City lawmakers voted unanimously Tuesday to approve Syracuse’s new housing strategy.
The city has worked over the last 18 months on developing the strategy, which aims to invest in middle-income neighborhoods in the city. The plan was formulated after a study by consultant czb LLC found that Syracuse has a housing crisis defined by an affordability and quality gap. The group estimated it will cost the city more than $1 billion to address these housing issues.
At the same time that the council approved the strategy, it also approved the Syracuse Housing Strategies Corporation, which will carry out the investment.
Councilor Patrick Hogan, who sponsored the resolutions on the strategy, believes the strategy is necessary to address the city’s housing crisis. Hogan was happy to see the strategy approved after the city worked for 18 months on it.
“In order to have a shot at having more housing, we have to be aggressive, and we have to start right now,” Hogan said. “In reality, with what’s going to happen in the city over the next couple years, this is a desperately needed thing, and now we have a tool to address the issue.”
The plan stipulates that the Syracuse Housing Strategies Corporation will award low-interest loans and grants for beautification projects in certain Syracuse neighborhoods. During the strategy’s first phase, the city will try to secure the Salt Springs and Tipperary Hill neighborhoods.
City officials expect the first phase to begin next year and that it will take about 10 years to complete. The first phase would cost about $25 million to complete. So far, the city has raised about $7.5 million for the Syracuse Housing Strategies Corporation.
Future phases could include the Eastwood and Elmwood neighborhoods.
“It’s a great plan, it has a long way to go before we see any major results,” said councilor Patrona Jones-Rowser, who co-sponsored the bill.
Shortly after the vote, Mayor Ben Walsh’s office released a statement supporting the housing strategy and commending the Common Council for approving it.
“It’s a plan that can have major near-term benefits and, with sustained commitment, can restore our housing stock citywide as the need for quality homes continues to grow,” Walsh said in the statement.
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