U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Community Planning and Development


Consolidated Plan Contact

CITIZEN'S SUMMARY

Rome, New York is a historic City of 44,370 people located in the Mohawk Valley of Central New York. Fort Stanwix, a part of the three-pronged strategy of the British during the Revolutionary War, is located in Rome and the Erie Canal was started here. While it became known as "The Copper City" during the Industrial Revolution, the presence of Griffiss Air Force Base has dominated the economy in recent years. With the realignment of the base in 1995, Rome has chosen a regional approach to economic development hoping to reuse the Base to establish a high technology park centered on spinoff companies from Rome Lab, the remaining military function left at the Base, Rome is also committed to strengthening its economy by encouraging diversity in such industries as tourism and metals manufacturing and back-room finance and accounting. Rome's workforce has a reputation as hardworking and highly skilled. With a high percentage of owner-occupied housing coupled with a low crime rate, Rome is known as a good city in which to live and raise a family.

Action Plan

The City of Rome Consolidated Plan presents a strategic vision for housing and community development in this unique metropolitan area. lt includes a One-Year Action Plan for spending approximately $1.3M of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, 1.7M of New York State HOME funds, 1.4M of NYS Urban Development Corp. and US Office of Economic Adjustment funds for the redevelopment of Griffiss Air Force Base, over 1 M in various State and Federal economic development grants, program income and various other housing grants and programs. These fund, will be spent primarily for the recovery from the undermining of our economy due to the realignment of Griffiss Air Force Base, for the stabilization and revitalization of the City's low and moderate income housing and neighborhoods, and for homebuyers assistance for low/\mod income families.

Citizen Participation

The City of Rome's program development process is structured to allow year-round citizen participation. The principal elements of this process are:

In addition to the above elements, a recent comprehensive community survey established general goals and objectives for the community in all areas. The City intends to repeat this survey on a periodic basis. All programs related to the CDBG are included in the citizen participation process.


COMMUNITY PROFILE

Like many communities in the northeast, Rome has been slowly recovering from a precipitous decline in its long-established major industry, metals manufacturing. While a greater percent of Rome's work force is still involved in manufacturing than in the rest of the State, it is a fraction of the percent involved before the onset of the post-WWII technological revolution. Relying principally on the presence of Griffiss Air Force Base, the City had recovered well until 1993 when the Base Realignment and Closure Commission approved Air Force plans to drastically realign the Base.

Being the largest employer between Albany and Rochester, Griffiss has an immense effect on Rome's economy. This action has created a new climate of uncertainty, replacing one of optimism and determination.


HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEEDS

Conditions

The City's housing stock is in very sound condition with less than nine percent of all occupied units requiring rehabilitation. This very positive situation exists primarily because the City has maintained a persistent policy of promoting new housing construction and of using CDBG programs to help low and moderate-income homeowners in older city neighborhoods maintain their housing, ln addition, Rome has historically enjoyed a high proportion of owner-occupancy in its housing stock and relatively high rates of private investment in new housing. Taken together, these factors have contributed to the maintenance of existing housing by creating a healthy housing market, worthy of investment.

Housing Needs

There is an increasing need for affordable housing in Rome. A substantial number of lower income households today have no way to accumulate savings for down payments and closing costs and, therefore, are effectively priced out of the conventional housing market. Additionally, the combination of low vacancy rates and stagnant incomes makes renting a unit very difficult for people with low to moderate incomes. This condition puts added pressure on the rental market. It is said that in every setback there is an opportunity. The imminent departure of Griffiss Air Force Base will be devastating to Rome's economy and very way of life. But, at the same time, it will open up the housing market by increasing availability and lowering the threshold for entry. Therefore, the City plans to act now to take advantage of this opportunity by starting a first time homebuyer's program.

There is no reason to believe that the demand for affordable housing will attenuate in the next five years. ln fact, in the uncertain times that we are facing, affordability will become the most important factor in the housing market. It is also expected that the need for affordable, safe and sanitary larger family units will be steady with no significant increases. There is strong evidence that there is an adequate supply of standard one and two-bedroom units in the city and that the demand for housing subsidy for small families will remain constant during this period.

