6 december 4 , 2 01 2
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HOMES FROM PAGE 1
loud parties at 2 a.m. and excessive pedestrian traffic can grow old quickly, she said she didn’t find student presence to be a main concern. Raulli does, however, worry about the increasing number of landlords buying out houses that were once owner-occupied. The University Neighborhood Preservation Association is a local nonprofit organization taking direct measures to combat this problem. The organization’s mission is promoting homeowner occupancy, said Rebecca Shaffer Mannion, executive director of UNPA. The organization works closely with homeowners and landlords to keep houses in UNPA’s designated target area owner-occupied, Mannion said. This target area includes the neighborhoods bordered by Comstock Avenue on the west, East Colvin Street on the south, East Genesee Street on the north and Cumberland Avenue on the
“I think, generally speaking, the long-term residents, don’t mind having the students around. There are just some of the residual effects including parties, noise and unsightliness that frustrates neighbors.” Elin Riggs
DIRECTOR OF OFF-CAMPUS AND COMMUTER SERVICES AT SU
east, according to the UNPA website. “Basically neighborhood groups contact us for assistance,” Mannion said. “We offer incentives like a homebuyer’s assistance program or a low-interest home improvement loan to attract new owners or keep homeowners in place.” UNPA has partnered with two nonprofit community development groups, Empire Housing & Development Corp. and Home HeadQuarters, to purchase and rehabilitate homes within the organization’s target area and maintain homeowner presence, she said. For example, Mannion said, Home HeadQuarters’ affiliate, CNY Affordable Realty, purchased a home at 101 Berkeley Drive and maintained it until an owner-occupant was found. Empire Housing & Development also worked to keep a home at 104 Buckingham Ave. owner-occupied. Karen Schroeder, resource development and government relations manager for Home Head-
Quarters, said the nonprofits face the biggest challenges when owner-occupied homes go up for sale. Individuals trying to purchase homes have more financial strain than companies investing. “Potential owner-occupants cannot compete with big money investors when it comes time to purchase the home,” she said. “This is where we try to step in.” The role of Home HeadQuarters is not to turn over longtime investor-owned homes, Schroeder said, but to keep longtime owner-occupied houses in the hands of homeowners and to promote affordability. Home HeadQuarters and UNPA have worked together on other projects as well, Schroeder said. The two groups worked on funding several housing plans and renovations through the Rescue a Rental Program, which offers up to $4,500 in homebuyer’s assistance, she said. While Home HeadQuarters works with other neighborhood groups and housing organizations in Central New York, UNPA’s sole is its target area east of SU’s campus. There is a different kind of focus on the historic neighborhood, Schroeder said. “UNPA’s target neighborhood is a little different than other neighborhoods in the city of Syracuse,” Schroeder said. “Many properties in that neighborhood are more like businesses: private owners looking to make a bit of income through renters.” About 6,000 students live in this designated target area, said Elin Riggs, director of offcampus and commuter services at SU. “I think, generally speaking, the longterm residents don’t mind having the students around,” she said. “There are just some of the residual effects including parties, noise and unsightliness that frustrates neighbors.” When houses go up for sale, the long-term residents know about it and try to ensure the home goes to an owner-occupant instead of a landlord, Riggs said. But the students aren’t the major concern of homeowners. Neighborhood groups and homeowners worry most about long-term consequences to infrastructure as investor-occupied housing booms, said Raulli, the homeowner. “The sewers and pipes were never zoned for this kind of activity,” Raulli said. “Some of the rental houses are not as well kept up as owner-occupied houses and are even sometimes dangerous. I wish students would boycott some of these houses.” Though some local residents have moved out, Raulli is adamant about staying put. “We moved to this neighborhood to be in an urban environment,” she said. “The convenience of living here is fantastic, but I hope we can stop the bleeding and retain some of the long-term owner-occupied houses in the future.” ldstei01@syr.edu
601 TULLY FROM PAGE 3
