Voices of Preservation: Historic preservation must be a part of the Micron planning efforts
In this editorial, the Preservation Association of Central New York’s President Andrew Roblee lays out how historic preservation can play a crucial role in a revitalized Central New York. Micron Technology’s planned semiconductor fabrication facility in Clay (about 15 miles outside of Syracuse) would have a profound effect on the region for many years to come. As a recent article from the Syracuse Post-Standard asks, “Micron would change Syracuse area for decades to come. Are we up to the challenge?”
Project rendering from Micron Technology
The Preservation Association of Central New York (PACNY) is following with keen interest the unfolding of Micron Technology’s chip-producing “mega-complex” planned in Clay’s White Pine Commercial Park. With a speculated 9,000 jobs to be added over the next two decades and billions of dollars to be spent, the long-awaited return of mass manufacturing jobs to the area is being hailed as transformational. Together, the building of the Micron complex and the reconfiguration of I-81 through the city will bring a fundamental shift in the regional economy.
Beyond the economic impact, there will no doubt be questions about population growth, infrastructure systems, and demographic changes. The complexities and intertwined systems involved in these changes often create “wicked problems”, a term used by planners to describe a situation in which the solution to one problem uncovers or even creates other problems. Most of us are familiar with the story played out across the country of the mid-twentieth century manufacturing boom creating good jobs and a flourishing economy (for some), and expanded suburban neighborhoods and commercial space. Eventually business models changed and jobs moved on, leading to the hollowing out of urban and rural communities alike. Decades of declining value and opportunity then left communities hungry for big developments such as the Micron complex. How will we apply the lessons from the last 70 years?
County Executive Ryan McMahon has called for developers to start building new homes, promising to help remove any obstacle in their way. There are yet 1,800 vacant properties in Syracuse alone, not to mention the numbers in other communities within the region. Furthermore, recently renovation has eclipsed new construction for the first time in nearly 20 years, due to a convergence of several factors. For example, in places where buildings hold much more value than the land upon which they sit, which is the case in nearly all central New York, rehabilitation is the most efficient and valuable use of resources. Climbing housing costs along with current inflation, supply chain issues and more make rehabilitation more economically attractive. To underscore the question even further, we are still in the midst of a real estate crisis in which commercial space can't be filled due to a lack of tenants and a housing crisis due to a lack of affordable space for potential tenants.
The question of the practical use of space has been answered by historic preservation for years. PACNY implores local planners and leaders to consider historic rehabilitation as a part of McMahon’s call to provide “rehabilitated housing units or new housing units” to the region at large. It must be considered to avoid the destruction of our history and built heritage, to protect our cultural landscapes and open spaces by avoiding new housing tracts with bland, identical homes built with toxic and sub-par materials. This can be accomplished by some creative application and expansion of existing incentive programs. The successes of historic rehabilitation tax credit projects have been proven in the city of Syracuse and elsewhere in the region, but a local (county, city) incentive would bolster that effort. The state-level Historic Homeowner Rehabilitation tax credit needs to be bolstered and expanded to make sure it is more attractive and feasible for developers.
As the regional advocate for historic preservation in Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, and Oswego counties, PACNY works for the approximately 750,000 citizens in the region to protect the historic resources and cultural landscapes from destruction, neglect, and development which may have a negative impact. By no means does PACNY seek to freeze any built or natural space in time, nor do we wish to be some kind of anti-growth Cassandra. We must, however, do our members and constituents the service of making their voices heard when it comes to the highest and best use of our historic resources that may be impacted by these incoming projects. The next 20 years will be crucial to the development of central New York, and the protection of its historic and cultural resources. We are about to pass through the eye of the proverbial needle when it comes to historic preservation in our area, and therefore need to try and focus the building and renovation efforts in our urban areas. What good is the promise of providing opportunities to underserved communities if we simply continue the trend of suburbanization that has led to the mistrust and disinvestment in the past.
On behalf of the PACNY Board of Directors,
Andrew Roblee
President, Preservation Association of Central New York