Housing Market Conditions

Other than a general decrease in the number of persons per household, the Rome housing market has been remarkably stable over the past 10 years. Both total population and housing units have shown a gradual increase, while housing condition has remained good. Still, about 6,894 of Rome's households are currently at risk of being severely impacted by changes in economic and housing conditions, to the point of losing their housing. A great deal more are expected to join them as base realignment is implemented over the course of 1995.

Affordable Housing Needs

The primary needs in terms of home ownership have been found to be assistance for low and moderate income households in purchasing their own housing, and increasing the availability of affordable ownership alternatives. Affordability is also expected to become a central theme in the market for rental housing. The imminent departure of Griffiss Air Force Base will be devastating to Rome's economy and very way of life. But, at the same time, it will open up the housing market by increasing the availability of affordable housing and lowering the threshold for entry. Therefore, the City will try to take advantage of this opportunity by helping low to moderate income households to purchase homes.

Homeless Needs

The City of Rome is taking steps to determine the size and characteristics of its homeless population. Because the homeless in Rome who sought help have historically been referred to Utica, there have been very few systematic attempts to assist Rome's small but significant homeless population in situ. The City is therefore working with the Neighborhood Center of Utica to expand its existing soup kitchen in Rome to include an emergency shelter and related programming.

The Housing Vulnerable are the main target of the City's Neighborhood Improvement Program which strives to promote affordable, safe and clean housing and neighborhoods through a loan/subsidy program for maintenance and rehabilitation. The departure of Griffiss Air Force Base has the potential to reverse 14 years of progress by this CDBG Program in creating good, livable neighborhoods for everyone in the City. The Neighborhood Improvement Program will be continued and possibly expanded in order to accommodate the increased need expected in the next five to ten years.

Public and Assisted Housing Needs

The assisted housing inventory, provided by HUD, shows a Total of 2,095 subsidized rental units in Rome. The Rome Housing Authority operates four public housing projects, Colonial Apartments I and lI, Valentine Apartments and Liberty Garden Apartments. Together, these projects provide housing for 831 low-income households. The Housing Authority also administers several State and Federal programs aimed at assuring quality housing. ln general, waiting lists for public housing and housing assistance programs are reasonable. There is less than a 3-month wait for the Section 831 elderly housing units, owned by the Housing Authority, and a one year wait for the family housing at Liberty Gardens. ln addition, the Section 8 list has a two year wait. lt is unclear how much or whether any need exists for additional public housing units. But, there is a distinct need for additional financial assistance through the Section 8 Housing Assistance program.

Barriers to Affordable Housing

The lack of sufficient income is certainly the major barrier to affordable housing in Rome at this time, and promises to continue to be for at least the next five years. Even an oversupply of housing will not be of any use if the prospective buyer or tenant is not in a financial position to take advantage of it. The number of existing low to moderate-income households, combined with the increase expected over the next five to ten years, clearly demonstrates a growing barrier to affordable housing. lt indicates a need for financial assistance not only in obtaining affordable housing, but in retaining current housing as well.

Equally important is the constant deterioration of our affordable housing stock over time. While Rome's housing stock is currently in very sound condition, this is only because of longstanding positive market conditions and the City's long-term persistence in helping low and moderate-income homeowners maintain their properties. The next five years will be a crucial test of the Neighborhood lmprovement Program. The increase in unemployment and underemployment over the next five years will force more homeowners to neglect to maintain their property. The departure of Griffiss Air Force Base has the potential to reverse 14 years of progress by this CDBG program in creating good, livable program in creating good, livable neighborhoods for everyone in the City. Without doubt, it is even more important than in the past to continue to correct substandard conditions in low and moderate income neighborhoods.

These two factors loom largest as we face the loss of our major employer. But, some groups may be hit harder than others. With less money, landlords will be less willing to invest in the necessary changes to make their housing handicapped-accessible, thus creating a barrier for the disabled. Barriers for the elderly, whose incomes are lower than those of the general population, will overlap with those of the disabled. they will be less likely to find suitable housing or be able to maintain the housing they already own.

