Lost and Found: St. Patrick’s makeover
By Maria-Alejandra Acuna
St. Patrick’s crumbling school is in the process of being turned into 22 market-valued apartments in west Syracuse. The sale of the school closed on March 2012 to the chairman and chief executive of The Hayner Hoyt Corp., Gary Thurston. The project will result in 22 brand new loft-style apartments.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse sold St. Patrick’s empty school to the private contractor because it was the most financially sound option; selling the building for one dollar. Funding was no longer a possibility for St. Patrick’s Church and it was costing the school to keep it open. The school has many structure and environmental problems, since it was originally built in 1909. The The Hayner Hoyt Corp. will have to preform major construction on the building.
The school closed to the students in June 2006, so it sat vacant for just under 6 years. The closure of the school did not happen without impasses. Masterpole said that there were a lot of people who wanted the school to stay open, including events such as political rallies, or efforts from the second district counselor at the time that pushed the Diocese to keep the school open.
“These things are always risky” said Masterpole, chairman of St. Patrick’s Facilities Committee. “But a lot of people are anxious to see the apartment, you know, I’m coming back to Tipp Hill, or empty-nesters .”
Thurston told Syracuse Media Group that the company plans to keep the school’s windows, wooden floors, classroom blackboards, and even the chemistry tables in the school’s science classrooms will be re-used as table islands in the apartments. Rents start at $895 for one bedroom and one bathroom. The most expensive is the two bedrooms and two-bathroom loft at $1,450.
The model was supposed to be finished this past July for show but because of weather delays, among others, it is postponed until further notice.
“It’s close to everything,” said Masterpole. “It’s close to neighborhood bars and restaurants, its close to Interstate 81, 690, the Freeway, the mall, you can get anywhere from that location; it’s a desirable place really.”