Joanne Stewart and her husband still live in the craftsman-style bungalow on West Moreland Avenue they rented as undergraduate and graduate students at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

‘I’m still there 25 years later,’ Stewart said. She said she and her husband decided to buy the house post-graduation because they liked the vibe of the area.

All it took was a lot of cleaning and paint, Stewart said. And as the executive director of the University Neighborhood Preservation Association, Stewart said she would like to encourage more owners and renters of the UNPA area to fix up housing.

UNPA’s annual meeting Nov. 18 discussed the group’s housing plan for the area that local homeowners and student renters share. About 30 people attended the meeting where no decisions were made, but the housing plan was outlined and presented to attendees, Stewart said.

UNPA’s plan concentrates on beautifying the neighborhood and maintaining a balance of housing occupied by homeowners and renters. Overall, the plan is about the community’s long-term success, Stewart said. UNPA developed a housing plan after the city of Syracuse introduced its own housing plan last year, Stewart said.

‘It’s a housing plan, where we want to see the neighborhood in five to 10 years,’ she said.

UNPA, which provides financial assistance to own and fix up area homes, is investing $10,000 to start the University Neighborhood Housing Plan. Two forums will take place Dec. 4 and Dec. 7 to discuss the plan, and Stewart said she hopes all stakeholders in the community will come out to participate in the discussion.

UNPA’s target area is made up of the area bordered by Comstock Avenue to the West, East Colvin Street to the South, East Genesee Street to the North and Cumberland Avenue to the East. The UNPA area that most Syracuse University students occupy, the East neighborhood, is included in the discussion. Students occupy about 80 percent of the East neighborhood, or more than 7,700 residents.

Students should not see the plan as a situation of renters versus homeowners, Stewart said. There are many who, like herself back in graduate school, are deciding to stay in the area, she said.

The housing plan discussion will look into how the area can improve. She said to think about where house hunters would go when taking a tour of the neighborhood and what parts would be put on display and what parts would need to be improved.

Students should attend these forums and become involved in the planning, said Darya Rotblat, the director of the Office of Off-Campus and Commuter Services. She said she recognized the housing plan may not be a priority for students because many see themselves as a transient part of the community.

‘It’s a look at all the variables that affect the area,’ Rotblat said.

But discussion will affect SU students, as the meetings will improve communications and touch on issues about parking and trash. Rotblat said.

ESF’s Center for Community Design and Research is organizing the forums this month.

Maren King, the assistant director of the center, became involved several months ago when UNPA approached the center about helping with the plan. Those who attended the last meeting Nov. 18 took fliers to spread the word about the plan, and King said she also reached out to Rotblat to encourage student participation.

It is important for people living in or associated with a community to be involved in the decisions, King said.

‘They should contribute to its future,’ King said. ‘And help figure out what that future should be.’

dkmcbrid@syr.edu

Published on November 30, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Contact Dara: dkmcbrid@syr.edu | @daramcbride