I always carry a second set of charged batteries on me when I do these little photo tours, because the last thing I want is to have my day cut prematurely short, or pay out the nose for a new pack of AAs (I rotate through two sets of rechargeables, for the record). It doesn’t help me much when I leave the extra set on the passenger’s seat of my car, which is parked way up on Pearl Street. I was cold and soaked to the bone by the time I finally finished getting all the shots I wanted. Here, there are not only construction photos, but also shots from some less familiar angles of the project.
It still astounds me when I think of the numbers associated with this project. Seven buildings over 12 acres. The net increase in bedrooms is 589 (1,226 total, in at least 610 units). The construction cost exceeds $70 million. Using the Danter study (which assumes a 98-99% occupancy rate), that would mean 580 more residents in this area (although given the intended market, it’s mostly re-appropriation of tenants from other parts of the county). That’s more than the population of nearby Freeville. Certainly, the project has been fraught with contentious debate since it was first proposed. As development goes, it’s the proverbial 800-pound gorilla.
Buildings 5 and 6 are well-underway, heading towards a completion/occupancy date of August 2014; building 7, which is very similar to building 5 but further south (i.e. deeper into) on the property, will be constructed in the 2014-2015 timeframe.
Building 5 and the elevated walkway.
Building 6, complete with winter-friendly plastic wrap.
The rear addition of the George C. Williams House.
The “Mithcell Plaza“, which incorporates elements from the locally-relevant Delano House that was demolished to make way for the project.
Vinyl-tastic. I thought these were supposed to be metal panels…?
No one mind me, I just needed a place to briefly dry off.
Ithacating in Cornell Heights 
Thanks for the last few entries posting updated pics. You seemed to cover a lot of ground and projects during your visit. Glad to got to spend some time in the old town.
Sigh…Collegetown Terrace. What a mixed blessing. On the one hand, it’s really enhanced the quality of housing available in the neighborhood (at least, for students with deep pockets…for others, it’s hopefully relieved a lot of pressure inflating rents). On the other, there’s no way its ticky-tacky architecture ages well. The wild colors and weird shingle siding will no doubt look horrible in a few decades. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
A couple other stray thoughts:
– The wall at State and Mitchell is aesthetically aggravating. The homage to the historic home that once sat there is too token to have made ruining the vista to the fitness center building, which should serve as a grand entrance to the complex, worthwhile.
– Given that the complex makes much more housing available in Collegetown, I really hope it increases momentum for a spike in retail offerings in the area. There’s surely enough demand at least for a bodega or something at State/Mitchell from the new buildings alone…hopefully we’ll see a response to this once a Collegetown rezoning proposal is adopted.
[…] through. In the past year, Seneca Way finished up, the Argos Inn opened (and I hit up its bar), Collegetown Terrace continued construction, and Breckenridge welcomed its first renters. Harold’s Square received […]