ITHACA, N.Y. -- As phase one of the pandemic re-opening continues in the Southern Tier, construction projects outside of public resources and infrastructure are being allowed to move forward.

ITHACA, N.Y. -- As phase one of the pandemic re-opening continues in the Southern Tier, construction projects outside of public resources and infrastructure are being allowed to move forward. Among them are two larger development previously approved for the city of Ithaca - the redevelopment of the Chacona Block (a.k.a. the old Collegetown Bagels building) at 411-415 College Avenue in Collegetown, and West End Heights on the corner of West Court and North Meadow Streets.

Both are currently in the demolition and site preparation stage. Demolition work had previoiusly been allowed to proceed at the vacated West End Heights properties at 709-713 West Court because affordable housing development was okayed by the state as a public resource development. Demolition work on the old Chacona Block will begin on May 27th, per notice from the City of Ithaca.

The five-story West End Heights project, developed by Lakeview Health Services, will bring sixty apartment units to the city when it comes to completion in late 2021. As previously reported, "(o)n the first floor of the $21.7 million building, office space will be available for both residents and other Lakeview clients. Twenty of the units will be reserved for people with a mental health diagnosis, and an additional 10 units are for people with a diagnosis who are also experiencing homelessness. The remaining 30 units are affordable housing (households making less than 60% area median income), with eight of those units for 'homeless or unstably housed individuals who may also have special needs relating to substance abuse and/or HIV/AIDS'".

As is often the case with affordable housing, projects like West End Heights take years to begin construction after receiving approval from planning boards. They are dependent on federal housing grants and awards because lower-income housing doesn't have a high enough return on investment (profit) for conventional bank financing. Although the project was approved in the fall of 2017, the last needed piece of construction funding wasn't rewarded until last May. The city of Ithaca, Tompkins County and the state of New York have all contributed funds to help make the project a reality.

Plan Architectural Studio of Rochester is the architect, while local firm Trowbridge Wolf Michaels Landscape Architects is handling the landscape designs. Another local company, T.G. Miller P.C., is in charge of the civil engineering and site surveying.

Meanwhile, across the city in Collegetown, Student Agencies is beginning work on their new home at 411-415 College Avenue. The project has not been without controversy, as the century-old Chacona Block was debated for historical designation (landmarking). The discussion, which drew heated commentary both in favor and against the designation, which would have prevented demolition in all cases except emergency. The Common Council was split by a 5-5 vote, with the mayor casting the tie-breaking against the designation.

As planned, the new $12 million Student Agencies building would provide first-floor commercial retail space and 56 student-oriented apartments on the second through sixth floors. A public plaza would take the place of the former Collegetown Bagels Patio space on the roundabout intersection of Oak and College Avenues. Final site plan approval for the development was granted in February, with a planned August 2021 opening. The phase one re-opening came in time for the project to stay on its original construction schedule.

Local firm HOLT Architects designed the new building, and prolific Ithaca firm Whitham Planning and Design penned the new public plaza space. T.G. Miller P.C. did the civil engineering work, and Ithaca's Elwyn & Palmer Consulting Engineers provided further engineering work.

This article was originally published in the Ithaca Voice, May 19, 2020 by Brian Crandall.

  was originally published in the Ithaca Voice, May 19, 2020 by Brian Crandall.