SHA board chairman resigns amid East Adams project conflict of interest
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Ryan Benz, chairman of the Syracuse Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, resigned Thursday after a potential conflict of interest review involving the authority’s East Adams redevelopment project, syracuse.com reported.
Benz, a real estate developer, was appointed to the SHA board by former Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh in March 2025 and elected chairman that November. During his time at SHA, he was involved in its major redevelopment in the East Adams neighborhood.
The project aims to replace almost 700 public housing units and potentially add more than 1,000 at more reasonable and affordable rates.
In February, Bill Simmons, former SHA executive director, raised concerns with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development about a potential conflict between Benz’s previous real estate ventures and contractors working on the East Adams project. While SHA’s legal counsel found no conflict, HUD later told Benz to “recuse himself” from decisions involving the East Adams redevelopment, syracuse.com reported.
The agency also requested additional disclosure of Benz’s business and ownership interests in their consideration of further action.
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Benz declined to say why he resigned or whether his departure was connected to the conflict-of-interest review. He denied having a conflict and cooperated with the HUD’s request for information.
Benz is the second SHA board member to leave this year.
Christopher Montgomery, the board’s former vice chair, resigned in May to join the City Planning Commission. Mayor Sharon Owens replaced him with Monica Williams, a former Onondaga County Legislator.
Owens appointed Bethaida González, a retired Syracuse University administrator and former president of the Syracuse Common Council, to replace Benz.
