Housing + Transportation Citizen Advisory Board Pitches Proposals on Housing and Transportation Solutions to Legislators and Community
"Building for the Future" Open House is Tonight at INSPYRE Innovation Hub
Community expo will showcase the 40+ member board’s proposals to expand housing availability and strengthen neighborhood connectivity as the county works to close a gap in housing units intensified by rising rents and record regional growth
Syracuse, NY — Onondaga County needs a projected 3,000 housing units in the coming years to keep pace with regional growth and compensate for a shrinking supply of livable homes. The lack of units has already driven up rents and strained families in a tightening market.
In the midst of these challenges, the Onondaga County Legislature’s Housing + Transportation Citizen Advisory Board (CAB) will propose solutions after gathering input at several citizen engagement meetings earlier. Tonight’s Building for the Future: Housing & Transportation Open House is a community expo inviting residents to explore proposals aimed at expanding housing availability, improving neighborhood connectivity, and expanding access for builders, tenants, and homeowners across the county.
“We are prioritizing solutions for today and tomorrow,” said Elaine Denton, Chair of the Planning & Economic Development Committee. “The supply of quality, affordable housing in Onondaga County is running thin, driving up rents and lengthening the search for families using housing vouchers. We particularly need more solutions for families in the working-class and affordable homes category.”
The citizen advisory board has more than 40 appointees with backgrounds across housing, development, finance, and human services who have been studying solutions in housing and transportation challenges in the county. The advisory board spent the past several months developing recommendations aimed at addressing affordability, mobility, and equitable access.
The open house will introduce four proposed solution areas:
- The Builders Fund – A no-to-low interest loan fund to accelerate residential construction
- A Guide to Complete Streets – a recommendation to study and implement compete streets for safe multimodal transit in the county
- Zoning for Complete Neighborhoods – helping towns and villages update their zoning to modernize options for complete neighborhoods
- Equity & Access Working Group – a working group that will ensure that implementation center equity and accessibility for residents
“The taskforce has done extraordinary work bringing diverse perspectives to the table,” said Chairwoman Nicole Watts. “This open house is an opportunity for residents to see the solutions being proposed, ask questions, and help shape the future of housing and transportation in our county.”
Community participation is a central part of the advisory board’s mission, and residents are encouraged to drop in at any time during the open house, share feedback, and engage with the planning process.
Event Details
Building for the Future: Housing & Transportation Open House
Where: INSPYRE Innovation Hub
Broadview Hall (2nd Floor)
235 Harrison St, Syracuse, NY 13202
Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026
Time: 5:30 p.m.- 7:30 p.m.
For more information, visit: https://onondaga.gov/legislature/organizer/housing-transportation-cab/
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About the Housing + Transportation Citizen Advisory Board
The Onondaga County Legislature’s Housing + Transportation Citizen Advisory Board is a 40+ person volunteer body charged with identifying community-driven solutions that support safe, affordable housing and accessible transportation options for county residents.