The long awaited Hotel Ithaca Marriott project adds 160-guest rooms, a restaurant, and meeting space to the east end of the commons. Operated by Bethesda, Maryland based Urgo Hotels, the project has gone through several iterations involving design and ownership in order to secure financing. The new hotel will be located on a small triangular lot off of Green street, adjacent to the Green Street Parking Garage and the Rothschild’s Building. The Marriott was recently granted a 10-year PILOT by Tompkins County Area Development, as part of the City of Ithaca’s new, streamlined version of the Community Investment Incentive Tax Abatement Program (CIITAP), to secure the necessary financing to begin the project.
Hotel Ithaca Marriott Project Description
May 9, 2013 // by Jason Henderson
Harold’s Square Project Description
May 9, 2013 // by Jason Henderson
Four-stories in the front, and seven additional stories in the back, Harold’s Square is a large mixed-used project slated to be added to the heart of the commons. The four-story commons façade will have ground floor retail with three stories of office space above it, and the rear will have a six-story apartment tower. At eleven stories, this would have the most floors in downtown Ithaca. Currently, a proposal before Common Council would amend the zoning district to cater to the 140 foot height of the proposed structure, a change from the current height restriction of 60-feet.
The new Harold’s Square project would replace the existing structures that housed Alphabet Soup, Race Office Supply, and the old Harold’s Army and Navy store. This project is still seeking site plan approval, and will have to resolve zoning variance issues before it proceeds. Though, with strong encouragement from the City and DIA, expect Harold’s Square to keep progressing.
Commons Rebuild Plan
May 3, 2013 // by Jason Henderson
Full plan is here (huge file ~200MB): Sasaki Ithaca Commons Rebuild Final Design
Commons Rebuild No Trees
May 3, 2013 // by Jason Henderson