In early 2025, the Downtown Committee of Syracuse engaged CommunityScale to lead a comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment and Market Study to guide future housing development strategies for Downtown Syracuse. This project responds to the area’s increasing momentum: a resurgent downtown, a growing population, and transformative projects such as Micron’s regional investment and the impending I-81 viaduct removal.
CommunityScale worked closely with Downtown Syracuse staff to deliver a data-driven, context-sensitive analysis of current conditions, market dynamics, and projected needs over a 5-10 year horizon. The process included robust stakeholder input with local employers, developers, residents, nonprofit leaders, and policymakers to ground recommendations in both community insight and market realities.
The study highlighted Downtown Syracuse’s evolving role as the region’s residential core. Key findings included:
- Strong residential market demand, with an estimated market potential for approximately 176 new units per year supported by projected population growth and Downtown’s appeal to younger householders and newcomers.
- A predominance of demand for smaller rental units, especially studios and one-bedrooms priced between $1,500 and $2,000 per month.
- A growing demographic profile, driven primarily by householders aged 25-44, with half of new residents moving from outside Onondaga County.
- Favorable policy conditions, including ReZone Syracuse’s flexible MX-5 zoning which supports dense residential development with minimal regulatory barriers.
The study provided a clear-eyed market benchmark by comparing Downtown Syracuse to peer neighborhoods in Syracuse and other upstate cities such as Rochester and Buffalo. It also examined how transformative regional initiatives like the Micron facility and the I-81 Community Grid will unlock new development opportunities and drive housing demand.
CommunityScale developed a custom, interactive online dashboard that visualizes key metrics and makes the findings accessible to a broader audience. These tools equip the Downtown Committee, developers, and other stakeholders with actionable insights for near-term and long-term planning, investment decisions, and policy alignment.
Ultimately, the Downtown Syracuse Housing Needs Assessment and Market Study charts a path forward for continued residential growth in Downtown, ensuring that future development responds to emerging market trends while strengthening Downtown as a vibrant, livable, and inclusive urban neighborhood.
Learn more:
Downtown Syracuse Housing Needs Assessment and Market Study Dashboard
