Frustration is growing in Syracuse City Hall about the lack of progress on renovating a large apartment complex in the Outer Comstock neighborhood. Common councilors say they’re getting calls from residents wondering what’s happening at the former Vincent Apartments.
Clear Investment group of Chicago took ownership of the sprawling complex in the summer of 2023, and was eager to relocate the remaining residents so it could begin extensive renovations. More than a year later, Commissioner of Neighborhood and Business Development Michael Collins says they’ve been in regular contact with owner to little avail.
“We have not gotten satisfactory responses regarding anything that has to do with the redevelopment of that property," Collins recently told councilors. "They've stated to us that they've turned over the units in one particular building, but that they can't reasonably reoccupy until they've got a few buildings online. We've not seen anything recently to indicate that they've continued to do that.”

Mayor Ben Walsh says it’s an urgent issue on his mind.
“I'm as anxious as anyone to get those properties back online and back in a productive use," Walsh said. "When we talk about the challenges of homelessness, these properties, some of them were that safety net for homeless individuals.”
NBD commissioner Collins says it’s difficult for the city to force a private owner to redevelop a property except through code enforcement, and even then he says that’s proving difficult.
“We have asked to tour with them when they're here and that hasn't happened since we don't currently have residents in there at risk," Collins said. "What we've chosen to do instead is just continue to maintain pressure on them about actual redevelopment there and also with the former Skyline.”
Clear Investment purchased the troubled Skyline and Vincent complexes after a judge ordered their sale in 2023. Former owner Green National faced numerous lawsuits from the city and state about unfit conditions, lax security, and other issues which came to light after the murder of 93-year-old Connie Tuori at the Skyline in 2021. Clear Investment did not respond to requests for comment.
