The historic Moyer Carriage and Car Factory in the city of Syracuse has been transformed into a 128-unit, mixed-use, affordable and supportive housing development. This newly completed development adds to the region’s supply of housing at a critical time for Central New York’s growing economy, which is highlighted by the $100 billion in investment in semiconductor manufacturing over the next 20 years.
“The significant economic investments taking place in Central New York require us to find innovative solutions that will increase the supply of housing across the entire region,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “The adaptive reuse of the Moyer Carriage and Car Factory transforms an important relic of this region’s past into new, modern housing in the heart of Syracuse’s North Side that will accommodate a growing workforce for years to come.”
According to the state, all 128 apartments are affordable for households earning at or below 60 percent of the Area Median Income. The development includes 50 units with supportive services provided by Catholic Charities of Onondaga County. Rental and operating subsidies for these units will be funded through an Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative award administered by the New York State Office of Mental Health.
The factory complex, consisting of several buildings on the city’s North Side, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The site is well known to local residents for the historic factory building’s “little house on its roof.” The H.A. Moyer Company was one of the largest industrial employers in Syracuse around the turn of the 20th century, producing carriages, and then later automobiles. Constructed in several stages – primarily between 1882 and 1909 – the factory complex includes brick buildings that were used for manufacturing, storage, and shipping, and also served as company headquarters.
The development included the extensive rehabilitation of the interior and exterior of the historic structure. The rehabilitated buildings were also designed to meet criteria for Enterprise Green Communities certification. Environmentally sustainable features include low-flow fixtures, all LED lighting, and Energy Star appliances.
Participation in the State’s Brownfield Cleanup Program allowed site cleanup to be performed at the same time as site redevelopment. Cleanup activities included removal of contaminated soil and treatment of contaminated groundwater, which required construction of a stabilization system to preserve the exterior of the historic building.
Moyer Carriage Apartments was co-developed by Housing Visions and Redev CNY LLC.
