Rescue Mission, Hayner Hoyt, CVC partner for Community Build project in Syracuse

— The Rescue Mission, Hayner Hoyt Corporation, and the Corporate Volunteer Council (CVC) of Central New York have teamed up to transform a vacant and uninhabitable property into affordable housing for three formerly homeless men. 

On Dec. 10, the organizations held a kick-off event at the Rescue Mission to raise awareness for the project, deemed “Community Build to End Homelessness.” 

The project involves refurbishing a three-bedroom house located at 142 Granger St. in Syracuse, adjacent to the Rescue Mission’s main campus.

“We’re thrilled to be embarking on this affordable housing project,” says Alan Thornton, CEO of the Rescue Mission. 

According to Thornton, the property has been broken into numerous times, been used as a drug den, and as it sits now, holds little value to the community. This project offers an opportunity to transform the property into affordable housing that will help three individuals regain their independence, he says.

In October, the Rescue Mission purchased the property from the Greater Syracuse Land Bank for $5,000.

Hayner Hoyt came on board shortly after when the company reached out to the Rescue Mission to see about any potential projects it could tackle. Jeremy Thurston, president of Hayner Hoyt, said the Granger Street house was the one project his firm thought could have the greatest community impact. 

“We’re proud and excited to be adopting a project in the community,” says Thurston. 

In 2012, Hayner Hoyt took on its first community project, which involved building a playground at Lower Union Park, on the north side of Syracuse. Because that project went so well, Thurston said the company wants to try to take on more community projects in which its employees can engage.

For Community Build, Hayner Hoyt’s construction-management professionals will assist with scheduling, material staging, donating skilled labor, and providing financial support and on-site direction.

When complete, the 1,200-square-foot house will have three bedrooms, one and a half bathrooms, a laundry room, an eat-in kitchen, two living areas, a patio, and off-street parking. 

The property will be placed back on the tax roll when it’s finished, says Thornton, as the rent from the tenants will help cover the property tax.

On Monday, Dec. 8, volunteer staff from Environmental Remediation Services, Inc., or ERSI, started on the asbestos abatement, officially kicking off the five-month project. It is expected to be completed and ready for occupancy in April 2015.

In addition to the asbestos abatement, the foundation and roofing renovations should be complete before the holidays, says Terri Anderson, director of human resources at Hayner Hoyt and co-project lead of Community Build. The plan is for the house to be stable enough to have crews start working inside at the beginning of 2015.

The estimated cost of the project is just under $100,000. Thurston says that, at this time, the project partners are halfway toward their goal of having 100 percent of materials donated for the project.

To date, contributions include a furnace from Century Heating, roof shingles from Erie Materials, kitchen cabinets from Case Supply, and labor from IBEW Local 43, to name a few. 

“It’s a pretty easy ask. People want to donate to a worthwhile cause,” says Anderson.

Community Build will also serve as the Corporate Volunteer Council’s (CVC) annual signature project. The CVC — a coalition of businesses, organizations, and associations that recognize the importance of volunteerism in the community — identifies its annual project with the help of the United Way of Central New York and the volunteers who evaluate the results of the Community Needs Assessment. 

The 2013 Community Needs Assessment Report showed that finding affordable housing was one of the top needs in Onondaga County. Last year, the Rescue Mission helped 512 individuals in Syracuse find permanent housing, according to its annual report.

Taking on the Community Build project was a “no-brainier for us,” Katie Hatch, events chair of the CVC, said at the kick-off event.