Westcott, Syracuse

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Westcott Street during the annual Westcott Street Cultural Fair in September 2004

Westcott is a neighborhood in Syracuse, New York near Syracuse University. The neighborhood is seen as the cultural neighborhood of Syracuse, with several boutiques selling hip clothing and accessories. It is also a very diverse community, with many of its residents being Syracuse University students, many international, and others being more lower-income permanent residents. Westcott Street is the main retail street of the neighborhood, and it features many international restaurants and cultural stores. There is also Westcott Cinema, which often plays non-mainstream, independent films. Once a year the neighborhood is also home to the Westcott Street Cultural Fair.

Westcott is also home to Thornden Park, one of the largest parks in Syracuse.

[edit] History

Westcott was founded in the late nineteenth century as a result of the growth of Syracuse University, which was founded in 1870. In 1893 the neighborhood began being served by electric streetcars, which ran along Westcott Street and Euclid Avenue. Residents of Westcott are known for their activism, and are called members of "Westcott Nation."

Map of Westcott

[edit] Revival

Starting in 1989, businessman Sabastino Marcoccia began buying up property on Westcott Street and seeing to it that its sidewalks and facades were repaired. He now owns most of the property in the Westcott Street business district, including his own business, Sabastino's Pizza and Grocery.

Westcott Street is now the only business district in Syracuse that has complete occupancy.

The Westcott Community Center is home to Syracuse Community Radio, which operates radio station WXXE. Ironically, due to crowded conditions on the FM radio band in the Syracuse area, the station broadcasts from a transmitter about 20 miles to the east of Syracuse, and can not usually be picked up in Westcott area. However, the station does broadcast a low-power AM signal which can be heard for a few blocks away from the Corner of Westcott and Euclid Streets.