Any Ideas for the Proposed Development In Ithaca

[likeshockey]

I am a graduate student in NYU's Real Estate Institute. In my Development Process course, my group is assigned a feasibility study of Southwest Area development site.

The City seeks to convert the vacant site into a vibrant, mixed-income urban neighborhood with as many as 600 housing units and compatible uses. The development site is situated in the southwest portion of Ithaca, contiguous to the 61-acre Southwest Natural Area and within walking distance of shopping, Buttermilk Falls State Park, and the Cayuga Inlet, which is heavily used for non-motorized boating.  Ithaca, home to Cornell University and Ithaca College, is in Tompkins County, which enjoys the strongest economy in upstate New York.

As a student, I did not go into the city of Ithaca often. In fact, I think I can count the number of times on my hand. I have not been to the school in a number of years. So I don't know what the living and working atmosphere is like downtown. I am trying to understand where the people will be coming from to live in this new housing. I read that the growth will come from 45-54 age group. Are these professors retiring or alumni coming back to area? Would they really want to live in this area? Also, besides the universities where are the employment opportunities in the area? With all the new buildings on campus, does anyone know if high technology companies are planning on locating near the university?

I imagine that this forum has a number of people that could give some insight into understanding Ithaca and its needs. I appreciate any thoughtful analysis. Thank you

[2]

That's an interesting idea, but I wonder if it won't turn into more affordable housing and another somewhat shady neighbrhood in Ithaca.  Tompkins County may have the strongest economic north and west of the City,but there is already a seedy character to part of the town.  I believe that is why Ithaca has been mentioned several times as an place for criminals and witnesses to flee in Law & Order.

There is a senior citizen living center on Triphammer that caters to older alumni and faculty who return to or stay in Ithaca, but it seems that 45-54 is an odd age for newcomers to a town.  Most people don't retire that early.  I wonder if they will try to sell the housing as a place for people from more rural communities who want to move to Ithaca.  In any case, it strikes me as odd and perhaps a little unrealistic to build this.  

Perhaps you could call the chamber of commerce or someone in municipal gov't to see if there is expanding industry in the area.  Maybe they'll be building airplanes or cash registers in Ithaca again.  But I prefer it if they just build hockey teams.

[likeshockey]

My project group is going to make the trip to Ithaca this weekend. I have not been to the school in twenty years. Can someone recommend a good place to have lunch? I remember the 9's, Royal Palm, the greek restaurant, Moosewood etc. I am sure most of them are gone. Thanks

[Beeeej]

To the contrary - the Nines, the Royal Palm ("the Palms"), and Moosewood are still there.  I don't know what you mean by "the greek restaurant," but if you mean The Greek House on Dryden Road in C-town, that's only recently closed, but there are a few other good Greek places in town, including Souvlaki House on Eddy Street.  And I don't think the Palms serves food anymore, though I could be mistaken.

[reilly83]

Hope you'll get to the games this weekend!  I think the chili festival is Saturday so you can get some ideas about what life is sometimes like on the Commons.

I know nothing about real estate development, but just from following the news and reading editorials, I can tell you about some of the attitudes you might encounter here, in general terms.

You will meet a great deal of resistance against any type of development in Ithaca, especially because your project is large, dense, and so close to the Southwest Natural Area. To make it palatable, you will have to make it "green."  And forget high-rise buildings.  There will be resistance to any change of the viewscape. (There might even be a building height limit in the city IIRC.)  

I have no answer about why the 45-54 age group is expected to grow, but I am not sure that they are looking to live in the city. People seem to be moving to the towns outside of the city, either because it is considered more affordable or because of the perception that the schools are better. Generally, there seems to be an anti-wealth sentiment and alot of desire that low and middle income housing be built.  However, some successful developers, do believe that upscale apartments are going to be rentable downtown.  Check out this gateway commons web-site advertising a new building at the foot of the State Street hill and then check it out in real life when you visit.

Good luck with your project!

[jtwcornell91]

You may want to look at http://dining.14850.com/ for Ithaca restaurant info.  Although I recall doing the chili cook-off thing for lunch when I was in town for the corresponding weekend last year.

[RichH]

[quote Beeeej]And I don't think the Palms serves food anymore, though I could be mistaken.[/quote]

Well...beer is food isn't it?  ::uhoh::

[likeshockey]

I hear that Ithaca has 2 feet of snow. Is it true? If it is true, then I think that I will postpone my trip another week. The greek restaurant is the Souvlaki House. Do any of the bars still have the happy hour special of a pitcher of beer for $3?

[BCrespi]

[quote likeshockey]I hear that Ithaca has 2 feet of snow. Is it true? If it is true, then I think that I will postpone my trip another week. The greek restaurant is the Souvlaki House. Do any of the bars still have the happy hour special of a pitcher of beer for $3?[/quote]

Put off your trip and miss a huge hockey weekend just because of a little snow?? Ithaca doesn't want your development anyway!;-)

See if you can postpone until home playoff games?  That may be acceptable.

