There’s a glimmer of hope for restarting a stalled signature project of the massive $1 billion redevelopment of the East Adams Neighborhood. A vote from Syracuse Common Councilors Monday could be the first step toward reviving the Children Rising Center.
The mayor’s office and Syracuse Housing Authority announced an agreement earlier this month that gives the city site control for the proposed $32 million center at Taylor and State Streets. It’s already been approved by the SHA. The non-profit Blueprint 15 is leading the project’s planning and funding. Executive Director Rayquan Pride-Green told councilors Thursday the site control is promising, but they lost at least $9 million due to delays by the SHA and city.
“We would need to be able to get those funds from somewhere and at this point in time, we don't know where we can get those funds from," Pride-Green said. "So this is a step in the right direction as a path forward, but it's not a guarantee that the project will resume.”
Pride-Green says the Allyn Foundation also paused its $5 million allocation until there’s new leadership at the SHA. At the meeting, Councilor Chol Majok asked SHA Executive Director Bill Simmons his thoughts on discord possibly stalling the project.
“Without that relationship, I feel moving forward, we may end up in the same position next year, right? What's your take?" Majok asked.
"Well, my take is after we were able to negotiate the deal, I had an opportunity to call Meg O'Connell and see if anything else that we can do," Simmons replied. "And she just said that it's going to be up to the Blueprint 15 folks who were trying pull money together. Things have been taking a long time.”
Simmons seemed to distance himself from the project’s finances, even though some blame the SHA for missing a deadline to claim $7 million in federal housing tax credits. Councilor Pat Hogan told Simmons the SHA, not the city, is bearing the financial risk.
“Obviously the administration, the council, I know everyone realizes we would do anything to make sure you make the benchmark as far as funding that center," Hogan said. "You're taking a leap of faith that somehow this is going to happen.”
Councilors are voting on an agreement giving the city the Children Rising Center site in exchange for the housing authority to have control over the Eastwood Heights Apartment Complex.
