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Local Businesses and Citizens Prepare for I-81 Community Grid Local Businesses and Citizens Prepare for I-81 Community Grid

In Conjunction with Chris Sacchi

By Corey Spector

Tobin's Real Wood Furniture
© 2019 © Corey Spector

Cameron Macauley: New York State has announced the community grid as the preferred option for replacing I-81 in Syracuse, with meetings on a proposed project beginning in June. The construction would shut down three commercial businesses. NCC News reporters Corey Spector and Chris Sacchi spoke with some of those businesses.

Corey Spector: Devastation is imminent both on a business and personal level in Syracuse.

Chris Sacchi: Devastation is right, Corey. Following last night’s announcement that the State Transportation Department supports the I-81 community grid option, some businesses like Tobin’s Real Wood Furniture are forced to relocate. Production Manager Sean Gorman, though, knew this was coming.

Sean Gorman: The shoe finally fell. We’ve been living in limbo for a while. Now, at least we’ve got the next step you can start heading to is now is nailing down the timeline of how everything’s gonna play out.

Spector: Tobin’s sits right next to Interstate 690, a terrific location to advertise its business. Building owner Archemedes Potamianos believes there’s no location like the one it’s currently in.

Archemedes Potamianos: It’s hard to say. I mean, you know, there’s things that you look at as regards to the business and what you have from this location. Exposure. Where can you relocate the business to have this type of exposure?

Sacchi: Bottomline, after 30 years of repairing prized furniture, a relocation won’t be easy.

Gorman: It’s not a ten minute task.

Spector: Meanwhile, the drive-through Dunkin’ Donuts location on Almond Street would be forced to relocate as well as part of the proposed grid plan. Customers anticipate some challenges.

Customer: There will be more congestion in the downtown area without question.

Sacchi: And with that, some customers aren’t sure where they’ll grab their morning coffee.

Customer: I really, I’d have to just play it by ear. I couldn’t tell you.

Sacchi: Should the plan go through, officials estimate the a construction duration of five years beginning in May of next year. For NCC News and Corey Spector, I’m Chris Sacchi.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — On the heels of the New York State Department of Transportation announcing its support of the I-81 community grid, four commercial buildings are facing possible closing or displacements, including Tobin’s Real Wood Furniture.

Tobin’s has assumed the DOT’s support and a potential move  for a couple of years now. Tobin’s Production Manager Sean Gorman lamented the DOT’s decision, but understood this news was coming.

“The shoe finally fell, ” Gorman said. “We’ve been living in limbo for awhile now.”

Tobin’s claims to be the only business that repairs wooden furniture in the local area. Located on Canal Street, Tobin’s is a facility filled with different pieces of furniture, many of which have passed down through several generations and require repairs.

Tobin's Real Wood Furniture

Tobin’s relies upon the community’s sentimentality and nostalgia to keep their ancestors’ furniture in order to remain in business. But despite Tobin’s longevity (over 30 years) beside Interstate 690, the state or local government hasn’t contacted Tobin’s for at least six months.

Gorman said it was ““disheartening yesterday to see we’re the only long-term established business affected by this plan.”

Building Owner Archemides Potamianos also expressed frustration with the lack of communication from government.

“You would hope that you’d hear from our government representatives. ‘How can we help? Is there something we can do?’” Potamianos said. “That hasn’t come as of yet.”

Picking up its business and relocating to a different location won’t be an easy task. Tobin’s relies upon its location beside I-690 because people can easily see the business while driving by.

“It’s the location and visibility that we have with this specific building that makes us unique,” Potamianos said.

Tobin’s, if eventually forced to relocate, is looking for a space that is between 8,000-10,000 square feet, includes parking for 20 vehicles and is located in an industrial area with exposure.

But, Gorman said, “It’s not a ten minute task.”

Cost could be an issue as well. When proposed with the idea of re-opening its doors in another high-exposure area, perhaps along Erie Boulevard, both employees said that couldn’t be feasible.

“It’s not a multimillion dollar business,” Potamianos said. “So, trying to find something affordable that we could sustain is going to be a challenge.”

The Department of Transportation estimates the community grid project would cost nearly $2 billion. Construction would begin in May 2020 and last five years.

The drive-through Dunkin’ Donuts along Almond Street, the Syracuse Housing Authority Garage on Renwick Avenue and Lawrence Automotive on Canal Street could be forced to close their doors and move elsewhere as well should the proposed plan go through. The Dunkin’ Donuts location declined to comment.

Syracuse University, SUNY ESF and Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh have all previously expressed their support for the community grid option.

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