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Syracuse

Landmark Board Pauses Franklin Square Bridge Demolition

A closed 1916 pedestrian bridge over Onondaga Creek faces a halt after the city revoked a demolition permit granted in error.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Construction

Bold flat-color vector editorial illustration of a dark iron truss footbridge spanning a creek beside bare trees, evoking a contested civic landmark.
Syracuse's Landmark Preservation Board paused plans to demolish a closed 1916 pedestrian bridge over Onondaga Creek after the city revoked a permit granted to Pioneer Cos. in error. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Syracuse Landmark Preservation Board has paused plans to demolish the black truss pedestrian bridge over Onondaga Creek in Franklin Square. The city revoked a demolition permit it had granted to Pioneer Cos. in error.

Why it matters

The bridge has been closed for more than a year as unsafe, and the dispute pits a proposed replacement against preservation rules for a structure eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Board members said the bridge is an iconic Franklin Square landmark that should not be removed.

Pioneer Cos. estimates that making the closed 1916 bridge safe again would cost almost $2 million, compared with the $7.1 million 2013 purchase price of the nearby 500 Plum St. building. Whether the board will allow demolition and replacement remains undecided.

The players

Pioneer Cos.

A Syracuse-area real estate developer that sought permission to demolish the bridge and build a replacement, and that estimated restoration costs at almost $2 million.

Syracuse Landmark Preservation Board

The city body that must approve demolition plans for landmark-eligible structures under zoning law, and which has paused the bridge demolition.

The details

Pioneer Cos. wants to demolish the bridge and replace it with a simpler structure matching neighborhood building colors, with 4-foot-high railings. The city zoning office granted a demolition permit in error, and the Landmark Preservation Board caught the mistake at a meeting where members believed they were only reviewing replacement site plans.

Timeline

  1. 1916: The black truss pedestrian bridge was built over Onondaga Creek.

  2. 2013: An LLC affiliated with Pioneer Cos. bought the 500 Plum St. building for $7.1 million.

  3. More than a year ago: The bridge was closed as no longer safe.

  4. Last week: The Landmark Preservation Board meeting caught the zoning permit error.

Market Landscape

Under Syracuse zoning law, demolition of a landmark-eligible structure requires Landmark Preservation Board approval, and this case shows the review can be bypassed when a permit is issued in error. The episode places a developer's replacement plan against the city's preservation process for a 1916 structure eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

Residents of Franklin Square may see the closed bridge remain in place or be replaced, depending on the board's decision. Any replacement would feature 4-foot-high railings and a design matching neighborhood building colors.

The takeaway

Preservation review rules for historic structures apply even when a permit has been issued, and residents affected by such projects can follow Landmark Preservation Board meetings for updates on decisions.

What happens next

The next step is a further discussion between Pioneer Cos. and the Landmark Preservation Board at a future meeting, with no date given in the source.

Further reading

Explore more Syracuse Construction coverage for the local development projects shaping the city.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Syracuse.

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