SU’s hotel proposal passes State Environmental Quality Review Act
The City Planning Commission determined Syracuse University’s hotel proposal passed the State Environmental Quality Review Act. The 13-story, 200-room hotel is expected to open fall 2027. Joe Zhao | Senior Staff Photographer
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The City Planning Commission determined Syracuse University’s proposed hotel on University Avenue passed the State Environmental Quality Review Act during its Tuesday night meeting.
The university plans to construct a 13-story, 200-room hotel with a three-story parking garage and a full-service two-story restaurant, according to city documents, and is expected to open in fall 2027. SEQR, a New York state law, requires local, regional and state government agencies to examine environmental impacts before approving major projects.
Earlier this month, SU submitted the Environmental Assessment Form, part one of the Full Environmental Assessment Form, for the hotel project, covering both resubdivision and the project plan. During the meeting, the planning commission reviewed the checklist of 18 environmental questions as part two of the full EAF.
The board concluded its review with a negative declaration, meaning the project is not expected to have significant adverse environmental impacts and is therefore not required to complete part three, which includes a more in-depth analysis of its potential impacts.
The hotel is set to be built at the corner of University Avenue and Harrison Street, across from the University Avenue Garage. In addition to the roughly 200 rooms, the hotel will include an on-site parking garage with about 100 parking spaces, and a rooftop bar and lounge, according to the documents.
The proposed hotel would partner with Graduate by Hilton and join over 35 properties in university towns across the United States and the United Kingdom.
During the meeting, Syracuse residents and project leaders voiced their support for the hotel, including Joe Alfieri, director of campus planning, design and construction at SU.
“The new hotel will fill a vital need for both the university community and the larger Syracuse community as well,” Alfieri said. “The hotel is designed to comply with all zoning requirements.”
On May 21, the Onondaga County Planning Board issued an advisory memo raising concerns about the hotel’s infrastructure capacity, traffic and transportation needs and sewer and water demands. Under General Municipal Law Section 239-m, the County Planning Board reviews projects within 500 feet of state-owned lands and facilities.
The planning board’s statement highlights potential issues with the hotel, requiring the university to collaborate with the Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection and Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council before municipal approval.
“The Board wishes to express its serious concern with infrastructure number of recently approved and proposed housing units and other projects in the University Hill area, and encourages the University and City to work together, along with other agency partners, to ensure adequate planning for change and growth in the University Hill district infrastructure,” the advisory memo reads.
The need for an on-campus hotel follows SU’s conversion of the Sheraton University Hotel into Orange Hall and the university’s acquisition of Hotel Skyler in March 2024.
The commission is expected to vote on the resubdivision and project plan for the hotel during its next meeting in June with a signed formal resolution.
