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Record of Proceedings

Syracuse City Council Hearing on Parking Garages - April 28, 2026

Public Meetings — Tuesday, April 28, 2026

BodySyracuse, New York

SessionPublic Meetings

DateTuesday, April 28, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 16:37

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

This meeting is about garages, and we are joined by uh Councillor Joan Rouser, Councillor Hudson, Councilor Um Moore, Nave, myself, President Penawa, and Councillor Manto, and then Councillor Codwell.

0:17

And to our left is Deputy Mayor Corey Driscoll Dunham.

0:22

Did I get that right?

0:23

You did.

0:24

Thank you, Council.

0:25

Fantastic.

0:25

See, I like I like it when I get things right.

0:28

All right.

0:29

So lead us.

0:31

Go ahead.

0:32

Um, so counselors, uh, thank you for the opportunity to talk about parking garages.

0:36

Um, you'll see on page nine of the proposed budget, there is um the estimated revenues for each one of the garages.

0:44

So um the garages that we um continue to operate, uh Madison Irv Garage, Washington Street Garage, Armory Square Garage, um, you know, the Harrison Garage we own but is operated by um the Marriott, and then the Fayette Garage, which is kind of the headline for the difference between last year's budget and this year's budget, is that um the Fayette Garage obviously needed to um close um a few months ago, and so um with the council support plans are underway to demolish the Fayette Garage, and then we will begin to reimagine what that um parcel could look like.

1:21

And we just vote uh to get it for the for the funding for the yeah, we just voted about two sessions ago, yeah.

1:30

I believe so.

1:30

Yeah.

1:32

Yeah.

1:34

So um we, you know, um last year, I believe it was last summer we issued an RFP for the operation of the um of our garages, you know, competitively bid.

1:46

Um Laz came in as the lowest bidder, and so they obtained the contract.

1:51

And so right now we have them under a one-year contract with I believe two one year renewals.

1:56

Um so uh I think that's all I have, I guess is as ours?

2:03

I'm sorry, the onset of parking garage is ours.

2:06

So we get a portion of the proceeds, right?

2:08

It's owned by the county, but I think at the time that it was built, there was some agreement between the city and the county that we would get a portion of the proceeds of the revenue.

2:18

And then another question.

2:20

Yes, uh line 42730 on page nine.

2:25

What is a parking garage registration?

2:29

So I believe I'm looking at Julie.

2:32

Is that for through through code enforcement through privately owned?

2:36

So privately owned garages, and I see uh Deputy Commissioner Dish hiding back there.

2:40

Hi there.

2:41

Um we have privately owned garages, and so if you own a private garage, you are required to pay a fee.

2:48

Uh you have to have a um engineering report.

2:51

You know, we often do inspections for the for the garages, so I believe that's what that refers to.

3:01

In here, okay.

3:05

What about the um parking lots?

3:09

What is that?

3:09

20 20,000 and then now.

3:12

So the parking lots that we operate um are I think they were just referenced in the previous budget hearing where they are often owned by the state, and then we operate them.

3:23

So there's one down on Pearl Street.

3:25

I think there's one on Butternut.

3:27

Um I think there's one other that I'm not thinking of, but they're state-owned, and we we operate them.

3:32

It's not a it's not a tremendous amount of revenue.

3:36

Uh the demand isn't incredibly high, but every little bit helps.

3:41

Well, what's the what's the um rush the difference between um well yeah, like if we're operating it, we have to plow it.

3:52

So I saw yeah, I don't that's a great question.

3:55

I don't know the answer to that.

3:56

I don't believe that we do, but I will find out.

3:59

I mean, and I know um the extent mostly of our engagement is that we send out the parking passes each month to the to the folks that park their monthly, but I will find out whether or not the upkeep of those um parking lots falls on us.

4:13

And if it if you know, right, does it balance out?

4:18

Yeah, right.

4:19

That's a great question.

4:20

I will find out.

4:21

So I I want to go to um Madison uh Urban Garage.

4:25

Say is there um there is a proposal of 650.

4:30

Uh wait, wait, not I'm looking at the wrong one.

4:33

So proposed of 600 and no seven hundred and fifty thousand, seven seven hundred and thirty-five thousand, eight eighty-five thousand dollar difference.

4:44

Where is that money gonna come from?

4:46

Is that is that is that more spaces being used or or or is it projected that we are there's gonna be more space available for usage or what where's that that because that's 85,000, you know.

5:02

So I'm looking to the budget team if there's anything that my I think part of it would be that we increase the parking garage rates last fall.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Parking Management█████████████████████████████████████████████63%

Transportation Safety██████████████19%

Budget Equity Analysis█████████████18%

Summary of Proceedings

Syracuse City Council Hearing on Parking Garages - April 28, 2026

In a meeting focused on the city's parking garage portfolio, council members and administration officials reviewed budget projections, discussed the recent closure and planned demolition of the Fayette Street Garage, and debated the long-term viability of city-owned garages. No public comments were heard, and no formal votes were taken.

