Former Skyline units to start becoming available for lease this fall, officials say

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The horror of the former Skyline Apartments in Syracuse came into the full public view after the grisly murder of 93-year-old Connie Tuori in her twelfth floor apartment in 2021. After more than three years of legal battles, uncertainty and change of ownership, the apartment units on the twelfth floor are set to be among the first that could become available for rent once again as soon as this fall.

Alexandra Horton, a marketing director with Clear Investment Group, tells the I-Team that all units on that floor are finished and that work is well underway to get the building up to code under a new name; The Metropolitan.

Clear Investment purchased the building from long time problem landlords Tim and Troy Green in April of 2023, pledging to return the building to being a beautiful and sought after place to live in Syracuse. The renovation work, according to owners, was initially stalled by people they described as "squatters." Clear Investment's CEO Amy Rubenstein told CNY Central that they needed everyone out of the building to address deep rooted problems, but some clung to the Skyline as the only place they could find to lay down their heads amid the city's housing crisis.

After evictions began last summer, the final "squatters" were forced out by a fire in early March. The Syracuse Fire Department confirmed there was no foul play, tracking down the source of the fire to a faulty lithium ion battery. The city codes department declared the building unfit, and the place has been boarded up ever since.

Horton said that contractors have worked tirelessly behind the plywood since the fire, stating that the company is working to repair and install boilers in addition to modernizing the elevators. Horton also said that work on the lobby is underway, aiming to open the Metropolitan in phases, "floor by floor." They plan to host the first open house as soon as late August.

Michael Collins, the Commissioner of Neighborhood and Business Development with the City of Syracuse, said that they are encouraged by the idea that apartment units could start becoming available. He noted, however, that the work has taken longer than what Clear Investment predicted.

"We'll be happy when the building is fully repaired and fully reoccupied," Collins said, "until then, we'll work with ownership to move as expeditiously as possible towards that goal."

Collins confirmed that the unfit declaration on the building still stands, which has been a thorn in the side of the building's sole remaining commercial tenant. Korean restaurant Spoon and Chopsticks has called the former Skyline home for 7 years; owner Kevin Ham said that Clear Investment's mismanagement is forcing them to find a new location. Their doors have been shuttered, unable to welcome customers, since the March 5 fire.

"We cannot wait anymore," Ham said.

He and his wife are in the final process of packing up the restaurant, hoping to reopen in their new location at the Asia Food Market on Erie Boulevard in September. According to Ham, Clear Investment repeatedly failed to address issues like leaks in the ceiling and no access to hot water, which persisted for months before the fire forced a shutdown. Ham said that while the fire didn't impact the restaurant, the company did not help to facilitate a way for them to reopen while renovations began in the residential part of the building.

Donghoo Sohn, an attorney representing Spoon and Chopsticks, said that they are considering legal action to force Clear Investment to provide compensation for the money lost and the expense to move to a new location.

"We hoped to reopen in this place [The Metropolitan] but it's impossible," Sohn said.

Horton said that they cannot comment on ongoing communications with Spoon and Chopsticks.

Ahead of the anticipated phased openings of units in The Metropolitan, Horton said that are apartment units are available right now at The Dutchess and The Gardens, formerly named The James and Chestnut Crossing under Green National. Horton did not mention the former Vincent Apartments.

When evictions began, Rubenstein said that tenants "in good standing" would be welcomed back into the Skyline once renovations were complete, which they were told would take at least 12 months. Collins with city government said that the company expressed to them that they will get in contact with those tenants directly.