Governor Hochul Announces Major Progress on Syracuse East Adams T...

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the start of construction of a $100 million, 125-unit affordable senior public housing development in the city of Syracuse. The project marks the second phase of the East Adams Neighborhood Transformation Plan, a multi-phased reinvestment strategy led by the Syracuse Housing Authority (SHA) that will ultimately build or preserve approximately 1,500 high-quality homes at multiple Syracuse Housing Authority properties. This will create a vibrant mixed-use community and reconnect the neighborhood as the State advances the plan to remove the city's elevated Interstate 81.

"This latest phase of the East Adams Transformation plan builds on the promise we made to this important Syracuse neighborhood - to reverse decades of injustice, replace aging public housing, reconnect a community to its city, and invest in the East Adams neighborhood and its current and future residents," Governor Hochul said. "With this new senior housing development, we are ensuring that New Yorkers can thrive in this rejuvenated neighborhood, with modern, sustainable homes and the ability to access all that Syracuse has to offer. This project reflects our commitment to delivering the kind of transformative investment this community has long deserved."

Under Governor Hochul's leadership, New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) has created or preserved more than 2,600 affordable homes in the city of Syracuse. East Adams Phase 2 continues this effort and is part of Governor Hochul's $25 billion five-year Housing Plan, which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.

Developed by McCormack Baron Salazar and SHA, apartments at East Adams Phase 2, named The Simmons, in honor of recently-retired SHA Executive Director, William J. Simmons, will be reserved for residents age 62 and older. Priority will go to seniors relocating from Pioneer Homes, which is slated for future demolition and redevelopment as part of the Transformation Plan, followed by former residents of McKinney Manor, which was demolished in 2025. Additional availability will be open to other SHA seniors. All units will be affordable to households earning up to 60 percent of the Area Median Income.

The four-story development is being built on a vacant site just south of downtown Syracuse that was previously a parking lot for SUNY Upstate Medical Hospital. It will be close to Syracuse University and accessible to public transportation, restaurants and a pharmacy.

The development will include a community room, library, and fitness center, providing residents with dedicated spaces to gather, exercise, and connect. The community-oriented environment will continue outdoors with seating areas, landscaped open spaces, walking paths, and terraces. There will be eight units to accommodate residents with mobility disabilities and three units to accommodate residents with sensory disabilities. The building will be all-electric, with geothermal heat pumps and energy-efficient appliances.

Financing includes a mix of public and private sources, including Federal and State Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from HCR that are expected to generate more than $45 million in equity, as well as $36 million in HCR subsidy. The site is participating in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's successful Brownfield Cleanup Program and, when completed, would be eligible for $11 million in tax credits administered by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. All 125 units are supported by Section 8 Project-Based Vouchers administered by the Syracuse Housing Authority.

East Adams Phase I is currently under construction and will replace the outdated McKinney Manor public housing complex with 117 affordable homes.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, "This next chapter for the East Adams community will bring 125 modern, affordable apartments for seniors to this important, but long-neglected Syracuse neighborhood. By breaking ground on this building, we continue the comprehensive efforts to create the integrated, vibrant community that generations of residents will be able to enjoy and deserve. Under Governor Hochul's leadership, we are committed to reinvesting in places that were too long overlooked, and we are proud to join the Syracuse Housing Authority, McCormack Baron Salazar, and all our partners to help create an inclusive neighborhood where people can thrive for years to come."

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, "The East Adams Neighborhood Transformation Plan in Syracuse is the latest successful use of New York State's Brownfield Cleanup Program to further advance Governor Hochul's successful efforts to increase affordable housing statewide. DEC is proud of the results the Brownfield Cleanup Program helps achieve as a critical community revitalization tool in Central New York and across the state, helping clean up environmental pollution to protect public health and the environment and support sustainable development."

Senator Charles Schumer said, "The start of construction on The Simmons marks an exciting new chapter for Syracuse. Supported by historic federal investment I delivered, including more than $33 million from the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit I fought to preserve and expand, this new housing complex will help breathe new life into the communities that have existed in the shadow of I-81 and improve quality of life for families for generations to come. I look forward to continuing my work with federal, state, and local partners to build a stronger, more affordable, and more hopeful future for all here in the heart of Syracuse."

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, "The East Adams Neighborhood Transformation Plan is a monumental investment that will allow for the revitalization and reconnection of the old 15th Ward, which was devastated when I-81 was built and cut straight through the heart of Syracuse. This latest phase of development will provide affordable housing that meets the mobility and accessibility needs of seniors in the East Adams neighborhood, allowing them to age comfortably in the community they call home. I am proud to support Governor Hochul's efforts to expand affordable and equitable housing in Syracuse, and I will continue fighting to ensure all New Yorkers can age with dignity and security."

Representative John W. Mannion said, "Syracuse's senior citizens need safe, modern, affordable housing in the neighborhoods they call home. That's why I secured $850,000 in federal Community Project Funding to help the Syracuse Housing Authority advance the broader East Adams transformation, and why I'm committed to housing policy that ensures longtime residents will not be pushed out by the reimagining of I-81. I commend Governor Hochul and local partners for moving the Phase 2 work forward, creating 125 affordable homes, and revitalizing this community."

State Senator Rachel May said, "As Syracuse continues to face a shortage of quality, affordable housing, it's exciting to see phase two of this transformational East Adams project get underway. The more than 100 senior homes planned in this phase are essential to creating a vibrant, inclusive community. Thank you to the Syracuse Housing Authority and its many partners for your hard work in making this project a reality."

City of Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens said, "Signs of growth and progress are everywhere as you look around our city. I am excited to see the next phase of redevelopment in the East Adams neighborhood transformation begin, which will deliver 125 new units of affordable, public senior housing. This once-in-a-generation investment strengthens the community by providing high-quality homes for seniors, promoting neighborhood stability, and advances the long-term revitalization efforts of the neighborhood. I thank the Syracuse Housing Authority for their partnership in this project, as well as the State for their continued support and funding."

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said, "This next phase of the East Adams Transformation Plan is exactly the kind of progress our community deserves. The Simmons building is more than a development; it is a statement of our priorities as a community. We are creating safe, high-quality homes for seniors while driving forward one of the most significant neighborhood reinvestments in Syracuse's history. Onondaga County has put unprecedented resources into housing, and the results are clear: stronger neighborhoods, better opportunities, and a future built on stability and growth and we're not slowing down!"

Governor Hochul's Housing AgendaGovernor Hochul is dedicated to addressing New York's housing crisis and making the State more affordable and livable for all New Yorkers. Since FY23, the Governor has worked to increase housing supply to make housing more affordable by launching a $25 billion five-year comprehensive Housing Plan, enacted the most significant housing deal in decades and implemented new protections for renters and homeowners. Under Governor Hochul's leadership, HCR has created new programs that jumpstart development of affordable and mixed-income homes - for both renters and homebuyers. These include the Pro-Housing Community Program, which allows certified localities exclusive access to up to $750 million in discretionary State funding. There are currently more than 450 certified Pro-Housing communities throughout the state, including the city of Syracuse.

As part of FY27 Budget, Governor Hochul secured a number of landmark reforms to New York's State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) to speed up housing and infrastructure development and lower costs as part of her "Let Them Build" agenda. "Let Them Build" also includes executive actions to expedite critical categories of projects that have been consistently found to not have significant environmental impacts, but for too long have been caught up in red tape and subject to lengthy delays.

The FY27 enacted Budget completes the Governor's current five-year Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. More than 87,000 affordable homes have been created or preserved to date. The FY27 enacted Budget also invests $250 million in capital funding to accelerate the construction of thousands of new affordable homes.