainment destination. Carousel Center has grown up and modernized. If you take away the up and down storyline of the Destiny dreams over the past decade plus you can be wholly impressed by this leap forward for the Syracuse retail world.
This is the week the signs change from Carousel Center to Destiny USA. The community will take time to be comfortable with the new label. Out of towners will surely adapt sooner than those of us with the mall in our own backyard. It takes time for change to take hold.
The debate over who got the best end of the financial deal is eternal. It seems the developer and its complex 30 year tax benefit has the edge. Some government leaders point to the millions in fees and sales tax revenue as needed money during difficult times.
Shoppers won’t care much about that discussion. Instead they will enjoy P.F. Chang’s, Saks Off 5th and the rest or the new lineup that used to be only found in places where we had to drive for hours or hop on a plane.
Any questions or comment please forward them to mattsmemo@CNYcentral.com. I may even use some of your thoughts on NBC 3 News at 5:00, the 10:00 News on CW6 or on CNYcentral.com.
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