To the Editor:
I attended an open house at the Syracuse Inner Harbor on May 4, 2022, and was pleased to see the long overdue renewed interest in the potential of this “crown jewel,” once hidden from our city’s landscape but not forgotten.
There were brief proposals nothing earth-shaking or very original, but one stood out: incorporating an overbearing structure, an aquarium, dominating prime real estate that could be dedicated to a marina; i.e., facilities that support a sailor’s lifestyle while in port.
My message: Please don’t spoil the character of the Inner Harbor with a massive structure that just doesn’t belong there.
While I’m a strong “pro-development” supporter when it comes to improving the nature of our city (including tourism considerations, of course), this aquarium thing just doesn’t cut it, at least in that prime location.
The Inner Harbor embodies an outside experience more than an inside thing. It is an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors in a setting that could be relaxing, pleasant and inviting for everyone, especially sailors. Include lofts, cozy indoor-outdoor cafes and pubs, shops, all with a nautical theme, and you’ve created an atmosphere attracting boaters and tourists alike.
I propose resurrecting the original idea of incorporating an aquarium in the Destiny USA building, maybe at the former Lord & Taylor anchor space. This may be a tricky engineering feat but with an abundance of today’s amazing wealth of engineering talent,…
