Normally, construction workers pay me no notice. This trip was a little unusual.
“Oh my God, is he taking photos of us!?”
“This is not my good side!”
“Worst glamor shots ever!”
Well noted gentlemen.
Workers from Ithaca firm Carina Construction continue on the last stage of the 29-unit Belle Sherman Cottages project just over the city’s eastern boundary line, in the town of Ithaca off the 800 block of Mitchell Street. On the first set of townhouses (lots 25-29), one gentlemen was busy cutting trim boards as exterior finish work was being wrapped up in time for the fall semester. Asked if he knew when the next modular units would arrive, he said “oh, just a couple weeks from now”. Since these photos are almost a couple weeks old now, one could say any day now, if they haven’t arrived already.
Unlike the five units already built, these will have Pacific Blue Certainteed clapboard siding instead of Autumn Red, and the garages will be in the back instead of the front. The Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) block foundation walls are being assembled in preparation for the arrival of the Simplex modular units (covered in great detail by Ithaca Builds), which will be brought in and fitted before the leaves turn. Interior finishing and exterior work such roofing, siding. and porches will be completed over the next couple months and into the fall. The stand-alone homes, apart from whatever’s going on with lot 9, have been sold and assembled.
A quick glance at the sales records filed with the county shows a nice mix of buyers; retirees moving in from around town and from outside the Ithaca area, and a number of professionals who are making the jump from renters to owners. Prices for the homes started at around $330k, and in the mid $200s for the townhouses.
For those looking to buy in, you might have missed your chance; all the units are sold or reserved, and developer Toby Millman of Agora Homes and Development LLC says there are no current plans at the moment for another BSC-style development in Ithaca.
Ithacating in Cornell Heights 
I really like this development. Seems like similar projects could be in the future with the success of this one being evident. Along that line, who owns the forested area on the east side of Mitchell street between this project and Judd Falls road? I know its butts up against Cornell stuff, but I wasn’t sure if Cornell own that area.
Sorry, I meant the south side of Mitchell. (oops)
All the undeveloped land south of Mitchell between here and Pine Tree is owned by Cornell, according to the county records.