PROTECT SYRACUSE COMMUNITIES FROM DISPLACEMENT

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Syracuse has some of the highest rates of segregation and concentrated poverty in the nation. Yet the city’s zoning plan, known as ReZone, fails to provide any protections against displacement for residents and doubles down on its support for major developers.

After three years of failing to engage with the public, and despite the concerns raised during the one public meeting held by the legislature, ReZone was passed and signed into law. If the NYS Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) does not step in, residents living adjacent to the soon-to-be newly developed community grid will be at grave risk of being displaced by future development.

TELL THE DOT: Protect Black Syracuse residents against displacement.

Message Recipients:
NYS Department of Transportation
U.S Majority Leader Schumer
Senator Gillibrand
Senator Mannion
Assemblymember Pam Hunter

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Syracuse has some of the highest rates of segregation and concentrated poverty in the nation. Yet the city’s ReZone plan fails to provide any protections against displacement for residents and doubles down on its support for major developers.

The NYSDOT must take action to ensure the equitable distribution of land and prevent displacement of Syracuse residents when the viaduct is demolished. We urge the NYSDOT to retain control of the rezoned land in the footprint of the razed viaduct with a focus on protecting existing Black residents. Syracuse's land use laws surrounding the viaduct prioritize developers’ interests over residents and fail to protect the communities that would be directly impacted by the changes.

The problem of displacement is not new to Syracuse's Black residents. The razing of the 15th Ward through “urban renewal” and the construction of the I-81 viaduct resulted in the displacement of thousands of Black families and a loss of over 101 acres of land. What was once a residential neighborhood in the 15th ward now accommodates twenty-two parking lots.

There are currently no requirements for affordable housing, protections for homeowners, or preservation of character of the neighborhood.
If the NYSDOT does not step in, residents will be at grave risk of being displaced by future development.

We urge the NYSDOT to:

1. Ensure that any distribution of the land around the I-81 viaduct includes a collaboration with neighborhood residents.

2. Require any future housing proposed by developers to be consistent with the affordable housing goals identified in partnership with residents in the footprint, and careful housing analysis.

3. Require a minimum of two-thirds of all housing units be income-restricted affordable housing, with one-third targeting low- and moderate- income households and one-third targeting middle-income households

4. Uphold the community’s interest in creating a community land trust for the 4.58 acres of land at the Martin Luther King Blvd West.

Syracuse residents are counting on you to protect them against further displacement in their communities.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

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PROTECT SYRACUSE COMMUNITIES FROM DISPLACEMENT

Act Now

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