2026-10-05 - Syracuse Urban Renewal Agency

03:20Council

03:30President.

03:31>> So, do I do that?

03:32>> Uh, no. I'm just

03:33>> Oh, you were doing Oh, okay. So, here

03:36>> Commissioner

03:38Diane

03:38>> here.

03:39>> We're all here.

03:40>> Uh, proof of notice.

03:43>> Yes, Mayor. That is on the second page

03:45of the packet.

03:46>> Thank you. I just need to acknowledge

03:48that the meeting's been noticed um and

03:50it was the media was notified. It was

03:53uploaded to um the SAR web page and it

03:56was um posted downstairs as well.

04:00>> Thank you.

04:02>> Uh approval of the minutes from the

04:04April 30th board meeting.

04:08Yes, mayor. If you'll remember, um when

04:09we met in August, um that was on the

04:12agenda, but um Diane was not at the at

04:15that meeting. So, so um we were waiting

04:19for council president. Um so, if Diane

04:22can abstain if she so chooses and then

04:25um we still have a sufficient vote.

04:28>> That was me.

04:29>> Yes.

04:30>> So, you have time to review.

04:32>> Yeah. Okay. Entertain a motion to

04:34approve

04:36>> the minutes. And I Even if I wasn't

04:38here,

04:39>> you were here at the April 30th.

04:41>> I was here at this meeting.

04:42>> Oh, these when I was. Okay.

04:44>> Approve it in August because you weren't

04:46here.

04:46>> Okay. All right. So, move to approve.

04:49>> Yep. A second. Approved.

04:52>> Abstain. Yep.

04:53>> Abstain. Okay. No objections, no

04:57abstensions.

04:58Uh, approved. Thank you. Minutes are

05:01approved.

05:02>> New business. Resolution

05:053487.

05:07You want to explain this one for me?

05:09>> Just slight correction, Mayor. Uh 3483.

05:12>> 83. I'm sorry. Wow. My glasses on.

05:16>> Um yes, mayor. So, this is um a

05:18resolution uh that would authorize the

05:21Syracuse Urban Renewal Agency to enter

05:23into a license or lease agreement. Um

05:27um at the discretion of uh you'll see in

05:30the resolution it does say I I kept it

05:32license or lease agreement because we're

05:34still figuring out the details of what

05:35would be the most appropriate. Um

05:38>> I will say I do believe it's a lease

05:39agreement but um I wanted to have a

05:41little bit of that flexibility because I

05:43will be reviewing that and drafting it.

05:45Um but so that's why it says license or

05:47lease. Um, and so it would be an

05:49agreement with the city and Zamir

05:52Equities for use of the parking lot at

05:54109 West Washington Street. So this will

05:56also be on the common council's agenda

05:59for um the October 13th meeting, so next

06:02Monday. So it's coming before you now

06:05because Wur owns the parking lot, but

06:07it's currently operated um by the city

06:11um as a as a public lot. So that's why

06:13all three would need to be a party to

06:15the agreement.

06:16>> Okay. And Eric, you want to give us some

06:18background and updates?

06:20>> Good afternoon. Yeah. And thank you to

06:22Sarah Council for the assistance with uh

06:24putting together the this item for for

06:26consideration for the board. Um when I

06:28had

06:28>> Hey, who you are for?

06:29>> I can Yes. Thank you very much, Mayor.

06:31Uh so, Eric Annis, uh chief development

06:33officer with the city of Syracuse. the

06:35when we had presented this initial idea

06:38of this parking lot back in April, um

06:40this was prompted by the ongoing

06:42deconstruction and dismantlement of the

06:44FET Street garage that is still ongoing.

06:46Um however, there's been a new um new

06:49update around downtown parking, which is

06:50the atrium garage that is going to be

06:52closed later this month. As part of that

06:55conversation, this lot that we're

06:56discussing that SURAH that the agency

06:58does own, a significant number of those

07:00spots are actively used by tenants and

07:02and those associated with the one

07:04Lincoln Center building. Zamir Equities

07:06is the owner and manager of that um of

07:09that class A office building. So

07:11ultimately, this is a a lease

07:14arrangement that would assist with some

07:15of the offset loss of parking happening

07:18from the Fiat or from the atrium garage

07:21rather. And this would be a mechanism

07:23that we have to be able to make those

07:24spots available. Do it in a way that for

07:27the normal business operating hours,

07:28those would be solely used and

07:30restricted for those tenants. However,

07:32public parking would be available in the

07:34evening hours. And so that was one of

07:36the things that this um resolution, but

07:38also the lease will contemplate

07:39>> and weekends.