Discussion Items

Deputy Mayor Corey Driscoll Dunham presented the proposed budget revenues for parking garages on page nine, listing the Madison Irving, Washington Street, Armory Square, Harrison (operated by Marriott), and Fayette garages. The Fayette Garage closed a few months ago, and council previously approved funding for its demolition.
Lazer Parking (Laz) holds a one-year contract with two one-year renewal options after winning a competitive bid as the lowest bidder.
A question about "parking garage registration" (line 42730) was clarified: it refers to fees from privately owned garages, requiring an engineering report and inspections.
Councillors asked about state-owned parking lots operated by the city (e.g., Pearl Street, Butternut). The Deputy Mayor will investigate whether the city is responsible for maintenance and whether revenues cover costs.
For the Madison Irving Garage, the proposed budget is $735,000, an $85,000 increase over the prior year's actual of $650,000. The increase was attributed to a rate increase effective November 2025 and actuals coming in higher than budgeted.
President Paniagua asked whether it makes sense for the city to own garages given high maintenance and capital costs. The Deputy Mayor noted valid arguments on both sides: garages can help set reasonable downtown parking prices and attract tenants, but many garages are reaching the end of their useful life. The administration has strategically conveyed ownership of some garages (e.g., AXA) and is evaluating Madison Irving in light of East Genesee Street development. Washington Street Garage is the newest and receiving ongoing maintenance.
Councillor Manto inquired about the city-owned lot at Washington and Clinton behind One Lincoln Center (owned by SURA, operated by the city with meters). Discussions about selling that lot were mentioned but no update provided.
Councillor Codwell asked if the administration is considering a new garage on the PSB property (the former police station, jointly owned with the county). The Deputy Mayor confirmed conversations with the county about a "convention corridor" on State Street that would include parking. The possibility of using state land under the I-81 viaduct for city employee parking was also raised, though the Deputy Mayor noted that some community members argue parking is not the best use of that land.
Eric Ennis (likely from the administration) reported that the Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council (SMTC) is conducting an abbreviated three-to-four-month study of downtown parking impacts from the Fayette Garage closure and the I-81 viaduct removal, followed by a larger study of the urban core. He noted that other upstate cities face similar portfolio challenges. Customer migration from Fayette has been scattered; some users have moved to Washington Street Garage, while others pay a premium for closer lots.

Key Outcomes

No resolutions or votes were taken. The council received information and will follow up on maintenance cost breakdowns for each garage and the feasibility of employee parking options.
The administration will continue discussions with the county on convention corridor parking and with SMTC on downtown parking studies.
The Fayette Garage demolition remains underway, with future redevelopment of the parcel to be determined.

Meeting Transcript

This meeting is about garages, and we are joined by uh Councillor Joan Rouser, Councillor Hudson, Councilor Um Moore, Nave, myself, President Penawa, and Councillor Manto, and then Councillor Codwell. And to our left is Deputy Mayor Corey Driscoll Dunham. Did I get that right? You did. Thank you, Council. Fantastic. See, I like I like it when I get things right. All right. So lead us. Go ahead. Um, so counselors, uh, thank you for the opportunity to talk about parking garages. Um, you'll see on page nine of the proposed budget, there is um the estimated revenues for each one of the garages. So um the garages that we um continue to operate, uh Madison Irv Garage, Washington Street Garage, Armory Square Garage, um, you know, the Harrison Garage we own but is operated by um the Marriott, and then the Fayette Garage, which is kind of the headline for the difference between last year's budget and this year's budget, is that um the Fayette Garage obviously needed to um close um a few months ago, and so um with the council support plans are underway to demolish the Fayette Garage, and then we will begin to reimagine what that um parcel could look like. And we just vote uh to get it for the for the funding for the yeah, we just voted about two sessions ago, yeah. I believe so. Yeah. Yeah. So um we, you know, um last year, I believe it was last summer we issued an RFP for the operation of the um of our garages, you know, competitively bid. Um Laz came in as the lowest bidder, and so they obtained the contract. And so right now we have them under a one-year contract with I believe two one year renewals. Um so uh I think that's all I have, I guess is as ours? I'm sorry, the onset of parking garage is ours. So we get a portion of the proceeds, right? It's owned by the county, but I think at the time that it was built, there was some agreement between the city and the county that we would get a portion of the proceeds of the revenue. And then another question. Yes, uh line 42730 on page nine. What is a parking garage registration? So I believe I'm looking at Julie. Is that for through through code enforcement through privately owned? So privately owned garages, and I see uh Deputy Commissioner Dish hiding back there. Hi there. Um we have privately owned garages, and so if you own a private garage, you are required to pay a fee. Uh you have to have a um engineering report. You know, we often do inspections for the for the garages, so I believe that's what that refers to. In here, okay. What about the um parking lots? What is that? 20 20,000 and then now. So the parking lots that we operate um are I think they were just referenced in the previous budget hearing where they are often owned by the state, and then we operate them. So there's one down on Pearl Street. I think there's one on Butternut. Um I think there's one other that I'm not thinking of, but they're state-owned, and we we operate them. It's not a it's not a tremendous amount of revenue. Uh the demand isn't incredibly high, but every little bit helps. Well, what's the what's the um rush the difference between um well yeah, like if we're operating it, we have to plow it. So I saw yeah, I don't that's a great question. I don't know the answer to that. I don't believe that we do, but I will find out. I mean, and I know um the extent mostly of our engagement is that we send out the parking passes each month to the to the folks that park their monthly, but I will find out whether or not the upkeep of those um parking lots falls on us. And if it if you know, right, does it balance out?

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