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  #1361  
Old Posted Jun 28, 2011, 5:37 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ex-Ithacan View Post
Thanks for the info, and I couldn't agree more with your comments on the construction moratorium game in the Ithaca area. The people want lower taxes, but won't allow developers build (if they can get financing) projects that would benefit the community.
PM me, please.
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  #1362  
Old Posted Jun 29, 2011, 7:41 PM
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Ex-Ithacan, your PM box is full.
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  #1363  
Old Posted Jul 6, 2011, 3:02 PM
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Nice recognition for a small city transit company. News report from YNN:

http://ithaca-cortland.ynn.com/conte...north-america/

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  #1364  
Old Posted Jul 13, 2011, 10:12 PM
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I guess the airport is a big plus for a small city like Ithaca, from the Ithaca Journal: http://www.theithacajournal.com/arti...text|FRONTPAGE

Quote:
Study: Ithaca's airport helps economy take wing
State report links 510 jobs to facility

6:21 PM, Jul. 12, 2011


Passengers disembark from U.S. Airways flight 4608 from Philadelphia midday Tuesday at Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport. A New York State Department of Transportation study calculated that the airport generated more than $66 million of economic activity in 2009. / SIMON WHEELER / STAFF PHOTO

Written by
Rachel Stern

The Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport generated more than $66.8 million in economic activity in 2009, according to a state Department of Transportation study.

The news came as no surprise to Airport Manager Bob Nicholas. Between the local goods and services the airport buys, the jobs the airport creates and the people the airport brings into the community, Nicholas was more than aware of the economic impact, he said.

"We pretty much knew the airport is valuable," he said. "Not only is it a convenience, but a lot of what we spend to run the airport and keep it maintained is spent in the community and all of that counts toward economic activity." ..............
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  #1365  
Old Posted Jul 13, 2011, 10:26 PM
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And so it goes......

From the Ithaca Journal:
http://www.theithacajournal.com/arti...l-construction

Quote:
Town of Ithaca restricts West Hill construction

Yearlong moratorium affects areas near Echo Village, Hayts Road
5:25 PM, Jul. 12, 2011

Written by
Shawnee A. Barnes


ITHACA -- The Ithaca Town Board voted this week to adopt a yearlong moratorium on new construction for a portion of West Hill.

The board voted unanimously after a brief public hearing in which a few residents spoke about their concerns over the timing of the moratorium -- two big projects are set to commence this summer.

"We want to take some time to step back and study this area more," Town Supervisor Herb Engman said. "We want to see how we can create a more livable community here," he added. The idea would be to connect the neighborhoods to include walking trails and perhaps revisiting the idea of a connector road to make the neighborhoods more contiguous, Engman said. .............
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  #1366  
Old Posted Jul 17, 2011, 1:57 AM
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Some good news (from the Ithaca Journal):

Transonic, Scisense maintaining sites

3:01 PM, Jul. 15, 2011


Transonic Systems is staying put.

The company, which makes ultrasound blood-flow measurement equipment, announced a merger with London, Ontario-based Scisense this week, but its Ithaca operations and its employees will remain.

Work will continue on its 30,000 square-foot new manufacturing facility in Lansing, according to marketing supervisor Miram Tenorio.

The merger brings the two companies under one corporate organization. Transonic is a subsidiary of the holding company Measurement Innovations Corp., which is also the parent of Transonic business units in Europe, Japan and elsewhere in Asia, as well as Endosomatic Systems, which makes telemetry equipment for veterinary research. Transonic, which grew out of research at Cornell University, has 144 employees in Ithaca.

Scisense, which has about 25 employees, is coming under the Measurement Innovations fold and will maintain its facilities and employment in the southern Canadian city, Tenorio said.

Scisense specializes in micro-sensing technologies for use in preclinical research. Its products include high-fidelity pressure sensors used to measure blood pressure, pressure-volume catheters and catheters for electrophysiology applications, according to the company.