chalk drawings. As of Saturday morning, 19 of 64 trades had taken place so far. “People have been very fair and respectful with their trades,” said Lea Cook, a senior sculpture major. “The values of the items traded have been about equal.” All objects were handmade, ranging from elaborate, braided necklaces to fabric flower-lined hats to glossy, bamboo chopsticks wrapped in leather. Treasures collected from visitors of the art show included art prints and hats. One student created “moss stories,” a collection of mosses and rocks compiled beautifully together in mason jars, made of natural objects collected from the concrete parking lot
on Marcellus and Wyoming streets. Jess Scarfo, a senior art photography major, brought belt-buckle picture frames, made from removing the leather from belts collected from the Salvation Army. During Saturday morning’s showing, she began wrapping wire from the back of the buckles with pliers, creating makeshift stands for them. “I think the frames need to stand up a bit more,” she said. Kasey Conlon, also a senior sculpture major, decorated various felt hats, adorning the rims with cream-colored ornaments, cutout felt flowers and shiny, metallic, gage-like objects. “It’s all about integrating the community,” she said. The next showing for the trade art show will be on Dec. 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. at 601 Tully. meltagou@syr.edu @marwaeltagouri
UU
SA
and how they hear about our programming,” she said. The last semester with three sold-out concerts was in spring 2011, with shows featuring Big Sean and Donnis; Diplo, Rye Rye and the Postelles; Cataracts and Hoodie Allen; and Block Party with Kid Cudi, Damian Marley, Nas and Tinie Tempah. Fleisher said UU is in the middle of planning for Block Party and is excited for other upcoming events.
ervanrhe@syr.edu
whether or not it has actually made campus safer,” she said. Earlier this year, DPS Advisory Board member Belen Crisp said she planned on helping create an app or website that would help students find the closest and most viable option for a ride home based on their location. Curtis said she hopes to see progress on this initiative. Among other proposals, Curtis said she will immediately tackle putting together MayFest, a celebration near the end of April and beginning of May, with University Union and other organizations. SA plays a central role in putting together the logistics for the event such as obtaining liquor licenses and securing a venue, Curtis said. Making the process of getting credit for internships is something Curtis also said she plans to make easier for students. She plans to propose ideas like creating a specific class designed for internship credit. Both Lustig and Curtis said they feel SA has made a lot of progress in the last few years. When they first joined SA in 2010, both said only about 10 people attended the meetings, compared to a now nearly full auditorium. “It’s what you decide to do once you are elected into SA that matters,” Lustig said. “We have a unique opportunity here.”
@TheRealVandyMan
aegiles@syr.edu
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“We’re in the process of planning some really great events. We’re all very excited for next semester.” Sarah Fleisher
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC REL ATIONS FOR UU
Said Fleisher: “We’re in the process of planning some really great events. We’re all very excited for next semester.”
20 WATTS FROM PAGE 3
a lot more streamlined. We have a formal masthead and we all kind of fulfill the duties you would expect someone in our respective positions to fulfill.” 20 Watts aims to bring together the music community through guest performers, student music groups, academic musical programs and just music in general, Licata said. “We’ve got the Bandier Program and the VPA Live Performance program, and a lot
of other music-related studies on campus,” Licata said. “And Syracuse has a cool music scene. There’s no lack of content, especially with all of the great artists and bands that roll through here.” Melissa Chessher, chair of the magazine journalism department in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, said in an email that she is glad to see the magazine return and feels that any college campus, but SU in particular, needs a music magazine. “To be honest, I was bummed when it faded into the sunset,” Chessher said. “But I was ecstatic when a few dedicated students wanted to devote the time and energy and sacrifice sleep and socializing to bring it back.” Licata said she was thrilled to see what was once just an idea turn into a reality. “It helps me break down the walls of a classroom by taking what I learn and applying it to 20 Watts,” she said. “College is what you make of it, and a lot of my experience comes from what I’ve done for 20 Watts.” sblum@syr.edu