Earlier this month, PSSO was honored to host Doug Sutherland, a Syracuse-based developer and partner in Franklin Properties, LLC.  Mr. Sutherland, first working for the Pyramid Group and later with his own development firm, has been integrally involved in the redevelopment of vacant industrial buildings in Franklin Square.  Last year he received a New York State Historic Preservation Award for the rehabilitation of the "Lofts on Willow," the former C.W. Snow Warehouse - an Archimedes Russell building that is distinguished for it's early use of mushroom-cap concrete column construction.  Sutherland was also involved in lobbying for recently adopted changes to the New York State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit.
The lecture was extraordinarily well attended by preservation, planning, and real estate students and generated a great deal of discussion about what we can do as planners to encourage private investment in declining Upstate cities.  Mr. Sutherland spoke about the inherent challenges of rehabilitating historic buildings, what he looks for in a building and neighborhood for prospective redevelopment projects, and provided examples of what other cities and states have done successfully to encourage downtown revitalization.  He graciously remained on hand for another hour after the lecture was over to answer students' questions.  We hope to sponsor a speaker from the public-sector next semester to discuss the other side of the equation.

- Katelyn Wright
Vice President, Preservation Studies Student Organization