as told by Grace Flusche, 2001

The 1970’s and 1980’s brought dramatic shifts in housing patterns in the East University Neighborhood of Syracuse. These shifts were caused by an increase in Syracuse University enrollment and the "closing out” of numerous houses to the west of the Carrier Dome. To neighbors, it seemed as though every house that came on the market was bought by someone who planned to rent it to students. The area became saturated with students and other young people which exacerbated parking, noise and trash problems.

The experiences of people on every street along Euclid Avenue mirrored my family’s experience.

When we moved onto Lancaster Avenue in 1976, there were seven owner-occupied houses (three of which included rentals), and about as many non-owner-occupied houses. Very soon the two beautiful one-family houses across the street from us were rented out to groups of seven young men. By 1987, only four homes remained owner-occupied and one had stood empty for six years. The owners of two properties next door to us openly discussed their desire to buy that small house and put five students in it. They offered $95,000 for it. The elderly woman who owned the home said she would sell it to a family for $80,000. At the eleventh hour, a family bought the home for that price, and probably made the difference between my family staying or leaving. It was a significant addition to the neighborhood. One of our University Neighbors, Professor Gerry Grant, often uses the term "social capital". With this new family being active on the street, we had enough "social capital" to relate to the students and help them realize that our street was not a "student ghetto", but a real neighborhood.

That significant transaction had just taken place in July 1989 when I attended a SEUNA (South East University Neighborhood Association) meeting about noise problems. At the meeting, I asked if there were people who would like to meet to try to find ways to offer financial incentives to people who would buy homes in the neighborhood to live in. People responded favorably, and a group of people began to meet regularly. This group included representatives of the three local neighborhood organizations, property investors, realtors, and representatives from the City and Syracuse University.

Our mission was two-fold: (1) to market the neighborhood as a good place for families to live, and (2) to provide financial incentives. At first, we considered being a joint committee of WENA, SEUNA, and the Thornden Park Association, but the concept of a separate organization slowly emerged. The name of the organization, University Neighborhood Preservation Association, evolved through the discussions.

At the end of March 1990, we held a public meeting that was attended by 100 neighbors. There was a lot of support for using private money to invest in the neighborhood. At that meeting, one neighbor offered $1,000, and we were started on what we assumed at first would be a lot of private fundraising.

That month saw the first of our theme newsletters (created by Miranda Hine), which described many wonderful aspects of living in our neighborhood. Thus, the "image building" had also begun. Later on, the Westcott Street Cultural Fair and the University Neighbors Lecture Series were born, conscious efforts to show people that our neighborhood has a wonderfully diverse and talented population. Brochures, bookmarks and most recently, a poster have also been created to help market the neighborhood.

UNPA’s constitution was put together and the UNPA Board met formally for the first time in September 1990. However, in the first week of July 1990, an even more significant meeting took place.

Bob Bellandi, another UNPA Founder, and I were invited to City Hall by the City Manager, Frank Lasarski. We knew he was vetting us to see if we were just another advocacy group that might be an adversary to the City, or to see whether we were interested in development and in forming a partnership. After the meeting, outside City Hall, Bob and I looked at each other and said, "Are the City and Syracuse University people telling us they might find a way to give UNPA money?" That was the first glimmer that the City and the University were beginning to talk about ways to bring some funds into the neighborhood.

However, it was a while before any of that materialized, so we continued with plans to image build and raise what funds we could.

We started an informal network to link people wanting to sell or buy houses. We held two basketball scrimmages in Manley Field House that raised about $4,000 each. Bob Haley, a long time neighbor, preservationist and architect, and a small committee of other neighbors and artists produced an historic neighborhood photographic exhibit presented in the newly built Shaffer Art Gallery at Syracuse University. Alumni from the neighborhood traveled from as far away as California to see the photos they had contributed. It seemed we were well on our way to developing a base of people who might give funds to help owner-occupants. But, that effort would be labor intensive and we do not know how successful we could ever have been.

The crucial breakthrough in being able to offer genuine financial incentives came when the University agreed with the City to pay a fee for the privilege of closing some streets in the University area. The University Neighborhood Service Agreement Advisory Council (UNSAAC) was born and, with it, the strengths and struggles of having money.

Over the years, the housing situation has changed again.

If you drive along streets off Euclid Avenue between Syracuse University and the Westcott Business District, it is evident that the vast majority of houses are absentee landlord-owned and that many need a lot of work to be restored to their former "glory".

But, it has been 20 years since many of these houses were owner-occupied and I think now is the time one by one for houses to turn back to families. The university neighborhood is an attractive place to live. Houses in mint condition surrounded by other owner-occupied homes are in high demand. But, it is still hard for a family to take a risk on a house that needs a lot of work and that is surrounded by rental properties owned by absentee landlords.

Landlords, realtors and long-term neighbors have similar goals now, I believe, to help families buy back houses, one at a time.

Let me conclude with a story to balance the one that was set in 1989.

In February 2000, a family of ten came from The Congo as refugees and settled in Syracuse. They had gotten caught up in the terrible war there, and were victimized because they were Tutsi. In Syracuse, they found a tiny three-bedroom apartment. Even the 18 and 20 year olds had to double up in beds to manage. By September, the parents and the two oldest children had jobs, but all earned close to minimum wage, and there was no surplus income to allow them to rent a larger place.

At the same time, in the fall of 2000, two siblings (who had been long term landlords at 700 Lancaster Avenue) decided to sell. Their house was listed for $76,000, but it did not sell. The owner of two houses up the street on Clarendon Avenue said he might be interested if the price was $40,000. An inventory of the work needed on the house was intimidating.

Eventually the Congolese family learned of this house, prayed about it, and explored options. They received financial support from private sources that were matched by a newly created refugee-housing fund. Home Headquarters also helped. But, the most significant help came from an UNPA grant of $5,000, which made the difference between this family is being able to buy that home for the eventual price that the owners accepted. Now, there are ten wonderful individuals living in that home all of whom will all in time contribute to the "social capital" of our neighborhood. Already the teenagers are getting known as "the snow shovellers", and I know I can count on them to help with a litter pick up drive.

"One house at a time."

I have faith our initial dreams may come true, but it will only happen with much ongoing effort from neighbors, the University, and City officials alike.