07:40>> And weekends as well. Yes.

07:42>> Yep. So, but the intent is really just

07:43for for those tenants that are again

07:45losing those parking spots during normal

07:47business hours in the garage. Parking

07:49will be made available and they will

07:50have a thirdparty parking operator that

07:52they typically work with for some of

07:54their other parking assets.

07:55>> How many um parking spots are at that

07:58lot?

07:58>> So, there's a total of 70 and so there

08:00is the lease does include a monthly

08:03payment of $95 of space. Uh that fee uh

08:07revenue gets collected and ultimately

08:08then the city will be the final

08:10recipient of those funds.

08:13We would um

08:15uh if approved by uh both bodies, we

08:18would put signage warning people that um

08:21it's only permitted during the time time

08:25frame we're talking and then available

08:26to the

08:27>> Yep. I think one of the things we would

08:28do is work on the communication and

08:29making sure signage is posted to make

08:31sure that park any parkers are notified.

08:33>> Okay. So the time would be 8 to 5.

08:37>> Yep. So I think we had we had discussed

08:39timing and that's one of the things

08:40we'll make sure is communicated clearly

08:42but it would be oper at at the end of

08:43normal operating hours whether that's

08:455:00 pm or 6 pm we'll clarify that but

08:47then after that hours that's when the

08:49public parking uh will be available for

08:51use on the nights and then weekends.

08:54>> So our employee will pay for that or do

08:56we absorb that cost?

08:57>> We do not $95 per parking spot who plays

09:01for specific employees.

09:03>> Oh this is for

09:06employees. will be tenants of the

09:08building itself and then ultimately in

09:09the evening hours

09:11>> and weekends it'll be open to the public

09:12to use.

09:13>> Okay. Gotcha.

09:14>> My understanding is we're trying to

09:16compensate for the fact that we're

09:18losing fat street and now the atrium is

09:21also

09:24>> questionable. Yeah.

09:27>> So hi.

09:28>> All right. So sir owns the lot. the city

09:30is operating in managing it and the city

09:34will be leasing it or I don't know the

09:36rate.

09:37>> So it'll be a triarty agreement. Okay.

09:39>> So so because of the unique arrangement

09:42between city s because right now yes the

09:45city um

09:46>> maintains it

09:47>> maintains it operates it like there's

09:50parking meters there right now. So the

09:52city gets the revenue currently from the

09:55parking meters. Um so it's operated as a

09:57city lot. sir as title to the property.

10:01>> Oh, sorry.

10:02>> Thank you for clarifying that. And so

10:03we'll maintain operation. So if there's

10:05a crack in the cement, we'll be

10:07repairing it still.

10:08>> Well, so now actually under the lease,

10:10Zamir Equities is going to be

10:12responsible for um snow removal and

10:14maintenance.

10:15>> Maintenance. Okay. And thank you if if

10:17you already went over that, thank you

10:18for repeating. Um and then my last uh

10:21clarification or question is so Zamir or

10:25the the this party will be paying the

10:28city directly this flat

10:30>> rate.

10:31>> Yes. So it's $6,650 a month which is 90

10:35where that number came from is $95 for

10:38space. So 90 time 70.

10:39>> Okay. So so

10:41>> which is the impact on Surah's

10:44>> books is this is really just illegal.

10:47Okay.

10:47>> Yes.

10:48>> Thank you. [clears throat]

10:50So,

10:52have you considered because if this is

10:54for businesses that are that are going

10:55to be renting, right? What if they get

10:58caught up in a meeting that ends at 8:00

11:01or 7 o'clock? I mean, what what happens

11:03then?

11:03>> So, you're saying in the evening hours

11:05that So, there is similar operation

11:07>> that happens.

11:09>> There there is similar operation that

11:10happens right now in a east in East

11:12Onadaga. this um Zamir Equities also

11:15owns and they manage a parking lot on

11:17East Onaga Street. And so my

11:19understanding is that it is the tenants

11:20that have the um access to this first,

11:23but then as those tenants leave at the

11:25end of the workday, those spots become

11:26available for public users. So they do

11:29have um staff on hand that assists with

11:32that. So we'll we'll go through the

11:34operations to make sure that we are

11:35fully aligned on how the tenants will be

11:38um impacted after hours. But essentially

11:41there will be a process by which vehicle

11:43I assume what will likely happen is that

11:45we'll have a list and the the manager

11:47that's leasing the space from us will

11:49have a list of all the vehicles that are

11:50allowed to operate in the parking lot

11:52every single day and then when the

11:54public parking begins in the evening and

11:55weekends that'll be a separate process

11:57by which they'll track um payment and

11:59and things of that nature. So there is a

12:01there will be a way in which they will

12:03manage and maintain anyone that's there

12:04after hours.

