Seneca County is taking a major step toward addressing housing challenges with the launch of a Comprehensive Housing Strategy. This initiative, led by the County Planning Department in partnership with consulting firm czbLLC, aims to guide future housing policies and development efforts across the county. The strategy will provide direction not only for county-led actions but also for town and village governments and local organizations.
The development of the Comprehensive Housing Strategy follows a competitive selection process that chose czbLLC to draft a plan with practical, achievable recommendations. The project is expected to be completed by the fall of this year.
Community participation is a key component of the initiative. Residents are encouraged to share their input at open-house sessions scheduled for Tuesday, April 1, at the Seneca Falls Community Center and Wednesday, April 2, at the South Seneca High School Atrium in Ovid. Both events will begin at 5:30 PM. Additionally, an online survey has been launched at schousingstrategy.org, allowing residents to contribute their perspectives through April.
A Housing Working Group, assembled by the Board of Supervisors in collaboration with the Planning Department, is helping to shape the strategy. This group includes county supervisors, county staff, and representatives from organizations such as the Finger Lakes Regional Land Bank Corp., the Seneca County Industrial Development Agency, the new Local Development Corporation, the Chamber of Commerce, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Seneca Housing Inc. Once finalized, the Board of Supervisors and members of the working group will oversee the plan’s implementation.
This effort builds on the 2023 Seneca County Housing Needs Assessment, which found that housing prices had risen 17% since the pandemic, while household incomes remained stagnant or declined. The assessment recommended a county-wide strategy emphasizing that housing development is economic development—a principle now at the heart of this initiative.
With a focus on collaboration and community-driven solutions, Seneca County’s Comprehensive Housing Strategy seeks to ensure that future housing development meets the needs of residents while supporting local economic growth.
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