Ithaca Builds

Mapping, photos and information for Ithaca construction and development projects

Project Updates

Planned Parenthood: Foundation Pours, Stair & Elevator Towers Begin

September 5, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

The Planned Parenthood site is showing what looks like complete foundation walls, and now the stair and elevator towers are being formed for pouring concrete, rather than stacking with blocks. The drilling rig seen previously looks to have possibly drilled for the pipes sticking out of the ground off to the west in the first shot here, but I’m still not sure what they’re for, since the drill rig was quite enormous. Nice to see the pace pickup here as the constant rain of a few weeks ago has ebbed for a while.

Planned_Parenthood_941
Planned_Parenthood_946
Planned_Parenthood_945

State & Mitchell New Curb Placement and Traffic Joy

September 4, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

The western curb and lane of the State & Mitchell Intersection has been dug-out, filled-in with asphalt, and the new curb put in place. The sidewalk along the new curb is still open for pedestrians, so you can get a good glimpse at the work going on. The traffic flow is clearly a lot more jammed than usual, but when the work is all done it will be a much more efficient and safe intersection than it was before. The planned traffic lights will form an “L-shape” along and perpendicular to East State Street, allowing for turning traffic flows from the West and North, and traffic flow from East to West and vice versa. See the plan overlay on an aerial image in this previous post, along with traffic data.

State_Mitchell_9424
State_Mitchell_9422


Klarman Hall Site Excavation & Staging

September 4, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

Klarman_Hall_9423

Klarman Hall’s site contains more materials since two weeks ago, and there’s been some excavation of what looks like a storm drainage line that goes under East Ave, draining from East to West. The slope along East Ave has been dug down slightly, and the windows on Goldwin Smith Hall will probably be boarded up soon so that they are protected once further excavation begins. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out Cornell’s info page on the project: Klarman Hall.

Harold’s Square Final Drawings

September 3, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

Along with 130 E Clinton St and Cayuga Green II, Harold’s Square was approved at last Tuesday’s Planning Board meeting, and here is the final set of site plans. The final build is as follows:
140‐foot tall
11‐story
132,000 Gross SF
11,000 SF of ground‐floor retail
41,200 SF upper‐story office (three stories)
Six stories of residential (up to 36 units)

As described in the Planning agenda, the project as proposed may require a State Building Code Variance, a Type I Action under both the City and State Environmental Quality Review Ordinance/Act: rules found here. The referenced actions are for construction [on] a historic structure (1)(h)[4], a development with more than 15 dwelling units (1)[k], and a development with more than 50,000 Gross SF (1)[n]. The referenced State rule (SEQR Act 617.4 (b)(9)) is for historic considerations as well.

Harold's_Square_Perspective

Harold's_Square_Diagram

Harold's_Square_Perspective2

Seneca Way Photos

August 31, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

Many of the third through fifth floor windows are in place, and it looks like the parapet wall sections have been framed-in above the fifth floor wall panels. As it stands now, this would be nearly the final height and massing of the building.

Seneca_Way_8273

Seneca_Way_8272

Collegetown Terrace Building 5 Progress

August 29, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

More photos from the Collegetown Terrace Project. The eastern foundation walls of Building 5 have been formed, and are being poured, and there’s another floor of exterior sheathing and framing going up. The landscaping is also fully-mulched now, looks nice.

Collegetown_Terrace_82701Collegetown_Terrace_82704
Collegetown_Terrace_82705

Emerson Subdivision Map & Surveys

August 29, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

Here are the proposed subdivision maps for the Emerson site, showing the proposed “OU-1” (0.9 acres off South Cayuga Street, contains two underground storage tanks, and a treatment building) and “OU-2” (95 acres, the rest of the site). The split looks like a deal-maker to sell the site to the potential developer in order to relinquish an overburden of remedial work on the entire parcel. Emerson’s operations here closed for good back in 2009, so it’s nice to see some forward motion on a site this massive.

Commons Rebuild Phase Two Boots on the Ground

August 28, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

As the Commons Rebuild site announced a couple weeks ago, Phase Two of the rebuild has kicked-off, amidst a slight delay due to atypical-size piping of the 100 year old water main, and telecom lines running directly above sanitary lines discovered in the Bank Alley section. This phase of the project was awarded to Vacri Construction, General Contractors out of Binghamton, NY, although telecom and non-municipal utility providers will be working alongside on their new services.

Commons_Rebuild_8273

Commons_Rebuild_8274

College Crossings Final Site Plans

August 28, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

I haven’t swung by this project in a few weeks, but here are the College Crossings final site plans, memorandum and resolution (courtesy of Chris Balestra, Planner at the Town of Ithaca). The project no longer includes a drive-thru retail space for Dunkin’ Donuts, as was proposed in earlier iterations, and the parking lots have been re-configured to allow for an expansion lot instead of a continuation of the lot in the northwest area.
The Ithaca Estates Realty site now includes a page for this property, offering 500 to 3,500 square feet commercial spaces (there are five total on the ground floor, plus an office and bank branch on the east side). In addition to the commercial space, the project will include a four bedroom apartment and a five bedroom apartment on the second level.

Final Site Plans:

 

Final Memo and Resolution:

 

Planning Board Meeting Tonight 6pm: Emerson Subdivision, 130 Clinton, Harold’s Square, Cayuga Green II

August 27, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

There’s a City of Ithaca Planning Board Meeting tonight in the Common Council Chambers at 6pm. On the agenda (embedded below): the Emerson Subdivision (Journal article here), 130 E Clinton Street apartment project, Harold’s Square revised plans, and Cayuga Green II’s revised plans.