12:05>> And I would see that it would be a

12:06oneoff or two off. It wouldn't be all

12:0870,

12:10>> but um the the important part is the

12:13evening for events that are going on

12:15downtown like theater people.

12:17>> Yep. They will have a there won't be a

12:20um staff person on site 24 hours on that

12:23lot, but they will have the ability to

12:24monitor and they will have a staff

12:26presence in that lot as well to make

12:27sure they're they're monitoring how it's

12:29being used. And then for the rest of the

12:32evening, it'll be open until

12:35>> uh

12:36>> the next morning.

12:38>> 24 hours

12:38>> around. Yeah. Essentially for when it's

12:40non during normal business hours, it

12:42will be available for the public to be

12:44able to use.

12:44>> Okay. 24 hours. Okay.

12:46>> I've got another question. Um, so during

12:49the public hours if when we're paying

12:52the parking meter fee that will be

12:55routed to the city then or is this six

12:57grand a month

12:59>> and then no fees on the spots?

13:01>> So So yes, so they will no longer so um

13:04and this is a good point of

13:06clarification because also I needed to

13:07clarify that for my own self when I was

13:10um drafting this. So public in the sense

13:12the public will be allowed to use it

13:14instead of like private tenants, but not

13:17public in the sense of like street

13:19parking or like a a city operated lot.

13:21So they're going to lease the entire

13:23parking lot and then they're going to

13:25manage, you know, the private and the

13:27public use of that.

13:29>> So like it'll be available for public

13:31parking. So it won't be like paid

13:32parking. So they're paying off they're

13:34paying the city.

13:35>> Okay.

13:35>> Um under this arrangement or they would

13:37>> So the public parking will be free n

13:40business hours.

13:42>> Well, that that was my understand

13:44because like I thought they would manage

13:45that because we can't really um because

13:48they're paying us

13:50to use the to lease the spot

13:55>> or use during the business hours,

13:57correct?

13:59>> Well, so I guess that would be So then

14:01we need to have a discussion really

14:03because that would be the lease versus

14:04the license. Um

14:06>> I mean it it it could be a good

14:13balancing for us for the public if if

14:15they're not able to use it during

14:18business hours for it to be free after.

14:20I'm just interested in knowing

14:24what's in that revenue for us in this

14:26deal.

14:30>> So, we can we can go back and clarify

14:32that further. What we what was being

14:34considered was going to be very similar

14:35to across the street in the city hall

14:37lot. I realize that that is fenced in

14:39because there's improvements that are

14:40being made in that specific lot right

14:41now. However, the way that that

14:43structure operates is that um there is

14:47specific tenant parking that happens

14:49during the day for a dedicated number. I

14:51realize we have 13 spots in that lot,

14:53but also other private users. Then what

14:55happens is after those business hours,

14:57people can come in. There is a mechanism

14:59by which the public is available to park

15:01there, but they do have to pay and

15:03ultimately they're using an app. And so

15:04it's it's Syracuse Parking Services is

15:06who manages it.

15:07>> It's not the meters. It's going to be

15:08the app that I see in other lots.

15:10>> Correct. Most

15:11>> like across the street.

15:12>> Correct. Yeah. So Syracuse Parking

15:14Services SPS. It will be something of

15:16that nature where it will be open to the

15:18public, but there will be a mechanism by

15:20which they'll be able to pay for those

15:21spots. Yeah. So that revenue we're

15:23debate debating right now is like how is

15:25that revenue is it staying with them or

15:27is it

15:28>> Well, I mean if they're going to manage

15:29the public portion, yes, that would but

15:31because but we're being paid the $95 per

15:33spot already. So it's kind of um if it

15:37was a lease, it's exclusive use

15:40>> um would be so like you know we're

15:42leasing it to them to use it, but we are

15:45also saying if you want to lease it um

15:47we would like it to be available to the

15:49public. how it's available to the

15:51public. That's, you know, a a logistic,

15:54I suppose, to work out. In other words,

15:57they're paying they're paying us a lease

16:00flat, right? And then what do they get?

16:03What? So, what in exchange for their

16:05lease, they get to collect money from

16:08people that pay park there in non-

16:10business hours,

16:12>> right?

