The first ever proposal for a new urbanist

The first ever proposal for a new urbanist development in the Syracuse, New York, region is now in permit review in the Town of Camillus. The Pioneer Companies of Syracuse proposes a first phase of 84 small-lot single family homes on 30 of the site’s 76 acres. The site plan by Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co (DPZ) features some alley loaded homes, several public squares, and a central greenway. Pioneer’s Michael Falcone Sr. says the housing will be geared to seniors and empty nesters. The project is the first new urbanist residential development for Pioneer, which otherwise has built mostly office and commercial facilities. The development will be the first to test the goals of the Onondaga Settlement Plan, created at a charrette led by DPZ in October 1999 (see November/December 1999 issue). Karen Kitney, director of the Syracuse-Onondaga County planning agency reports that the plan is now being edited by the agency and DPZ, and she expects the final document to be ready in March. The plan is then to be promoted in a series of community workshops that will educate citizens, builders, and public officials.