Mayor Walsh Announces Unfit Declaration at Ballantyne Gardens

Published on March 02, 2023

Declaration covers common areas at property; residents can remain in their apartments

City crews cleanup more than 14,000 pounds of trash and debris; costs to be charged to property owner 

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced the Syracuse Division of Code Enforcement issued an Unfit for Human Habitation declaration on Tuesday, Feb. 28 for the common areas at Ballantyne Gardens Apartments located at 141-169 Ballantyne Road. Because the action covers common area spaces at the 138-unit complex on Syracuse’s south side, residents are able to stay in their apartments. The declaration triggers a stop rent order for public rents paid to the property owner.

The declaration, which came after code inspections at the property on Tuesday, cited “danger posed by code violations… to health, safety and welfare” to residents and the community. Code Enforcement inspectors issued five code violations for serious issues at the four-building complex located on South Salina Street at Ballantyne Road. Two violations relate to unsanitary conditions of trash, debris and evidence of urine and blood in stairwells and common areas at the property. Three violations address a sewage back-up in a single building at the complex requiring repair, cleanup and sanitization.

According to the Division of Code Enforcement, Ballantyne Garden Apt LLC, the building owner, did not respond to City inquiries after Feb. 22. The City proceeded with a site cleanup on Wednesday, Feb. 28. Environmental Services crews from the City Department of Public Works picked up more than 14,000 pounds of trash and debris. The City billed the property owner $1,620.20 for the cleanup.

Despite the City cleanup, the property owner remains responsible for addressing the Feb. 28 code violations by Mar. 3. The unfit declaration and stop rent order will remain in place until all violations are addressed and sanitary conditions are maintained at the property.