Built From The Ground Up

Vinny Lobdell Jr.s Mission Landing condo has not one, but two patios.

When people move here from the suburbs, they dont understand how much theyre going to miss having an outdoor space, he said.

Although residents have access to a common area on the roof, outdoor grilling there isnt allowed.

People come and ask to use my grill all the time, he said.

One of two patios at Vinny Lobdell Jr.s Mission Landing condo. Photo by Gloria Wright | Syracuse New Times

Nine years ago, Lobdell bought the condo when it was one of two unfinished units at the Franklin Square building.There were no floors just dirt. There was no plumbing, no heating, no electrical.

French doors in the dining room lead to a patio at Vinny Lobdell Jr.s Mission Landing condominium. Photo by Gloria Wright | Syracuse New Times

Lobdell turned the empty space into a two-bedroom, two-bath, 1,616-square-foot unit.French doors on either side of the living room open onto the brick-paved patios.Both spaces were originally common garden areas. Lobdell bought both to create some outdoor living space for his condo, and to protect his privacy.

The two areas were so close to his ground-floor unit that people could peek in the windows.Lobdell tried to keep as many original details of the former factory building as possible, he said.

The bricks used as pavers in the patios are original to the building.Some of the trees he planted now provide shade to the patios.One of the spaces is accessible from the living room and through a gate from the outdoors.It is furnished with an outdoor couch, a chaise lounge and a coffee table.

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Built From The Ground Up