Fair Housing

The most marked characteristic of Rome's racial and technic minority subpopulations is their small size in comparison to the majority. This enormous size differential between the majority and minority populations makes comparisons difficult. In general, minority populations are distributed throughout the City, in both low and high areas, and they do not seem to be limited in their choice of geographic location. High concentrations of low income minority residents are found in the same geographic areas as high concentrations of low income majority residents, and these areas correspond to current CDBG and Human Services target areas. While some geographic clustering is evident in some segments, it seems more closely related to size than any other factor. Income distributions show the same size-related patterning, with larger groups more closely approximating the shape of the white majority population. The community survey conducted in 1992 found no difference in white and minority respondents' perceptions of difficulty in finding a place to live, getting credit or being refused a place to live in Rome. All of the City of Rome's housing programs include a fair housing component.

Lead-Based Paint

The incidence of lead poisoning in Rome reported to the Oneida County Health Department has increased ninefold since the 1993 passage of a new State law. The Cit plans to begin a cooperative effort with the Oneida county Lead Poisoning Control Program through a formal referral process with the Neighborhood Improvement Program.

Other Issues

The City of Rome, having just emerged from a long economic downturn, is now facing another major setback, the realignment of Griffiss Air force Base. It is carefully planning a strategy for economic recovery while maintaining the physical and human service infrastructure that has sustained in the past. It has enlisted the County, the State and the Federal Government as partners in this effort. It has also been careful to maintain the cooperation and trust between all the component groups that has developed over the years. Even so, the next five years will be a difficult time as the City and region recoil from military downsizing.

Community Development Needs

While attractive, sound and affordable housing and neighborhoods are considered to be the backbone of the community development effort in Rome, other non-housing needs can have a great impact on the success of any such program. Much of the community development effort in Rome is, therefore, focused on the NYS Economic Development Zone that was established in July of 1994. The Zone program is designed to stimulate economic growth in the City's most severely distressed area through a variety of financial incentives and economic development benefits. to this end, the City is developing master plans to tow subarea within the Zone, the Canalway and the Central Business District. These plans, in conjunction with the master plan for Griffiss Air force Base, will unite to form a coherent, comprehensive strategy for the versification and expansion of Rome's beleaguered economy.

Because Rome has always put a great deal of its resources into infrastructure, its roads, water, sewer and other systems are modern and in generally good condition. This has put Rome in a reasonably strong position for attracting business. The problem in the next five years and beyond will be to maintain and upgrade these systems where necessary with severely restricted resources.

Coordination

Coordination between and among various service areas has always taken place mainly through both formal and informal cooperation and agreements. This process has worked well for Rome since it does not have a particularly complex network of providers as exists in some other cities. Formal agreements also exist, for example, the third-party contracts necessary for CDBG funding of a needed program. Coordination is also accomplished by the City through direct administration of some programs. The establishment of the Economic Development Zone has enhanced the process of coordination and cooperation through the creation of the Economic Development Zone Board. Specific categories of Board membership were chosen to represent the entire spectrum of needs, interests, and participants in the Zone.


HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Vision for Change

The City of Rome is in a race to replace the economic chasm created by the realignment of Griffiss Air Force Base. lt sees its future in the attraction, development and nurturing of high technology companies, using Rome Lab as a magnet and source. It is working to diversify its economy by supporting its remaining metals manufacturers, encouraging the development of tourism, redeveloping its old dilapidated industrial areas, and reviving its waterfront.

The loss of a major regional employer like GAFB is devastating and will test the City's resolve in maintaining housing stock. But, at the same time, the City sees an opportunity in the vacant housing left behind to increase the number of low and moderate income homeowners.

Housing and Community Development Priorities and Objectives

Housing Priority # 1:
Continue Neighborhood Stabilization/Revitalization Programs
Objective: Rehabilitate 200 units of substandard housing through the Neighborhood lmprovement Program.

