Syracuse has hundreds of
vacant lots zoned for housing.
Most will sit empty.
we’re changing that.
Get in Touch
§ 01 · Who We Are
A Syracuse-based infill housing developer. Two childhood friends. No trust funds.
Roots Development CNY LLC builds duplexes and small multifamily housing on Land Bank and vacant lots across the city. Founded by Mathew Witherell — a union electrical worker and Syracuse homeowner — with an ADU proof-of-concept underway at 137 Champlin Drive.
We are a long-term owner and operator. Not a flipper. Every unit we put up is a unit we plan to hold, maintain, and stand behind. Residents are stakeholders, not line items in a pro forma.
We’re working toward B-Corporation certification — a legal commitment to weigh community and residents alongside returns.
§ 02 · What We’re Building
A Simple Idea. Built once, repeated.
Three phases. Real lots. A standardized financial model and construction strategy designed to be deployed — not invented from scratch every time.
ADU Prototype
137 Champlin Drive
Establishes our construction methods, financial model, and building approach. Everything we test here is what we repeat.
UnderwayDuplex Prototype
Four duplexes · Four lots
A standardized financial model and construction strategy across four vacant lots. Designed once. Permitted as a repeat. Deployed as a set.
In DesignMultifamily Pipeline
Wherever the opportunity is
Fourplexes and small multifamily on larger parcels where zoning allows. Same build system, broader unit mix.
Next§ 03 · The Opportunity
A small, disciplined developer building one block at a time is the missing piece.
Large builders won’t touch lots this size. Owner-occupants can’t shoulder new construction at scale. Public dollars alone haven’t closed the gap. We’re not asking for a handout — we’re building a track record, one compliant, healthy, affordable unit at a time.
§ 04 · Get in Touch
Let’s
talk.
Mathew Witherell
Co-Founder, Roots Development CNY LLC