Armory Square is a small neighborhood on the west side of Downtown Syracuse, New York. It began life as a busy commercial and industrial area just to the west of the central city. After World War II, Syracuse's central city became less and less populated as more housing and business facilities were built in the suburbs. In the 1980s, plans were first made to transform the languishing district into a small shopping/arts/nightlife district surrounding the former Syracuse Armory. These plans came to fruition during the 1990s, when new stores and restaurants opened, and several new buildings were constructed in a compatible style to the middle and late 1800s and early 1900s architecture dominating the district.

The Shot Clock Monument at Armory Square
Armory Square Historic District
Armory Square is located in New York
Armory Square
Armory Square is located in the United States
Armory Square
LocationS. Clinton, S. Franklin, Walton, W. Fayette, and W. Jefferson Sts., Syracuse, New York
Coordinates43°2′49″N 76°9′18″W / 43.04694°N 76.15500°W / 43.04694; -76.15500
Built1870
Architectural styleModerne, Late Victorian
NRHP reference No.84002816[1]
Added to NRHPSeptember 7, 1984

Current day

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Today, Armory Square is the home of some of Syracuse's better restaurants, at least two coffeehouses, a radio station company, dozens of small shops selling everything from band instruments to used records to women's clothing, several bars and nightclubs, Urban Outfitters, Armory Massage Therapy, a newly restored upscale hotel and two tattoo parlors. A number of professional firms are also located in Armory Square, including Eric Mower and Associates, O'Brien & Gere, and the Sugarman Law Firm. The area is popular with students from Syracuse University and Le Moyne College.

Its borders are generally considered to be the circular road around the armory (Jefferson Street) to the south, Onondaga Creek to the west, Washington Street to the north, and Clinton Street to the east.

Armory Square is also home to the Shot Clock Monument, which includes a 24-second shot clock whose invention, here, was crucial to the successful development of basketball as a major sport.

A paved multi-use trail, the Onondaga Creekwalk, connects the neighborhood with Onondaga Lake.[2]

 
Vintage postcard of the Armory

Armory Square Historic District

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Forty-six industrial and commercial buildings make up the Armory Square Historic District. West Fayette Street is the northern boundary of the district, the rear property lines of the buildings on South Clinton Street the eastern boundary. The southern boundary is a raised railroad track, while the western boundary includes the buildings on Walton Street. The buildings in the district include the Armory, a former Lackawanna Railroad passenger station (1941), hotels, warehouses and commercial buildings. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.[3]

Contributing properties

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Landmark name Image Date Built Style Location Description
1 1874 307-09 South Clinton Street 5 stories; brick commercial building; segmental window arches; fifth story added 1885
2 1874 311-13 South Clinton Street 4 stories; brick commercial building; recessed windows; fancy cornice
3 Donohue Building (portion) c. 1885 Queen Anne 312-16 South Clinton Street 4 stories; red brick; decorative sandstone, granite and terra cotta elements
4 Butler Block   1893 Romanesque 317-21 South Clinton Street 5 stories; red brick; broad arches; cast-iron columns
5 Neal and Hyde Block (portion)   c. 1887 Queen Anne-Romanesque 318-22 South Clinton Street 5 stories; brick warehouse; limestone trim; architect Asa Merrick
6 Clinton Building 1876 400-08 South Clinton Street 3 stories; brick; 1920s alterations
7 Onondaga Music Building 1914 410-416 South Clinton Street 4 stories; buff brick commercial building
8 1874 415-17 South Clinton Street 4 stories; patterned brick commercial building;
9 Loew Building   1928 423-31 South Clinton Street 2 stories on S. Clinton St.; 8 stories on S. Salina St.; large theater, also known as Loews State Theater or the Landmark Theatre; individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977
10 Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Passenger Station 1941 Art Moderne 500 South Clinton Street 2 stories; buff brick; arched windows
11 c. 1874 306 South Franklin Street 2 stories; brick; arched windows
12 c. 1880s 308-10 South Franklin Street 3 stories; brick; original storefront
13 c. 1887 309-15 South Franklin Street 4 stories; brick; granite piers
14 c. 1900 317-21 South Franklin Street 2 stories; brick; originally carriage makers; 1940 became garage; 1983 offices
15 Hall & McChesney Building c. 1892/1906 402-10 South Franklin Street 4 stories; brick; warehouse
16 Bentley & Settle Warehouse   c. 1894-5 120-24 Walton Street 6 stories; brick; intact loading dock
17 c. 1885 128 Walton Street 2 stories; yellow brick; second floor loading door
18 c. 1890s 134 Walton Street 2 stories; brick; plate glass windows
19 c. 1890s 136 Walton Street 2 stories; brick; paired windows
20 Gray Brothers Shoe Factory 1873 200-02 Walton Street 4 stories; brick walls and window hoods
21 c. 1930 204-10 Walton Street 2 stories; factory; brick
22 c. 1872 215-19 Walton Street 3 stories; brick; arched windows
23 c. 1870s-1880s 216 Walton Street 2 stories; ornamental brick
24 c. 1902 221-23 Walton Street 3 stories; commercial building; brick piers
25 c. 1910 Renaissance 113-17 West Fayette Street 5 stories; brick
26 Kirk Block c. 1869 127-29 West Fayette Street 4 stories; brick; commercial building
27 c. 1871 215-17 West Fayette Street 4 stories; brick; commercial building; 1930s modern facade
28 Tallman Block c. 1871 Italianate 219-25 West Fayette Street 3 stories; brick; commercial building; rear entrance on Walton Street; architect Archimedes Russell
29 Piper-Phillips Block c. 1872 Italianate 227-37 West Fayette Street 3 stories; brick; commercial building; original storefronts
30 Seubert & Warner Building c. 1875 Romanesque 239-41 West Fayette Street 3 stories; brick; commercial building; rear entrance on Walton Street; architect Charles Colton
31 c. 1895 Italianate 227-37 West Fayette Street 3 stories; brick with stone trim; commercial building; prism glass in storefronts
32 Hogan Block c. 1892 Romanesque 247-59 West Fayette Street 5 stories; brick with limestone trim; factory building; prism panels in storefronts
33 Crown Hotel c. 1876 Italianate 301-27 West Fayette Street 3 stories; brick; commercial building
34 c. 1872 309-11 West Fayette Street 3 stories; brick; commercial building
35 c. 1873 313-17 West Fayette Street 2 stories; brick; commercial building; molded keystones
36 Stag Hotel 1869 321 West Fayette Street 3 stories; brick; intact storefront
37 1875 329-31 West Fayette Street 4 stories; brick; warehouse; rear entrance on Walton Street
38 Jefferson Clinton Hotel 1927 227-37 West Jefferson Street 10 stories; brick; stone facade first two floors; architect Gustavas A. Young
39 New York State Armory 1907/1932 West Jefferson Street Housed Army National Guard; brick and limestone; central drill hall added in 1932

References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. ^ "Onondaga Creekwalk opens, connecting Armory Square and Onondaga Lake". October 25, 2011.
  3. ^ Harwood, John F. (July 25, 1984). National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Armory Square Historic District. File Unit: National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records: New York, 1964 - 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2021. Includes accompanying 36 photos from 1983.
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