All this week, the city of Syracuse has invited residents to help urban planners and designers create a “vision master plan” for neighborhoods impacted by the I-81 project.

“I think it’s very important that the community be heard, especially the community that’s most impacted,” Syracuse resident David Michel said.

David and Peggy Liuzzi of Syracuse have been living in the Outer Comstock Neighborhood, which is close to the I-81 corridor, for the past three years.

“It’s important for us to talk about it from a human scale. I’m thinking of a person who may be walking next to the community grid going downtown to do things, crossing the streets on the community grid," Liuzzi said. "So I want a place that really welcomes people, that’s really pedestrian friendly, that’s safe and that's also beautiful.”

Given the history of I-81, there has been a fear from people who live along the corridor that they will be displaced and the area will be gentrified.

“We need to make sure we take every step possible to ensure that there is no displacement, that people who want to stay and be in their neighborhoods have the opportunity to do so,” said Greg Loh, chief policy officer for the city.

Loh said part of the project was to increase opportunities by adding more resources to affordable housing neighborhoods, increase safety and improve walkability.

“To make it possible for people who haven’t been able to walk to a barbershop, or make a short trip to go see the doctor, to find those things now in close proximity to their neighborhoods, while ensuring they can stay where they want to be,” Loh said.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the city and it really needs to be done right. So all the input makes a difference to getting it right,” Liuzzi said.

Community members will be able to provide input until Saturday afternoon. Afterwards, Dover, Kohl and Partners group will begin sharing ideas with the public.