Ithacating in Cornell Heights

A few articles have popped up lately that merit a brief writeup.

The BJ’s Wholesale Club and 12 senior apartments planned for the grass lot next to the Shops at Ithaca Mall (behind the YMCA) hit a snag when the county industrial authority voted down a tax break for the residential portion of the project in a 4-3 vote. While this makes the project less likely, it is not entirely dead, and the town of Lansing still supports the project. However, it’s the  village of Lansing that demanded the residential component as a buffer between houses and shopping areas. Some involved with the project contend that the votes against were by Ithaca-centric legislators who’d rather see the potential sales tax dollars go to the city (i.e. build the store on a site in Ithaca City). BJ’s has no interest in any local site except the one currently proposed, so in conclusion everyone’s getting their panties up in a bunch, and the project is at the very least on hold in its current form.

Out in Dryden, a 144-unit apartment complex is being proposed. Called “Poet’s Landing” (perhaps as a nod to John Dryden, the British poet for whom the village/town is named), the project consists of a 72-unit senior living apartment building, 7 other buildings containing a total of 72 units, and a community center. 48 of the 72 non-senior units are proposed low-income housing, which has managed to rile up the locals with fears of higher crime rates and drugs (the project is across the street from Dryden High School). the project is by Conifer Realty, who also own the Linderman Creek complex over on West Hill.

Lastly, a little closer to Cornell, the Collegetown Terrace Project is waiting on three things – site plan approvals, approval of a zoning variance, and a “certificate of appropriateness” from the Landmarks committee, who are not doubt still seething after the city okayed demolition of Delano House in exchange for the restoration of another house on the property and some public signage displays of the site’s history. If the project can clear those final hurdles, a late spring or summer start for site prep is likely.