-- Staff reports
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  #1367  
Old Posted Jul 21, 2011, 12:47 PM
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Nice idea, but will it ever actually happen?
From the Ithaca Times:


Tompkins County wants two-thirds of new housing in nodes
Posted: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 6:00 am

Bill Chaisson Ithaca Times | 0 comments

Quote:
In August Tompkins County residents will start hearing about the new "development focus areas" proposed by the county planning department. The 21 "nodes" are distributed through each of the nine towns in the county with the city itself included. The county will be trying to get two-thirds of all new housing to be built in these areas.

"We'll start meeting with local planning boards," said Joan Jurkowich, the deputy commissioner of the planning for the county, "and start that conversation, then go to the general public." She said that in public meetings that took place during the development of the report about to be released, there had been good attendance by local board members, but few members of the public had been present. ...........

Full article:
http://www.ithaca.com/news/article_0...cc4c03286.html
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  #1368  
Old Posted Jul 23, 2011, 1:00 AM
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Short news blurb about Ithaca as a place to retire (from YNN network):

http://ithaca-cortland.ynn.com/conte...ces-to-retire/
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  #1369  
Old Posted Jul 26, 2011, 10:29 PM
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Another hotel possible on the southwest side of town (from the Ithaca Journal):

Quote:
Hotel proposed for Manos Diner site in Ithaca
106 rooms planned for 14,500-square-foot building
7:23 PM, Jul. 25, 2011

Written by
Liz Lawyer


Ithaca -- The owner of the Manos Diner on Elmira Road is proposing to build a four-story hotel at 359 Elmira Road.

The 106-room Fairfield Inn would replace the current Manos Diner with a 14,500-square-foot building and a parking lot.

The project proposed by Bill Manos would require a variance to extend past the permitted 30-foot transition line into the adjacent residential district, as well as for the number of stories and building height.

The project also includes a pedestrian walkway between Spencer and Elmira roads, and will result in a through-street lot between the two roadways, according to the meeting agenda for Tuesday.

Lawrence Fabbroni of Ava Development will present the project proposal at the City of Ithaca Planning & Development Board's meeting Tuesday at 6 p.m. Manos said Monday he could not comment further on the project until it moves forward.

The meeting will include an extension of site plan approval for another hotel planned for Aurora Street, Hotel Ithaca. The hotel project received its final site plan approval in September 2009.

Other items to be discussed at Tuesday's meeting include suicide-prevention measures on seven city and Cornell University bridges, an application for final approval for an Ithaca College boathouse, an application for final approval for Collegetown Terrace Apartments, and a small parking lot at a property on Eddy Street.

http://www.theithacajournal.com/arti...text|FRONTPAGE
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  #1370  
Old Posted Jul 29, 2011, 10:32 PM
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Getting any kind of successful development of this property will be a difficult proposition. My brother worked at this factory before Emerson moved to Ohio(I think) for consolidation purposes.
From the Ithaca Journal:

Quote:
Nibbles but no bites for the Emerson building
9:06 PM, Jul. 28, 2011

Developers interested in the Emerson Power Transmission building continue to visit the site, said City of Ithaca Deputy Director for Economic Development Phyllisa DeSarno.

DeSarno said several agencies, including the city's planning department, Tompkins County Area Development, and the Town of Ithaca, are working with developers to find a buyer for the site.

"It's complicated, but there are people who are continuing to look and who are talking to the Emerson people," DeSarno said.

Developers she has spoken to are interested in turning the building into a mixed-use site, but other developers may see other uses for the building, she said. Emerson closed the former factory in December.

-Liz Lawyer
the link:
http://www.theithacajournal.com/arti...xt|FRONTPAGE|s

A view of part of the property from a downtown parking garage:

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  #1371  
Old Posted Jul 31, 2011, 5:11 PM
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Decent economic news for the Ithaca area (from the Ithaca Journal):

Quote:
Economic Index: Tompkins County economy warms in June

4:55 PM, Jul. 29, 2011

After stalling in May, the Tompkins County economy rekindled an upward trend in June.

The Ithaca College Index of Economic Activity rose 0.64 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis to a mark of 159.15. Employment, air traffic, and help-wanted advertising improved. Only building permits fell, while retail sales and home sales held steady. Compared with June 2010, economic activity was up 0.43 percent.

