New York Central Railroad Passenger and Freight Station
Why it's listed
Completed in 1936, this railroad complex in downtown Syracuse combines a four-story Art Deco passenger station with a group of freight buildings across the former track bed. The station has a steel frame, Indiana limestone on its central block, gray brick wings, and a polished granite belt course. The freight complex to the north includes a car facility and coal bunker, a mail and freight building, a Railway Express building and a 150-foot yellow brick coal stack, linked by a covered platform and by tunnels now sealed beneath I-690. The buildings were part of the elevation of the New York Central tracks, the largest railroad project of the decade outside New York City, which the community celebrated with a three-day jubilee. The station was built as the city's fourth New York Central depot, when about 100 trains passed through each day. It is recognized for its role in Syracuse's railroad history and as an outstanding Art Deco station. A 1996 fire and later renovations changed parts of the interior, but the exterior largely retains its original materials.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion A for its place in Syracuse's railroad history, and under Criterion C as an outstanding Art Deco train station. It stands as one of the last major railroad stations built in the United States. It also represents the largest railroad project of the 1930s outside New York City, the elevation of the tracks above city streets.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 09000701, listed September 11, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 815 Erie Blvd. E. and 400 Burnet Ave., Syracuse |
|---|---|
| County | Onondaga County |
| Listed | September 11, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000701 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The passenger station is described as in excellent condition after 2001-2003 renovations and is used as a television station; the Section 6 current function also lists vacant. |
| Acreage | 3.7 |
| Coordinates | 43.05344, -76.13934 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 09000701.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7013109
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.