SYRACUSE -- There's excitement in Syracuse as three companies submitted bids to transform the 28 acres around the Inner Harbor Thursday.
Syracuse has been looking for ways to turn the former Barge Canal terminal into a recreational, commercial and residential attraction for more than 20 years.
The proposals go before a special committee made up of local officials and make a recommendation to Mayor Stephanie Miner in the coming months.
There is no timetable for a final decision on which company will win the bid. All three bidders are local including the well known - COR development.
Ben Walsh of the city's Department of Neighborhood and Business Development said, "We allow for anything from residential, commercial mixed use, retail restaurants we tried to be as flexible as we could while also doing a good job of conforming to the existing plans that are there and making sure its done in a uniform consistent way."
What City Hall lacks right now it says, are the specifics of what each company would do with the Inner Harbor if they win the bid. City officials say they are committed to making the right decision for the community but don't have specifics of the plans yet.
The NYS Canal Corporation officially transferred the Syracuse Inner Harbor land to the city of Syracuse in July.
(Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.)
