Syracuse Univ. on Friday "released its letter to Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner detailing its vision for a new 44,000 seat sports arena with a retractable roof," according to Dave Tobin of the Syracuse POST-STANDARD. The letter was "written by Irwin P. Raij, a partner in the law firm of Foley & Lardner, SU's consultant for the project." The letter states that the $495M arena plan "has never involved funding from the city of Syracuse, and has not reached a point of formal agreement." Plans include "additional development of a 250-room hotel, over 160 apartments and 150,000 feet of retail space." But the estimated cost "does not include parking or land acquisition." There also is "no plan for use of the current Carrier Dome or its site," and the school "would be a tenant, not an owner" at the new facility. The arena would be funded through "a public-private financing plan with investment from the state, Onondaga County and the private sector, including SU." The favored site for the arena "is the former Kennedy Square public housing property" (Syracuse POST-STANDARD, 1/25).
