Mattydale reimagined: Syracuse architects propose new vision for suburban living
A Syracuse University architecture team earned national recognition for a proposal to transform Mattydale’s postwar neighborhoods with affordable, adaptable housing and shared community spaces. Their plan could offer a new path for Central New York suburbs facing changing needs and rising costs.
Professor Lawrence Davis and alumnus Chenhao Luo ’23 from Syracuse University School of Architecture put Mattydale in the spotlight with a proposal that earned an honorable mention in The Next House: USA competition, according to Syracuse University News.
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Their project, “Already Home: Prototypes for Affordability and the Socially Porous House,” aims to update Mattydale’s postwar lots for more affordable, connected living. Instead of sweeping redevelopment, Davis and Luo suggest gradual changes: adding accessory dwelling units (ADUs), shared gardens, and small home-based businesses to help residents manage rising costs and changing household needs.
By The Numbers
- 2024: Year Professor Lawrence Davis published “Rewriting Exurbia: New People in Aging Sprawl,” which inspired the proposal, per Syracuse University News.
- Three: Number of Syracuse University team members involved in the proposal’s development, according to Syracuse University News.
- One: Honorable mention awarded to the “Already Home” proposal in The Next House: USA competition, per Syracuse University News.
What’s new: A different approach to suburban growth
Davis and Luo’s “Already Home” proposal pushes for incremental, resident-driven change. Instead of tearing down homes or building dense apartments, they recommend adding ADUs, small, secondary units, on underused lots. These could give homeowners rental income or space for family, while easing the shortage of affordable housing in towns like Mattydale.
The plan also calls for shared amenities: community gardens, workshops, cafés, and childcare. These spaces would bring neighbors together and create small economic opportunities. According to Syracuse University News, the team looked to “ethnoburbs”, suburbs shaped by immigrant and ethnic communities that adapt lots for changing needs, for inspiration.
Davis said many ideas in the proposal, like increased density and small-scale development, already work in North America’s ethnoburbs. The team wants to refine and apply these practices more broadly so suburbs like Mattydale can evolve without losing their character.
Why this matters for Central New York
For Mattydale and other Syracuse suburbs, “Already Home” offers a future that balances affordability, community, and local control. Rising housing costs and changing family structures have made it harder for many Central New Yorkers to find homes that fit. Gradual, small-scale changes, like adding an in-law apartment or starting a home-based business, could help suburbs stay adaptable and resilient.
Focusing on retrofitting existing homes, not tearing them down, could preserve neighborhood character while making them more inclusive. The plan also suggests pedestrian connections and small electric bus routes to help residents who don’t drive get around.
How the proposal could work in Mattydale
Mattydale’s postwar neighborhoods, with their big lots and single-family homes, fit the kind of gradual changes Davis and Luo envision. The plan calls for:
- Adding ADUs to existing lots for affordable rentals or space for extended family.
- Creating shared amenities like gardens, workshops, and small commercial spaces to build community and economic activity.
- Retrofitting homes for energy efficiency and accessibility instead of demolishing and rebuilding.
- Introducing pedestrian paths and exploring small electric bus routes to connect residents to shops, schools, and parks.
- Encouraging small financial cooperatives among neighbors to support development and keep control local.
The proposal also looks at grouping two or three lots for coordinated development, making better use of space and resources. Rental income from ADUs or small businesses could help homeowners offset costs, making it easier for families to stay as their needs change.
Who’s behind the project
Professor Lawrence Davis and Chenhao Luo ’23 led the “Already Home” proposal, with help from Andrew Klamon, a former Syracuse Architecture assistant professor now in real estate development in Washington, D.C., and Xinxiu Shi ’27, a fifth-year architecture student. Klamon shaped the financial framework, while Shi worked on drawings and development, according to Syracuse University News.
The team built on Davis’s 2024 book, “Rewriting Exurbia: New People in Aging Sprawl,” which looks at how suburbs can adapt to demographic and economic shifts. Luo, now working in urban design in Boston, developed graphics for both the book and the competition entry.
What’s next for Mattydale and CNY suburbs?
The “Already Home” proposal remains a concept, but its national recognition puts Mattydale and Central New York suburbs on the map. The ideas could shape future development talks in towns north of Syracuse and beyond.
Residents curious about these changes can watch local planning meetings and community events. Because the proposal emphasizes gradual, resident-led change, any transformation would take years. The conversation about making suburbs like Mattydale more affordable, connected, and sustainable has already started.
Context: Suburban change in Central New York
Mattydale’s story fits a bigger trend in Central New York, where suburbs face aging homes, shifting demographics, and the need for flexible living. Syracuse’s city core is also seeing new development, including nearly 1,900 new beds added to Syracuse University residence halls this year, as previously reported by CNY Signal. These changes show a push to meet the needs of today’s families, students, and workers.
For more on how local businesses and neighborhoods are changing, check our Syracuse business and community events pages for updates and stories from across Central New York.
Where to check for updates
For more on the “Already Home” proposal and future planning in Mattydale, visit the Syracuse University News site or follow local town board agendas and community event listings.
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Sources
- Syracuse University News, details on the “Already Home” proposal, team members, and competition recognition
