The Syracuse Housing Authority (SHA) is currently evaluating a proposal from SUNY Upstate Medical University that could significantly alter the landscape of Pioneer Homes in Syracuse, NY. SUNY Upstate is proposing the construction of an eight-story optometry school on land presently occupied by 92 public housing apartments near Interstate 81. This development introduces a new dimension to the SHA’s existing $800 million project aimed at revitalizing public housing in the area. The original plan focused on demolishing older public housing units and constructing new apartments for residents across various income levels.
This potential partnership with SUNY Upstate marks a noteworthy shift. The university intends to allocate $125 million from the state budget towards this project, as stated by SUNY Upstate President Mantosh Dewan in a letter supporting a federal grant application for the SHA. While Darryl Geddes, a spokesperson for SUNY Upstate, clarified that the Pioneer Homes site is just one potential location under consideration, and is contingent on securing funding, it represents a concrete possibility for the future of Pioneer Homes.
However, news of this proposal has taken some local officials by surprise. Assemblywoman Pam Hunter, representing a large portion of Pioneer Homes residents, expressed her lack of awareness regarding the plan and raised critical questions about its implications. Hunter questioned the transparency of the process, asking if residents were informed and what the potential impact on their housing situation would be. She also inquired about the broader implications for public-private partnerships within the larger housing redevelopment project, which is slated to demolish over 1,000 apartments.
SHA Director Bill Simmons addressed immediate concerns by stating that current Pioneer Homes residents would be relocated to newly constructed apartments on the west side of I-81. Residents would also have the option to utilize Section 8 vouchers, providing housing choices throughout the country. Simmons indicated that residents would receive a detailed briefing on the plan in the coming week. Records indicate that the proposed building is intended to house not only the optometry school but also a health clinic specifically for public housing residents, along with the hospital’s police headquarters.
Assemblywoman Hunter also questioned the necessity of another health clinic, given the recent expansion of the Syracuse Community Health Center on South Salina Street. Despite these concerns, Simmons highlighted several potential advantages for the housing authority. The deal could generate substantial funds for the SHA, which could be reinvested in new housing developments situated away from the interstate and existing industrial hospital buildings. Furthermore, the proposal includes provisions for improved healthcare access, enhanced security, and job training opportunities for residents.
According to Simmons, the hospital’s proposal incorporates a 1,200-square-foot health clinic to provide eye care and primary care services to residents. The SHA also has plans to construct a new high-rise senior living tower adjacent to the optometry school, on land currently occupied by public housing. This development would be located next to Toomey Abbott, an existing 24-story senior living building. Simmons believes the presence of SUNY Upstate police, as part of this development, would address long-standing security concerns voiced by Toomey Abbott residents. SUNY Upstate has further proposed 10 paid positions and internships for a summer youth program, along with job shadowing opportunities for 40 young residents of public housing.
A conceptual drawing from the Syracuse Housing Authority illustrates SUNY Upstate Medical University’s proposal to build an optometry school at Pioneer Homes in Syracuse, NY, replacing 92 existing public housing units.
The broader context of this proposal is the extensive redevelopment of public housing near the elevated Interstate 81 viaduct. This project coincides with the state’s plan to dismantle the highway bridges and convert traffic to street level. Initial redevelopment efforts have concentrated on the area west of I-81, along East Adams Street and towards South Salina Street. The SHA is collaborating with McCormack Baron Salazar, a private developer, to demolish existing public housing and construct at least 1,400 mixed-income apartments, along with new infrastructure including streets, parks, and a child learning center.
The proposed optometry school site is situated on the east side of I-81, adjacent to the SUNY Upstate campus. Its location, separated from the larger housing development by the highway and the future Almond Street corridor, is considered less desirable for residential housing by Simmons. He described the current site as facing the less appealing back side of the hospital, with its service areas and loading docks. Simmons argued that developing high-quality, mixed-income housing in such a location presents significant challenges.
He emphasized that utilizing the land for the optometry school and reinvesting the proceeds into housing development on the opposite side of the highway represents a more strategic use of resources. Simmons acknowledged that the $800 million redevelopment project still faces funding gaps. Negotiations are ongoing between the SHA and SUNY Upstate regarding the financial terms of the arrangement, which could involve either a land sale or a long-term lease. A common practice for redeveloping former public housing land is a 99-year lease agreement with a private developer, after which the land reverts to the SHA. Any agreement would require approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), according to Simmons.
Simmons believes the commitment from SUNY Upstate will strengthen the SHA’s application for a $50 million HUD Choice Neighborhood Initiative grant. He explained that HUD favors projects demonstrating support from local anchor institutions, such as financial contributions and the potential for residents like students and doctors to live in the redeveloped housing at market rates. The city’s previous attempt to secure this grant was unsuccessful. A spokesperson for Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, who appoints the majority of the SHA board members, confirmed the mayor’s awareness of the discussions with SUNY Upstate but stated that no formal plan has been submitted for review. Mayor Walsh emphasized that his priority is to ensure any new development benefits the surrounding neighborhood and safeguards existing residents from displacement. Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli, representing the district, was unavailable for comment.