[KeithK]

[quote BCrespi][quote likeshockey]I hear that Ithaca has 2 feet of snow. Is it true? If it is true, then I think that I will postpone my trip another week. The greek restaurant is the Souvlaki House. Do any of the bars still have the happy hour special of a pitcher of beer for $3?[/quote]

Put off your trip and miss a huge hockey weekend just because of a little snow?? Ithaca doesn't want your development anyway!;-)

See if you can postpone until home playoff games?  That may be acceptable.[/quote]After all, what's a hockey road trip without inclement weather?

[billhoward]

[quote likeshockey]My project group is going to make the trip to Ithaca this weekend. I have not been to the school in twenty years. Can someone recommend a good place to have lunch? I remember the 9's, Royal Palm, the greek restaurant, Moosewood etc. I am sure most of them are gone. Thanks[/quote]

You can go back but you may not like it. You probably should look for the best restaurant around, in your price range, not the restaurant you liked that has survived two decades. In a place as vibrant as Ithaca, restaurants and nightspots change constantly, and so does the pecking order of who's best.

[KeithK]

[quote billhoward][quote likeshockey]My project group is going to make the trip to Ithaca this weekend. I have not been to the school in twenty years. Can someone recommend a good place to have lunch? I remember the 9's, Royal Palm, the greek restaurant, Moosewood etc. I am sure most of them are gone. Thanks[/quote]

You can go back but you may not like it. You probably should look for the best restaurant around, in your price range, not the restaurant you liked that has survived two decades. In a place as vibrant as Ithaca, restaurants and nightspots change constantly, and so does the pecking order of who's best.[/quote]When you're going back to the town where you went to college after many years nostalgia is probably more important than quality.  In that situation I'd rather eat in the mediocre place I frequented as a student than at the "vibrant" new hot spot.  But YMMV.

[jtwcornell91]

[quote KeithK][quote billhoward][quote likeshockey]My project group is going to make the trip to Ithaca this weekend. I have not been to the school in twenty years. Can someone recommend a good place to have lunch? I remember the 9's, Royal Palm, the greek restaurant, Moosewood etc. I am sure most of them are gone. Thanks[/quote]

You can go back but you may not like it. You probably should look for the best restaurant around, in your price range, not the restaurant you liked that has survived two decades. In a place as vibrant as Ithaca, restaurants and nightspots change constantly, and so does the pecking order of who's best.[/quote]When you're going back to the town where you went to college after many years nostalgia is probably more important than quality.  In that situation I'd rather eat in the mediocre place I frequented as a student than at the "vibrant" new hot spot.  But YMMV.[/quote]

I say, partake of whichever brunch has the highest concentration of Anbinders.  That usually works out pretty well.

[Beeeej]

[quote jtwcornell91][quote KeithK][quote billhoward][quote likeshockey]My project group is going to make the trip to Ithaca this weekend. I have not been to the school in twenty years. Can someone recommend a good place to have lunch? I remember the 9's, Royal Palm, the greek restaurant, Moosewood etc. I am sure most of them are gone. Thanks[/quote]

You can go back but you may not like it. You probably should look for the best restaurant around, in your price range, not the restaurant you liked that has survived two decades. In a place as vibrant as Ithaca, restaurants and nightspots change constantly, and so does the pecking order of who's best.[/quote]When you're going back to the town where you went to college after many years nostalgia is probably more important than quality.  In that situation I'd rather eat in the mediocre place I frequented as a student than at the "vibrant" new hot spot.  But YMMV.[/quote]

I say, partake of whichever brunch has the highest concentration of Anbinders.  That usually works out pretty well.[/quote]

Is that measured in molarity?

[Robb]

[quote Beeeej][quote jtwcornell91][quote KeithK][quote billhoward][quote likeshockey]My project group is going to make the trip to Ithaca this weekend. I have not been to the school in twenty years. Can someone recommend a good place to have lunch? I remember the 9's, Royal Palm, the greek restaurant, Moosewood etc. I am sure most of them are gone. Thanks[/quote]

You can go back but you may not like it. You probably should look for the best restaurant around, in your price range, not the restaurant you liked that has survived two decades. In a place as vibrant as Ithaca, restaurants and nightspots change constantly, and so does the pecking order of who's best.[/quote]When you're going back to the town where you went to college after many years nostalgia is probably more important than quality.  In that situation I'd rather eat in the mediocre place I frequented as a student than at the "vibrant" new hot spot.  But YMMV.[/quote]

I say, partake of whichever brunch has the highest concentration of Anbinders.  That usually works out pretty well.[/quote]

Is that measured in molarity?[/quote]
I think it's more of a quantum phenomenon, not something that can be treated as a continuum...