10/01/2026
Syracuse has reinvented itself many times, and Franklin Square may be one of the best examples.
For generations, this area just north of Downtown was defined by industry. Factories, warehouses and other industrial buildings filled the neighborhood, and the sturdy brick structures that remain today are reminders of the people and businesses that once worked here.
But beginning in the late 1980s, Franklin Square started a remarkable transformation. Old industrial buildings found new lives as lofts, apartments and offices, while landscaping, walkways and public spaces helped create an entirely different kind of neighborhood. The fountain that became a centerpiece of Franklin Square was installed in 1991.
What makes Franklin Square especially interesting is that much of its industrial character wasn't erased—it was reimagined. The brick buildings and architecture that once served Syracuse's manufacturing economy became part of the appeal of the neighborhood that followed.
Today, it's easy to walk through Franklin Square and simply see an attractive corner of Syracuse. But look a little closer, and much of the city's industrial past is still standing all around you.
Have you spent any time exploring Franklin Square?