Westcott, Syracuse

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.

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 towards downtown Syracuse. The current Westcott business district formed at the end of the streetcar line. Residents of Westcott are known for their political & social activism, and are called members of the "Westcott Nation." Usually thought to be named after the famous, gold medal special-olympic track athlete William Westcott of New Jersey, although a great athlete, this is a common misconception.

File:Syracuse Westcott Map.gif

Map of Westcott

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 came to own most of the property in the Westcott Street business district, including his own business, Sabastino's Pizza and Grocery, which he sold in the summer of 2007. This supplemented several business openings in the area that were made by Munjed Essi, who has lived nearly his whole life within blocks of the Westcott business district.

Some of the other businesses located in the Westcott area (also known as the "Westcott Nation") include Boom Babies vintage clothing, vegan friendly Recess Coffee, new age bookstore Seven Rays, University Christian Fellowship, Westcott Theater, Mexican restaurant Alto Cinco, sushi nightclub Metro Lounge, neighborhood tavern Taps Bar, Dorian's Gourmet Pizza, Westcott Florist, independent bookstore Second Story Books, Spanish restaurant Las Delicias and the neighborhood-owned Cooperative Federal Credit Union. The Westcott Community Center is also located just off of Westcott Street, as is the natural food market Syracuse Real Food Co-op.

External links

• Westcott Street Cultural Fair
• Extensive history of Westcott
• Daily Orange article: Lord of Westcott: Pizzeria owner pioneered current Westcott concept
• Boom Babies
• Seven Rays
• University Christian Fellowship
• Alto Cinco
• Recess Coffee
• Dorian's Gourmet Pizza & Deli
• Westcott Florist
• Second Story Bookstore
• Cooperative Federal Credit Union
• Westcott Community Center
• Syracuse Real Food Co-op

(were used as sources)