The Syracuse, New York, home of the H.A. Moyer Carriage Company has been through many incarnations in its more than 140-year history — the latest of which will be affordable apartment units and commercial space.
The sale of the Moyer Carriage Factory complex at 1714 Salina St. won a 2023 CoStar Impact Award in recognition of the deal's positive effect on the area while preserving an interesting piece of Syracuse history.
Moyer's "horseless carriage" manufacturing company went defunct after it couldn't keep up with assembly-line automobile manufacturing taking off at the time. The building was home to power tool manufacturer Porter-Cable for a time, then Penfield Manufacturing Co., and most recently a private owner stored his car collection in the building.
Now, the sale of the complex has led to a $55.4 million redevelopment of the historic building that will create 128 affordable apartments, including several adapted for residents with mobility, vision and/or hearing impairments, along with 3,670 square feet of commercial space.
Rebranded as Moyer Carriage Lofts, the groundbreaking took place in June 2022, and the project is expected to be an economic catalyst for Syracuse's north side.
About the project: The building has what appears to be a little house constructed on the roof, reportedly built under Penfield Manufacturing's ownership. No definitive history exists on the purpose of the little house, though one local newspaper reports it likely was constructed for marketing purposes.
What the judges said: "The Moyer Carriage Factory will significantly bolster the growth that the north side of Syracuse has been experiencing," said Aidan Cleghorn.
Graig Arcuri said, "This project has a great positive impact on downtown and preserves some history."
They made it happen: Martin McDermott, real estate sales, JF Real Estate.