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City, county to fund full lead abatement and temporary housing for families; $250,000 city share proposed
Summary
Officials presented a plan to contract with HOPE headquarters for a full lead abatement at a four-unit property that will provide temporary, no/low-cost housing for families displaced because of elevated child blood-lead levels. The city proposed up to $250,000, split with Onondaga County, and councilors asked for contract and program details.
City officials told the Syracuse City Common Council they plan to enter an agreement with HOPE headquarters to perform full lead abatement at a four-unit property owned by Syracuse Model Neighborhoods Corporation (SMNC), and to use that property as temporary housing for families with children who have elevated blood-lead levels or who must relocate while lead-hazard remediation occurs.
The administration described the property at 789 Lincoln Ave (block/lot details not specified in the transcript) as four two-bedroom units. The council heard that the work would be a full abatement rather than a lower-level remediation for one unit that had earlier been included as a clerical error in a prior batch. The legislation as presented would authorize an agreement with HOPE headquarters for an amount not to exceed $250,000; staff said the city is splitting costs with Onondaga County “effectively fiftyfifty.”
Councilors asked several operational questions: Who would manage the property; whether SMNC would remain owner; how long families might stay in temporary housing; and whether similar units could be located on the North Side to better serve families who need to keep children near their schools. Housing Director Camone Jordan said SMNC would retain ownership and handle property management and that the project is intended as a pilot that, if successful, could be expanded to other parts of the city.
Jordan said the funds would come from ARPA remediations set aside under a special object in the city budget. Councilors asked whether the county’s participation would be memorialized in an intermunicipal agreement or commitment letter; city attorneys said they could provide a county commitment letter reflecting the county portion by the next meeting if needed. The county representative was unable to attend but was expected to be present at the next study session.
Councilors asked for details on contract logistics, lease terms for temporary stays, and whether families would incur housing costs; staff said housing costs for temporary stays would be structured to be affordable (no more than 30 percent of income), and the length of stays would be determined in part by the duration necessary to complete abatement work. Officials said SMNC currently owns the property and would continue to manage it.
No formal vote was recorded in the transcript. Councilors asked staff to provide more detail on program rules, county commitments, and operational timelines ahead of any final approval.
