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Old Posted Apr 22, 2011, 10:22 PM
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Ex-Ithacan Ex-Ithacan is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Live in DC suburbs-Maryland
Posts: 22,154
I know Ithaca's main industry is education, but I do wonder why there are soooooo many studies (which often cost quite a bit) to arrive at a conclusion which seems clear to most folks. This is especially true when it comes to possible new developments. Seems the city/county could spruce up some empty space downtown and get started with the planning/building a new county administration building (there's undeveloped land downtown).


Articles from the Ithaca Journal:

Tompkins court to county: Let's get moving

Judge seeks firm date for courthouse conversion
6:38 PM, Apr. 15, 2011
Written by
Liz Lawyer

Ithaca -- The Tompkins County Legislature and government offices may have to move out of the courthouse on Tioga Street sooner than planned.

The New York State Court System needs more space in the building, and the county has begun feasibility studies on whether a Center of Government building in downtown would make sense.

The county recently purchased the former Carpet Bazaar building on West State Street to convert it to office space for the County Office for the Aging.

Supreme Court Judge Robert Mulvey, administrative judge for the 6th Judicial District, told the county legislature's Capital Plan Review Committee this week that space is the court system's most urgent need and the courts would be satisfied to occupy the needed space with only "minimal renovations" now, instead of proceeding with a recommended full-blown renovation that could cost more than $3.8 million and take close to two years.

While avoiding the cost of a full renovation would be positive for the county, legislature chair Martha Robertson cautioned that the legislature "has nowhere to go" right now.

Mulvey told the committee the court needs the county to set a firm date regarding when it will vacate the legislature chambers, which will be made into a courtroom.

The committee voted Thursday to recommend allocating an additional $75,000 in contingency funds to support a business case analysis for a Center of Government concept, in addition to the $50,000 already approved.

County Administrator Joe Mareane said study will enable the county to take a reasoned, long-term look at the space configuration for many of the county's departments, instead of making reactive, situational decisions, and will help to determine what's best for the county and best for the taxpayer,

Here's the link:
http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...=2011104150359


This article also includes other stuff going on in Tompkins County:

Cramped courts force Tompkins Legislature to seek new chambers

12:13 AM, Apr. 22, 2011
Written by
Staff reports

The Tompkins County Legislature is looking for new digs after the New York State Court System requested a firm timetable for the legislature to vacate its current chambers.

The chambers will be made into a courtroom for the state Supreme Court. Under the New York State Court Facilities Act, counties are mandated to provide whatever space is needed by the court system

Space in the Old Courthouse was discussed Wednesday as a possible interim space for the legislature's business until a permanent location is found.

Legislator Mike Lane, D-Dryden, said money spent on retrofitting for an interim solution, followed by permanent facilities such as a Center of Government administrative building, would amount to spending twice.

Chairwoman Martha Robertson said she believes an interim move to the Old Courthouse would involve little expense. She said a lot of information must still be gathered before any decision is made.

Also Wednesday, the legislature accepted a Climate Showcase Communities grant of more than $375,000 from the federal Environmental Protection Agency by a 14-1 vote. Legislator Frank Proto, R-Caroline/Danby, said his dissenting vote did not reflect opposition to accepting the funding, but his concern about the potential use of county-owned land on West Hill for such housing as part of the grant-funded initiative.

Planning Commissioner Ed Marx said the grant application indicates only that the county, working with the Town of Ithaca, will develop a request for proposals from prospective developers, which would seek to demonstrate that private development can incorporate energy-efficient, community-based housing principles.

Other actions taken Wednesday include:

» Authorization for the county to submit up to $750,000 for an application under the New York State Community Development Block Grant Program for 2011. The funding would support a rehabilitation program in homes of low- to middle-income county residents to replace dilapidated roofs and make water and sewer improvements.

» Appropriation of more than $340,000 in grant funding from the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration to support the Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council's 2011-2012 budget.

» Approval of a resolution, sponsored by Legislator Dooley Kiefer, D-Villages of Lansing and Cayuga Heights, acknowledging Earth Day and supporting community-wide activities and events marking the day.


Here's the link:

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...=2011104210362
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