Syracuse, NY - The Syracuse Common Council appears poised today to approve a long-debated $28.2 million lease of the former Syracuse Development Center as temporary classroom space while city schools undergo renovations. The vote at city hall could very well mirror the council’s 5-4 vote in April, when it gave preliminary approval to the school district’s 15-year lease agreement...
An exterior view of the former Syracuse Developmental Center, which Syracuse's school district hopes to lease for 15 years at a cost of $28.2 million. The vote at city hall could very well mirror the council’s 5-4 vote in April, when it gave preliminary approval to the school district’s 15-year lease agreement with Health Consortium-USA, which is buying the property.
A poll of the council’s nine voting members over the weekend indicated that the five councilors who voted for the deal in April will again vote for it or are leaning heavily toward approving it. Three of the four councilors who voted no in April said they will do so again.
Councilor Kathleen Joy, the Democratic majority leader, said she does not think anybody will change their vote.
“I think it’s going to break the same way,” she said.
Joy voted previously for the deal and said she will again. Nevertheless, she urged the school district to require that Health Consortium post a performance bond to protect the city in the event Health Consortium fails to complete renovations to the former developmental center in time for 1,500 students from Dr. Weeks Elementary School and H.W. Smith K-8 School to attend classes there next year. Students from other schools would temporarily attend classes at the site in future years.
Councilor Pat Hogan said he has concerns about Health Consortium finishing the renovations in time. However, he said, the city has little choice.
“We need to move kids in around Feb. 1,” he said.
Since the council gave its preliminary OK to the deal three months ago, some councilors have expressed concerns about the lease terms and the background of one of the partners in Health Consortium. To comply with Mayor Stephanie Miner’s demands, the current owners of the SDC site signed a stipulation Friday agreeing to pay $1.325 million in back taxes on the property and to drop a lawsuit challenging the city’s tax assessment.
Miner urged the council to approve the deal.
Her support did not persuade councilors Bill Ryan, Matthew Rayo and Ryan McMahon to drop their opposition, however.
Ryan said he is glad to see the tax issue resolved, but is concerned about the length of the lease, the cost to state and local taxpayers and the lack of a viable alternative from the district.
“It once again points to the disconnect between the city and the district and prompts another argument for the debate of mayoral control (of the school district),” he said.
School Superintendent Dan Lowengard said he will be pleased if council approves the lease because the district could find no other available facility big enough to house 1,500 students.
Susan Fahey Glisson, president of the Syracuse chapter of the advocacy group Parents for Public Schools, said she’ll just be glad to see the long-delayed renovations of schools begin.
“There are kids who were in grammar school when this thing started and now they’re graduating,” she said.
Reach Rick Moriarty at rmoriarty@syracuse.com or (315) 470-3148.
Council poll
Here’s how Syracuse common councilors said they plan to vote today on the proposed $28.2 million lease of the former Syracuse Development Center for temporary classroom space:
Voting yes
Patrick Hogan
Kathleen Joy
Nader Maroun
Voting no
Ryan McMahon
Matthew Rayo
Bill Ryan
Undecided
Lance Denno: Leaning yes
Jean Kessner: Previously voted no
Thomas Seals: Leaning yes