Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parking And Property topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Syracuse City assessment office proposes short-term license for 255 Walton parking lot, says revenue and utility access will improve
Summary
City staff described replacing a low-rent 20-year lease at 255 Walton with a short-term license that staff said would increase revenue, preserve access to a 16-inch water main and transfer certain liabilities to the licensee. No formal council vote was recorded during the discussion.
Syracuse City Council members heard an outline of a proposed move to replace a longstanding lease on a small parking lot at 255 Walton with a short-term license, city officials said.
At a council meeting, Matt Ojre, commissioner of assessment, told members the site previously was under a 20-year lease that paid the city $291 a month and left tenants with few responsibilities. "This was a 20 year lease," Ojre said. "Tenant did not bear a lot of responsibilities, paid us $291 a month." He said the administration prefers a license because it provides more flexibility, preserves the city's ability to access a 16-inch water main that runs under the property and shifts liabilities to the licensee.
The commissioner said the proposed license would pay "200 plus percent more than we were making before" and include an annual escalator. He also said the property would be reclassified from "a rural section 8 to a rural section 1 property," and that the license would relieve the city of certain tax liabilities that the lease did not impose. "This preserves our ability to get in there and do anything we need to to the water main at all times," Ojre said.
Councilor Williams had asked for additional context about item 107 before the council acted. Michael Lehman, deputy commissioner with the assessment department, told councilors he would review one line-item question raised during the meeting and follow up after the session.
No formal roll-call vote on item 107 was recorded in the meeting transcript; several council members and the administration indicated the item was "ready" to be placed on the agenda or put forward for formal consideration. The administration said it will continue negotiations with the prospective licensee and return with final paperwork if needed.
Council members did not adopt an ordinance or resolution on the floor during this discussion; the presentation concluded with the administration indicating the item would move forward for formal action at a later meeting if negotiations are completed.
Next steps: the administration will finalize negotiations and return to the council with any required documents for formal approval. The deputy commissioner said he would review a separate question about an equipment line item raised during the discussion and report back.
