SYRACUSE -- An article in The New York Times has development people here happy, that efforts at redeveloping are getting attention outside Central New York.

"That's a nice change for us" says CenterState CEO Rob Simpson.

The Times article focuses on housing redevelopment along the Syracuse west side, and Chris Destito's remake of a home he bought for $1 from Home Headquarters.  Destito, who's also developing nearby loft housing for artists, says that after living in other cities, he's convinced Syracuse has the elements to make exciting neighborhoods happen.

Destito showed us through his Victorian.  Traces of a fire, and of vandals' spray paint are long gone, but he says he's made posters of the 'before' and plans to display then soon, at a public open house, before he and his family actually move in.  Destito says he does not feel like a pioneer, that the neighborhood has already arrived, with many renovations underway.  The boarded up home next door is a twin to his - a friend's already bought it to begin restoration.

Simpson says that beside the housing renovations, other projects are adding to the economic turnaround: expectations of Hotel Syracuse's reopening, and $220 million expansion at St. Joseph's Hospital.  He says his organization, the result of the merger between Metropolitan Development Association and the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, promotes development in a 19 county area.  He says the area is attractive to business because the workforce here is 20% better educated than the average.

Simpson promises that Bannon will have the plant to produce electric cars for REVA up and running in the 4th quarter, and that financial services companies also see this as an attractive place for 'back room' operations.

Simpson says that while projects are now moving forward, economic uncertainty is still making some developers - and investors - delay on decision making. One priority is to make loans more easily available. He also says that while outside companies locating here, like Bannon, generate excitement, it's local companies that will provide most of this area's growth, and jobs, through internal expansions.

Original Story:

Sprucing up the City of Syracuse is a hot topic these days. In fact, it's the subject of a new blog in the opinion section of the New York Times.

The article features a run down, three-story Victorian-style property purchased by Rick Destito. It's located in one of the poorest sections of the city. Left abandoned for years and in serious need of repair, Destito bought the house for only $1 and then put another $60,000 into it to spruce it up.

It's all part of a coordinated effort by city and county leaders. Home Headquarters, a nonprofit group, is the sponsor of the $1 housing program. The goal is to reoccupy and rehabilitate old city properties by offering potential buyers a financial incentive to do it.

Want to learn more about this story? Laura Hand is working on it for tonight's evening newscasts. Also, check back later on CNYcentral.com for more information.