The old St. Anthonyโs Convent might be a total loss after a rare four-alarm fire badly damaged the landmark on the former Maria Regina College campus on Syracuseโs North Side on Friday night. Already dealing with a fire on Carbon Street, more than 60 firefighters were needed as flames spread across the buildingโs top floor. Fire crews who made their way to the upper floors had to retreat and only battle the flames from the outside. Neighbors watched from all sides of the building as the flames outpaced firefighters who were called around 6:30 p.m. After standing strong for many hours, the iconic cross-topped cupola succumbed to the flames and caved into the rest of the building.
Syracuse Police are investigating neighbors reporting they saw people running from the property around the time the fire started. The campus, mostly vacant for about 12 years, was about three months from the start of a massive renovation to convert the facility into senior housing. Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh says the developers will have to reassess the property, but think the project could continue with the surviving buildings.
