County Executive McMahon Announces New Revolving Loan Fund to Support Bayberry Homeowners
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – County Executive Ryan McMahon today announced the launch of a $2 million Revolving Loan Fund dedicated to supporting exterior home repairs and improvements for owner-occupied homes in the Bayberry neighborhood. The fund is part of the Onondaga County Neighborhood Initiative (OCNI), an established program designed to strengthen communities by reinvesting in housing stock.
Eligible Bayberry homeowners can receive up to $25,000 for exterior upgrades and repairs. The program structure features a 70% low-interest loan and 30% grant, at a 1% interest rate and terms up to seven years. The grant portion is forgiven when the loan portion is repaid, meaning a homeowner who borrows the full $25,000 would repay only $17,500. Repaid loan funds are re-loaned to future participants, allowing the initiative to strengthen the neighborhood over time. There is also no income restrictions associated with this program. Home HeadQuarters (HHQ), a Syracuse-based nonprofit housing and community development organization, will administer the program, building on its experience running three earlier OCNI rounds that provided $7.6 million in loans for 694 homes across Onondaga County.
County Executive Ryan McMahon said, “Bayberry has always represented the best of Onondaga County from its thoughtful planning, strong families, and neighbors who take pride in their community. As Bayberry marks 70 years since its very first home was sold, we’re celebrating that legacy by reinvesting in the homeowners who make this neighborhood what it is. This revolving loan fund will help ensure Bayberry’s homes remain safe, strong, and beautiful for decades to come.”
The announcement aligns with a significant milestone: the 70th anniversary of the first home sold in Bayberry, one of Central New York’s most iconic planned neighborhoods.
Bayberry originated in 1955 as one of the largest land purchases in county history—475 acres—with plans for roughly 1,200 homes and a fully self-sufficient community complete with schools, sewers, street lighting, sidewalks, parks, a marina, pools, churches, and professional and commercial spaces.
The community officially opened on July 4, 1956, with immediate enthusiasm: the first home sold 18 minutes after opening, and 11 more contracts were signed by noon. The entire first section sold out by late afternoon.
Bayberry’s traffic-calming road layout—designed without traditional four-corner intersections or through-streets—helped define the community as an innovative model of mid-century suburban planning. Those early families, many employed at General Electric, built a strong and enduring neighborhood identity.
Kerry Quaglia, Founder & CEO of Home HeadQuarters said, “This program is exactly the kind of partnership that keeps neighborhoods thriving. Our experience administering OCNI across the county has shown how powerful these revolving funds can be. We’re excited to work with Bayberry homeowners to preserve their homes, strengthen their blocks, and continue the legacy of a community that has meant so much to so many.”
The application can be found here: https://www.homehq.org/homeowner-loans-grants#bayberry