The Mayor’s Resurgent Neighborhoods Initiative (RNI) is a citywide housing and business growth plan that aligns neighborhood investment planning and stakeholder engagement at a “block-level” in all four quadrants within the city. The plan is designed to engage multiple City departments with neighborhood residents, business owners, and key stakeholders to more efficiently coordinate planning and revitalization efforts. This structure is aimed at promoting a more holistic framework that combines both short and long-term priorities for housing and commercial corridors.
In 2020, the City of Syracuse received a $1 million grant for the Cities for Responsible Investment and Strategic Enforcement, or Cities RISE program. As part of program, the City partnered with the Center for Justice Innovation’s Westside Peacemaking Center to conduct a series of engagement sessions to discuss residents’ views and experiences with code enforcement, neighborhood quality of life, and housing conditions. These sessions were held in the residents’ homes and included a shared meal between neighbors, friends, and community agencies to help facilitate meaningful engagement, identify priorities for neighborhood development opportunities, and solicit creative solutions to quality-of-life issues.
In addition to these discussions, the City completed a Commercial Corridor Analysis to identify market opportunities within our business corridors and create comprehensive strategies that support the needs of our community and businesses. Using a multi-faceted research and analysis process, the project identified opportunities and barriers to local economic development and outlined clear action items that the City and partners can take to strengthen these important corridors.
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The RNI Infill Housing Development Strategy aims to construct 200 new units of affordable single- and two-family homes on scattered sites throughout the city based on site control, neighborhood need, and proximity to investment and public amenities. Currently 100 units of housing are completed or underway.
To prepare sites for infill construction, vacant Syracuse Land Bank properties are identified for demolition or stabilization. Over 150 properties have been selected thus far and 85 percent have been completed.
The City is prioritizing housing policies and investments to address current housing market and affordability challenges in Syracuse. Current efforts include the development of a citywide housing strategy, the establishment of the Syracuse Housing Strategies Corporation, and investing in low-interest loan programs, property repair and improvement grants, and closing cost assistance for income eligible homeowners.
Each of the city’s commercial corridors has their own set of characteristics, businesses, and physical qualities that uniquely contribute to Syracuse’s overall economy. Actions to retain and grow economic activity within these important corridors include downtown revitalization efforts through NYS’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), prioritizing vacant and distressed brownfield properties for environmental testing and clean-up, and supporting the redevelopment and improvement of underutilized commercial and mixed-use properties.
Proud Places Project is a program to strengthen investment in city neighborhoods through citizen engagement, beautification, and community stewardship. The program identifies neighborhood needs within an RNI area, engages existing community organizations and/or forms new coalitions, and facilitates monthly meetings and events to address those needs.
Learn more about the Proud Places Project
Neighborhood and Business Development
nbd@syrgov.net
315-448-8100