Arson suspected in fire at vacant Syracuse college

A fire broke out at the former Maria Regina College in Syracuse on Friday evening, causing major damage to the top floor. Police Chief Joseph Cecile said the situation is suspicious and that arson is a possibility. Authorities are reviewing security camera footage for any leads. City officials announced that residents had been living inside the vacant building, which has been troubled by vandals and squatters. The fire lasted over 24 hours, damaging the roof of the four-story structure. Now, the building is too dangerous to enter, making it hard to assess if it can be salvaged. Mayor Ben Walsh confirmed that plans to redevelop the property into apartments are still in place. The project would include 26 units in the damaged building, with a total of 154 units planned elsewhere on the campus. Developer Mark Congel bought the site in 2015 but faced delays in redevelopment. Congel expressed his devastation upon hearing about the fire and plans to return to Syracuse to inspect the damage. In recent years, the property has faced issues with safety, leading to ongoing attempts to remove unauthorized occupants by local authorities. Police are investigating what caused the fire and looking into the activities of people on the campus before it started.