Objective: Rehabilitate 100 units of housing through the HOME program

Objective: Demolish 20 unsalvageable structures to make way for infill development

Housing Priority #2:
Create and Increase Opportunities for Homeownership for Low/Moderate Income Households

Objective: Assist 200 households in buying homes

Homeless Priority # 1:
Establish a Comprehensive Assistance Program in Rome for Homeless Individuals and Families

Objective: Establish an emergency shelter and related programming for the homeless in Rome

Community Development Priority #1:
Maintain and Improve the City's Public Services and Infrastructure

Objective: Implement the Master lnfrastructure Plan for Griffiss Air Force Base

Objective: lmplement the Master Plan for the Canalway

Objective: lmplement the Master Plan for the Central Business District

Community Development Priority #2:
Increase the Amount and Variety of Child Care Options in the EDZ

Objective: Develop and implement a Master Child Care Plan for the Economic Development Zone

Objective: Continue to use the existing child care center at Griffiss Air Force Base

Objective: Establish a child care center in the Primary Area of the Economic Development Zone

Objective: Increase the network of Family Child Care Providers in the Economic Development Zone by 20 homes.

Community Development Priority #3:
Diversify and Expand Rome's Commercial and Industrial Base

Objective: Develop a Technology Transfer Campus on Griffiss Air Force Base

Objective: Assist the Development of New Technology spinoff Companies

Community Development Priority #4:
Assist Those Unemployed as a Result of the Realignment of GAFB to find New Jobs

Special Needs Priority #1:
Improve Housing and Neighborhoods and Increase Economic Opportunities in EDZ

Special Needs Priority #2:
Assist the Disabled in Rome in Obtaining a Barrier-Free Living Enviroment

Special Needs Priority #3:
Develop a Plan to Help Reverse the Recent Trend Among Rome's Youth Toward Anti-social, Criminal and Runaway Behavior

Special Needs Priority #4:
Continue to Provide Financial Assistance and Develop Housing Alternatives for the Elderly

Anti-Poverty Priority:
Target poverty reduction efforts in the EDZ

Lead-Based Paint Priority:
Continue to Correct Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Rome

Institutional Structure Priority:
Maintain and enhance an informal network of relationships with all contributors to the Consolidated Plan

Barrier Reduction Priority #1:
Help Low and Moderate-Income Homeowners Maintain Their Property

Barrier Reduction Priority #2:
Increase opportunities for homeownership in Rome

Housing Priorities

Housing priorities center around stabilizing housing and neighborhoods in low/mod areas of the City. They also include empowering low/mod families to purchase housing and homeless individuals and families to find permanent housing.

Non-Housing Community Development Priorities

Community Development Priorities center around diversifying the economy and reversing deterioration in the City's older industrial area and Central Business District in the effort to recover as quickly as possible from the loss of Griffiss Air Force Base.

Anti-Poverty Strategy

The City of Rome is well aware of the need to encourage antipoverty programs over the next few years because of the loss of its principal employer, Griffiss Air Force Base. Various State, regional and community-based social service organizations administer programs such as Head Start, HEAP, JTPA, self-sufficiency programs, and housing and mortgage counseling. Increasing the availability of quality child care services, a major barrier to employment, is an economic development priority.

Housing and Community Development Resources

In any given year, approximately 20 Federal, state, County and private programs provides services to the community. The primary Federal resources include CDBG, EDA, CSBG, OEA, Section 8, public housing, ISTEA and HEAP. New York State resources include HOME, UDC, NYSTA, DOT, REDPP, DOL and DED. Regional and Local resources include various Oneida county Department of Social Services, the United Way, Oneida County Community Action, Oneida county Employment and Training, and numerous others.

Coordination of Strategic Plan

The Lead Agency for the Consolidated Plan s the City of Rome Department of Planning and Community Development. Coordination is an on-going process involving several mediums. One of the most effective is the presence of Planning Department staff on the governing boards and committees of several agencies. Another method for coordinating agency activities and Consolidated Plan Development is the annual Capital Improvement Program. A third method is the Economic Development Zone, a target area for economic improvement. The Zone governing board is staffed by the Planning Department and chaired by the Director of Planning and Economic Development. A fourth method is the Graffiss Redevelopment Planning Council (GRPC), a county-wide planning body created to manage the realignment of Griffiss Air Force Base. Planning Department and other City staff serve on the GRPC council and several committees. The Planning Department maintains similar relationships in varying degrees with numerous other community organizations.


