Ithacating in Cornell Heights

Not so much construction as a look at what the site as it currently stands. The Chapter House has been approved, and the apartments house planned for 406 Stewart Avenue, being a smaller project, just needs the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) to sign off at this point, as the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission (ILPC) has given their tentative blessing. No specific numbers on number of occupants/bedrooms in the new Chapter House, but expect it to be fairly close to the total lost in last Spring’s tragic fire. 406 will be slightly larger thanks to improved interior circulation and the addition of a floor – 4 apartments and 7 occupants vs. the previous building’s 5 apartments and 6 occupants. Because of that one-floor increase, a reconstruction cannot be done as-of-right, so the project will need to be granted several area variances from the BZA.

In keeping with the ILPC’s fairly stringent approach, the buildings are designed to be sympathetic to the originals without being replicas (which is generally advised against by historic preservationists because it cheapens the value of buildings that have managed to survive the past century). The Chapter House will have GAF Sienna asphalt shingles on the roof and Inspire Aledora simulated slate shingles on the first-floor overhang, Redland Heritage SWB brick and bluestone.

The Chapter House project is paid for by Sebastian Mascaro of Florida, and 406 Stewart is funded by Jim Goldman of suburban Philadelphia. Jerry Dietz of local company CSP Management is representation both owners for their respective projects. Local architect Jason K. Demarest (brother of STREAM Collaborative’s Noah Demarest) is the designer-in-charge.

Work on the new Chapter House is expected to begin shortly, with a late summer or early fall opening. 406 Stewart expects a May construction start with completion in January 2017.