The county economy added 200 jobs in June to bring total employment to 66,300 on a seasonally adjusted basis. The unemployment rate stood at 5.4 percent, compared with 5.6 percent a year ago. The unemployment rate in New York state was 8.0 percent, and it was 9.3 percent across the nation.

Retail sales held their ground in June, increasing by a mere 0.04 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis. Compared with June 2010, sales were off 0.36 percent. The retail sector of the county economy has grown since the recession ended, but very modestly.

The number of passengers boarding and deplaning at Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport jumped 12.26 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis. Compared with June 2010, air traffic was up 5.89 percent. Air traffic was a bright spot during the recession and has continued to perform well.

Residential building permits issued in Tompkins County fell 24.88 percent in June. Building permits have a tendency to swing widely from month to month. For the year, building permits are a tad behind 2010's pace.

County Realtors sold 78 homes in June on a seasonally adjusted basis. This is only a marginal improvement over last month. Compared with June 2010, home sales were down 37.89 percent. Home sales in Tompkins County have been erratic during the past two years. No trend, upward or downward, has been established. However, home prices seem to be firming up. The average sales price of a home in June in Tompkins County was $215,900, compared with $196,400 a year ago. The median sales price was $182,000, compared with $169,200 a year ago.

Help-wanted advertising rose 2.26 percent. Compared with June 2010, help-wanted advertising was up 3.57 percent.

Even though economic activity in June 2011 is only 0.43 percent higher than June 2010, the county economy has made significant progress during the past year. In fact, we have surpassed pre-recessionary levels of economic activity.

Elia Kacapyr is a professor of economics at Ithaca College. His economic report on Tompkins County is published monthly in The Ithaca Journal.
the link:

http://www.theithacajournal.com/arti...ira-Road-hotel
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  #1372  
Old Posted Jul 31, 2011, 5:24 PM
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The review didn't go exactly as I'd hoped, but I think it will work out in the long run (from the Ithaca Journal):

Quote:
City Planning and Development Board recommends new Elmira Road hotel

Fairfield Inn proposed for site next to Manos Diner
7:21 PM, Jul. 27, 2011
Written by
Aaron Munzer
Correspondent

The city's Planning and Development Board has given a qualified recommendation to the proposed Fairfield Inn and Suites project, to be located adjacent to the Manos Diner site on Elmira Road.

The 106-room hotel will require both an area and use variance because part of the parcel extends from Spencer Road, which is zoned for residential development, to Elmira Road, which is zoned for commercial use. Representatives of the project said without government subsidies, it would not be possible to turn a profit by building residences at the site.

Although planning board members thought a rezoning might be more appropriate for the situation, given that a variance could create a precedent, they thought the project was a good one and recommended it Tuesday to the Board of Zoning Appeals, which will take up the project Aug. 7 and decide whether to issue a variance, according to Lisa Nicholas, a senior city planner.

The project will have facets that architect Larry Fabbroni hopes will mitigate its impact on the neighborhood, including a pedestrian walkway through the parking lot and a buffer zone of mature trees that would have a conservation easement.

"Our main intent was to protect the neighborhood," he said.

Fabbroni said the hotel would create jobs, and would increase traffic by less than 5 percent on a stretch of Elmira Road that is currently at less than half capacity.

Developer Alpesh Patel said the project could bring in around $1 million annual revenue for the city. He also said there is an urgency, as he has until next spring to break ground, or Marriot Hotels, from which he has licensed the Fairfield name, will instead award the contract to a project in Cortland.

The hotel would charge between $110 and $175 per night for a room, Patel said.

The lot is owned by Bill Manos, who has owned and operated Manos Diner for decades.

Several people spoke in favor of the project, including Ardell Allen Alling, a neighbor of the project, and Janis Kelly, who is running for mayor on the Republican ticket. Kelly said she supported the project for the jobs and revenue it would create.

The project was opposed by Susan Cummings, who said granting the project a variance would hurt the people who live in the Spencer Road neighborhood.

"There is a market for that area as it is currently zoned," she said. "Please do not take away housing opportunities ... people of modest means deserve the same protection of zoning that affluent people do."

