The demolition of a string of South Crouse Avenue businesses – including the popular bar Hungry Chuck’s – jumped over its first major hurdle Monday night as the Syracuse Planning Commission passed the proposal.

BLVD Equities, a real estate development firm based in New Jersey, proposed demolishing the structures at 727 S. Crouse Ave. — where Chuck’s and Funk ‘n Waffles are located — and constructing an eight-story “mixed use building.”

Jared Hutter and Brian Rosen, BLVD Equities partners, celebrated with a fist bump when the approval of the proposal was announced. The Planning Commission unanimously approved the combination of two properties and waived a parking requirement that caused the vote to be tabled during the January meeting.

“It’s been a long road, and we’re excited to push forward,” Hutter said.

Theobald said he plans to have Chuck’s move into the new space and remain in the area long-term.

Hutter previously said he was not comfortable giving a potential timeline for the demolition and construction of the project. But several people close to the project, including Chuck’s owner Stephen Theobald, said the construction could start as soon as May, and that students would hopefully be able to live in the complex starting in the 2018-2019 academic year.

Hutter and other relevant partners and developers declined to comment on the next steps for the project, which aims to clean up the Marshall Street area and attract major retail spaces to the area.

The project would include 20,000 square feet of retail on the first floor in addition to residential apartments on the upper floors.

Syracuse head basketball coach Jim Boeheim was one of the first investors in the project, Hutter said. Boeheim was also an investor in #BLVD404, BLVD Equities last Hill project.

With the rise of luxury apartments in the area, including #BLVD404, Hutter said he was committed to keeping rent low for the new complex. The company does not have current pricing for rent, but he said it would be lower than the current rent in luxury apartments in the area. The cost for a two-bed and one-bath unit at Park Point starts at $1,439 a month per person, and the same style apartment at U Point costs $1,099 per person.

The major point of contention with the project was a zoning law that requires a set number of parking spots to be available for parking and retail spaces. The proposed project would normally require 231 total parking spots in the immediate area, but the developers asked the commission to wave that number to zero. In January, the Syracuse City Planning Commission tabled a vote on the proposal after a lengthy public hearing centered on the parking concerns.

In an interview during the week leading up to vote, Hutter said his company has secured a “significant amount” of off-site parking spaces that would be available to residents if they want that option. He declined to go into further detail.  

This could be just the first major change to the Marshall Street area, as Hutter said he wants this development to spark further change on the Hill. The Dellas Family, owners of Varsity Pizza and Faegan’s Cafe & Pub, have been in early talks with BLVD Equities about a possible development plan on the family’s other Marshall Street properties.

Published on February 6, 2017 at 7:08 pm

Contact Jacob: jagedets@syr.edu