The future of the former Skyline Apartment building in Syracuse remains in limbo more than three months after the city announced it was seeking a receiver to take over the troubled property. Clear Investment of Chicago bought the 12-story building over two years ago, with promises to clear up numerous code violations under the previous owner and make it suitable for renters. Since then, there’s been little progress. The city says it wants to find a responsible owner, but Commissioner of Neighborhood and Business Development Michael Collins says it’s stuck in court.
“The litigation is specific to them getting the building into compliance,” Collins said. “So conversations between both parties have to do exactly with that, and what that plan looks like, what that timeline look like.”
Collins says there are workers on site addressing some of the issues, but progress remains slow. In its complaint, the city is asking the court to order Clear Investment to correct all code violations, impose $355,000 in fines, and require a $2 million deposit with a receiver to cover repairs and ongoing maintenance. Meanwhile, Collins says the former Vincent apartment complex in the Outer Comstock neighborhood is in a similar situation. It, too, is owned by Clear Investment…