Also at the meeting, the board granted final approval to Ithaca College's proposed new boathouse after the plan satisfied a number of different conditions.
the link:

http://www.theithacajournal.com/arti...ira-Road-hotel
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  #1373  
Old Posted Aug 8, 2011, 11:10 PM
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Another C-town bar bites the dust (from the Cornell Daily Sun):


Quote:
Johnny O's Is Second Collegetown Bar to Close

August 8, 2011
By Jeff Stein


Collegetown bar Johnny O’s has been closed indefinitely and will not reopen in the fall, management from the late-night watering hole told employees in an email last week. The bar’s liquor license expired in May, and its landlord is searching for a new tenant.

Following Dino’s, Johnny O’s is the second Collegetown bar to shutter its doors this summer.

Dino’s and “JO’s” were popular havens for Cornell students’ late night revelry. Several students predicted that the bars’ closures, coupled with major new restrictions on open fraternity parties, would cause overcrowding elsewhere in Collegetown. ........................

here's thw whole article:

http://www.cornelldailysun.com/secti...town-bar-close
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  #1374  
Old Posted Aug 9, 2011, 10:57 AM
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Maybe the area can get a couple more breweries going, already a bunch of wineries around.
(from the Ithaca Journal)


Quote:
Town approves Ithaca Beer Co. site plan

Neighbors balk, but project gets unanimous OK
9:32 PM, Aug. 8, 2011
Written by
Rachel Stern


The Ithaca Beer Company project is moving on to its final steps.

The Ithaca Town Board unanimously voted in favor of adopting a planned development zone for about 10 acres of the 80-acre property Monday night. Ithaca Beer now will go back to the planning board for final approval, Supervisor Herb Engman said.

The planned development zone, on Mancini Drive off Elmira Road south of the Ithaca city limits, would have a new beer production facility on it, and possibly a restaurant and tasting area, Engman said.

Several members of the public voiced concerns Monday night. Many said that the project would potentially diminish property values, would change the character of the neighborhood and may affect the quality of life for nearby residents. Others voiced concerns over the noise the project may bring to the area.

However, board members said the project has been discussed at various meetings for a long time. Up until this point, board members said they had not heard many concerns from nearby residents.

"In earlier meetings residents had some concerns over noise and light, but after those questions were addressed, the public seemed in support of this project," said Bill Goodman, the deputy supervisor.

Added Engman: "Taken as a whole, this is a good project for the town. There are protections in place against noise and light, and for the project to expand in the future it would have to go back in front of the planning board."

Board members also said they recently found out that Ithaca Beer Company applied to Tompkins County Area Development for a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement. TCAD will take up this project at a meeting Aug. 17. TCAD President Michael Stamm said that this would be a sales tax abatement on mostly construction materials needed for the project.

Stamm estimated that over seven years, $145,000 would be the amount in property tax abatements.

The link:

http://www.theithacajournal.com/arti...text|FRONTPAGE
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  #1375  
Old Posted Aug 11, 2011, 9:46 PM
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I hope this works out, the Northside neighborhood needs it. I also hope the a$$holes who did the vandalism eventually get caught. Stuff like that hurts the whole area.
From the Ithaca Journal:

Quote:
City-County Watch: Fall Creek grocery still planned despite setbacks

6:22 PM, Aug. 10, 2011
Written by
Staff report

Efforts to bring a grocery store to the Fall Creek and Northside neighborhoods have not been abandoned, says John Petito, whose family is working to establish Neighborhood Pride grocery in the location of a former P&C in the area.

Petito, who will manage the store, said finding a bank to back the project required him to go out of state to Square 1 Bank of North Carolina. He said he hopes to be able to announce an opening date soon, pending closing on the loan.

The Petitos have experienced several setbacks in establishing the store since announcing the project in July 2010, including two instances of vandalism, a mess left in the building by its former occupants, and a local bank withdrawing its support, followed by a long search for a new lender.
...............
the link:
http://www.theithacajournal.com/arti...news|text|News
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  #1376  
Old Posted Aug 13, 2011, 1:17 AM
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Follow-up to hotel proposal in post #1372, from the Ithaca Times:


Quote:
Elmira Road Hotel Receives Use Variance

Posted: Thursday, August 11, 2011 12:27 am | