Syracuse Urban Renewal Agency Meeting Summary - October 5, 2026

The Syracuse Urban Renewal Agency (SURA) met on October 5, 2026, at approximately 4:27 p.m. The meeting included approval of prior meeting minutes and a new business resolution authorizing a parking lot agreement involving the city and Zamir Equities. No agenda or minutes were provided in the source material; this summary is based solely on the raw transcript.

Consent Calendar

• The board approved the minutes from the April 30 board meeting. The vote had been postponed from August because Council President Diane was not present at that meeting. Diane abstained from the vote at this meeting. The chair then stated "No objections, no abstentions" and declared the minutes approved, creating a noted inconsistency in the transcript.

Discussion Items

• Mayor and staff acknowledged that proof of notice had been satisfied: the media was notified, the meeting was uploaded to the SURA web page, and the notice was posted downstairs.
• Resolution 3483 (initially misstated as 3487) was introduced. The resolution would authorize SURA to enter into a license or lease agreement, at the discretion of staff, with the city and Zamir Equities for the parking lot at 109 West Washington Street. A staff member explained that the license/lease language was left flexible because final agreement details were still being drafted.
• Eric Genis, Chief Development Officer for the City of Syracuse, provided background. The agreement was prompted by ongoing downtown parking changes, including the deconstruction of the Fayette Street garage and the upcoming closure of the Atrium garage later in the month. The lot has 70 total parking spaces, and a significant number are actively used by tenants and people associated with One Lincoln Center, which Zamir Equities owns and manages.
• Under the proposed agreement, parking spots would be restricted for tenant use during normal business hours, approximately 8 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m., with public parking available in the evenings and on weekends. The city currently operates the lot as a public metered lot, while SURA holds title to the property; this is why SURA, the city, and Zamir Equities would all need to be parties to the agreement.
• The proposed monthly payment would be $95 per parking space, totaling $6,650 per month for all 70 spaces. Staff stated this would be a net increase over current revenue collected from the lot. The term would run through June 30, 2028.
• Board members asked who would pay for tenant parking, who would collect after-hours public parking revenue, and who would maintain the lot. Staff clarified that tenants of One Lincoln Center would pay for their spaces. After hours, the public would be able to use the lot, with payment likely managed through a service similar to Syracuse Parking Services across the street at the City Hall lot; that after-hours revenue would go to the lessee. Zamir Equities would be responsible for snow removal and maintenance. The agreement would require proof of insurance with the city and SURA named as additionally insured.
• Council President Diane asked about enforcement and what would happen if tenants stayed past operating hours. Staff said the lessee would maintain a list of permitted vehicles and have staff presence to monitor the lot, similar to Zamir Equities' existing operations on East Onondaga Street.

Key Outcomes

• The board approved Resolution 3483 authorizing SURA to enter into a license or lease agreement with the city and Zamir Equities for the 109 West Washington Street parking lot. The motion was made, seconded, and approved with all board members voting in favor and no objections noted.
• The item was noted to be on the Syracuse Common Council's agenda for its October 13 meeting.
• Following the vote, the board voted to adjourn the meeting.