ONE-YEAR ACTION PLAN

Descriptions of Key Projects

Neighborhood Improvement Program $250,000

The NIP Program provides deferred loans of up to $10,000 to low/moderate income homeowners for rehabilitation of single family and multi-family substandard residential structures. Rehab, of 45 units is planned for the current Program Year. The majority of funding (80 percent) is targeted to low/mod residents, most of whom reside in the NIP Target Area. Funds will also be used to supplement Housing Trust Fund and NYS DHCR projects. Rehabilitation will include the correction of all interior/exterior code violations and weatherization.

Rome Housing Authority $165,000

Liberty Gardens is a low income public housing project of 180 units. The project will consist of cladding the exterior fascia and soft trim, brick repointing and restoration, replacement of kitchen gas ranges and parking area rehabilitation.

Liberty Gardens Playground $100,000

New play equipment, paving, resilient surface and landscaping/drainage improvements will be installed in this neighborhood playground adjacent to a major low-income housing project.

Pinti Park $125,000

New modular play equipment and resilient surface will be installed in this neighborhood playground within the NIP Target Area.

Streets $150,000

Traffic improvements and reconstruction of substandard streets within the NIP Target Area. lmprovements will include new curbing, signage, streetscape and resurfacing.

Code Enforcement $100,000

Clearance of substandard vacant structures within the NIP Target Area. Unoccupied deteriorated structures can be used for criminal activities, are subject to fires, do not promote reuse, and decrease the visual attractiveness of low income areas.

Tree Planting Project/Keep America Beautiful of Rome, New York $ 30,000

A tree planting program and neighborhood cleanup campaigns to remove trash and debris will be conducted this year in the NIP target area.

Jervis Public Library $ 27,000

Automatic door openers and handicapped accessible terminals and equipment will be installed in Rome's only public library in order to comply with ADA requirements.

Drug Prevention Program $ 50,000

Funded every year, the Rome DARE program provides a strong anti-substance abuse message along with exposure to various cultural/recreational events. The program serves preteenage/teenage youngsters and may also be expanded to include linkages to other crime prevention programs.

Rome Industrial Development Cooperation $325,000

RIDC operates a revolving loan fund which grants loans to new or existing businesses for plant rehabilitation, expansion, equipment or operating capital. Potential loan recipients must meet applicable CDBG requirements for economic development activities and create/retain jobs.

Central Business District $ 25,000

Development of a Master Plan will address longstanding site and infrastructure improvements necessary to reverse/eliminate barriers to economic development in Rome's Central Business District.

NYS Economic Development Zone Program $ 25,000

An assessment of child car availability and quality, and the removal of this barrier to employment is essential to encouraging area revitalization and development.

Locations

Most of the projects in the One Year Plan are located in the NIP and/or EDZ low/mod target areas.

Those that are not, such as the Jervis Library handicapped accessibility project, are targeted at a special needs population or at a community development goal, such as the RIDC revolving loan fund.

Lead Agencies

The Lead Agency for the Consolidated Plan is the City of Rome Department of Planning and Community Development. All public housing in Rome is administered by the Rome Housing Authority and 100 percent of it is assisted housing of various types. Therefore, the Lead Agency for public housing is the Rome Housing Authority.

Housing Goals

Housing goals for 1995 include continuing neighborhood stabilization and revitalization by rehabilitating 200 units of substandard housing through the Neighborhood Improvement Program, rehabilitating 100 units of housing through the HOME program, and demolishing 20 unsalvageable structures to make way for infill development.

Secondly, they include creating and increasing opportunities for homeownership for low/moderate income households by assisting 200 households in buying homes.

Finally, they include establishing a Comprehensive Assistance Program in Rome for homeless individuals and families by establishing an emergency shelter and related programming for the homeless in Rome which would serve over 1,000 people a month including up to 24 homeless individuals and/or families.

Maps

MAP 1 depicts points of interest in the jurisdiction

MAP 2 depicts points of interest and low-moderate income areas.

MAP 3 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and minority concentration levels.

MAP 4 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and unemployment levels.

MAP 5 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and proposed HUD funded projects.

MAP 6 depicts Neighborhood Segments and streets with proposed HUD funded projects; in addition, a table provides information about the project(s).

To comment on Rome's Consolidated Plan, please contact:
Carol W. Alaie
Senior Planner
PH: (315)339-7645
Return to New York's Consolidated Plans.