Thomas Bardenett
Clinton Square is the heart of Syracuse. Built around the banks of the original Erie Canal, the square has been the central hub of activity for the city since its founding. The historic 19th century buildings that line Salina St, the Soldiers and Sailors monument, and the fountain, built in the...
Thomas Bardenett
We are in a dark place at the start of 2026. There’s no sugar coating the grim view of the world that is currently taking hold as a result of the present federal administration. The administration is creating an era of isolation and demonization, working to “other” people who do not fit within...
Thomas Bardenett
Did you know that Syracuse is the only place in the world that experiences winter? Yeah, me neither. But when you talk about ways to improve the City and create more comfortable places to walk, bike, and take transit, many people like to bring up snowy, cold weather as the reason we can’t do what...
Thomas Bardenett
Some people would be surprised to learn just how many malls the Syracuse area had at one point in time. Not just the recently closed suburban shopping malls like Shoppingtown and Great Northern, but Camillus, Fayetteville, Penn Can, Fairmount Fair, and others, along with the attempt at an urban...
Thomas Bardenett
Pittsburgh, PA At the beginning of each new year many of us find ourselves making resolutions on how we’d like to change for the better. This could be going to the gym more, taking up journaling, traveling, or being more present with...
Thomas Bardenett
The Market Commons at the CNY Regional Market. Since 1938, the CNY Regional Market has called the City’s Northside home. Nestled between Park St and Hiawatha Blvd, the Regional Market has easy access to I-81 (soon to be Business Loop...
Thomas Bardenett
The desert - a place we often associate with vast, seemingly empty space. Where animals are often nocturnal to avoid the daytime heat and cacti have adapted to live off the minimal amounts of rain that comes each year. It's more associated with surviving than thriving. And yet, one of the United...
Thomas Bardenett
The Walk is a series of blog posts dedicated to documenting the current experience of walking between Downtown Syracuse and its surrounding neighborhoods. The purpose of these pieces is to highlight the importance of connections between neighborhoods. Small pockets of walkable spaces exist...
Thomas Bardenett
One of the most common phrases I hear about why we can’t make Syracuse a more pedestrian and bike friendly city is the concern about winter. “It's too cold for people to be outside on a bike or to walk.” “What about the snow?” “Plows will struggle if you do that.” “People are only outside for 3...
Thomas Bardenett
New York State, along with states around the country, is suffering from a housing crisis. When most people hear this, they immediately think of the high housing costs in New York City and the surrounding areas, where rents are well over $3,000 per month, home ownership is out of reach for many,...
Thomas Bardenett
Public transit is at a precarious moment in time with ridership still significantly below pre-pandemic levels, a significant driver shortage, and the approaching depletion of federal funds meant to shore up operating budgets. While some newspapers are looking for answers to how transit agencies...