16:13>> Do we know what we earn from that lot

16:16generally now on a monthly basis?

16:18>> We can. So I just I'll mayor I'll answer

16:20your question and then I'll come back to

16:21you. So uh we we can pull the numbers on

16:24what we collect right now on a on an

16:26annual basis on that parking lot. My

16:27understanding is that it is far below

16:29the amount that's being considered here

16:31in terms of what we're collecting

16:32monthly. So it is overall will be a net

16:34increase as part of this lease for for

16:36that approximately you know 17 18 months

16:39that we're talking about. So the

16:40question about the operating so I'm just

16:42going to explain back again the intent

16:43of this would be it will be for private

16:45users who are associated and are a

16:47tenant within one Lincoln Center during

16:50normal business hours say from

16:51approximately 8 a.m. until about 5 or 6

16:53p.m. After those hours the public is

16:56free to use the lot. Anyone can pull in

16:57if you're seeing a show at the landmark

16:58theater or something to that effect.

17:00There will be a payment required in

17:02order to use that for two to three hours

17:04however long that would go to the lei.

17:07So the less will ultimately be doing

17:11so.

17:13So we have a question because

17:17we doing that or you know

17:22>> there

17:24>> I think it's back to Diane's question.

17:26We're being made whole at the 6650 a

17:29month.

17:29>> Yep.

17:30>> Number which will exceed what we're

17:31currently collecting on that.

17:33>> That's that's what I wanted to know.

17:34>> Y that will be more than Yeah, that's

17:37comfortable. Good for taxpayers, good

17:38for tenants.

17:40>> And then who's tell me again who's

17:41responsible for the maintenance? You

17:43mentioned that before.

17:44>> The le so equities will ultimately be

17:47responsible for the

17:48>> It's almost the same arrangement

17:50that's across the street except we're

17:53the business using the lot.

17:56>> That lot it will be other businesses

17:59using the lot.

18:00>> Y,

18:00>> right? And like for other events, they

18:02lease it out for

18:04>> things going. Yeah.

18:06>> And and right now I believe DPW

18:08maintains that lot. So that would take

18:09the maintenance um out of DPW and into

18:13the LES's hands. So we wouldn't have to

18:15be responsible. So the city would not

18:16have to be responsible for that. Um and

18:18you know a requirement here I put it in

18:20the resolution is that um you know they

18:23would have to have proof of insurance

18:24and include the city and uh SAR as

18:27additionally insured on that policy.

18:30>> Okay. And then the $95 per parking space

18:33would be just for the ones that are

18:36doing the working hours or is it for all

18:38of it?

18:38>> So it'll be what what ultimately we are

18:41associated with it would be for the

18:43entire duration of the agreement. That's

18:45a per month charge um per space.

18:49Anything that's collected after business

18:51hours for the public parking that is

18:53solely between the leie that's that's

18:55theirs.

18:55>> But I wanted to make sure we being made

18:57whole with the 95 per

19:01space agreement monthly.

19:03>> Yes.

19:03>> Eric just said yes.

19:04>> And it's a net increase for the city in

19:06terms of what's being collected.

19:07>> And this is good through June 30th,

19:092028.

19:10>> Correct.

19:14>> We have um

19:17major parking issues in downtown.

19:19>> I know. I know. I know. I know.

19:21>> And so this was a solution for for

19:24companies quite frankly who are are um

19:26um entertaining their own lease

19:28agreements now. parking is a big part of

19:30being able to attract their their their

19:32employees. So, this was a workound for

19:36um a property owned by municipal

19:40operation. So,

19:42all right.

19:45Any other questions, commission?

19:47>> No, I'm good. Thank you,

19:48>> Diane.

19:49>> No, thank you guys so much.

19:51>> So, uh I'll entertain a motion to

19:54approve the resolution.

19:57>> Second. All right.

19:59>> Who first who made Did you make the

20:02motion?

20:02>> She did. And should I make it?

20:04>> You said second. I just want to make

20:05sure.

20:06>> Yes, I may ask.

20:07>> I'll motion that she second.

20:09>> Okay.

20:09>> Yeah.

20:10>> Approve.

20:11>> Approve.

20:11>> Approve. All approve.

20:15>> All right.

20:16Any other items or discussion?

20:22>> I have nothing further. Mayor

20:23>> Commissioner D.

20:26>> Motion to adjurnn.

20:28>> So moved.

20:29>> Second.

20:31>> Approve. [laughter]

20:34>> Thank you.

20:37>> All in favor.

20:39[laughter]

```*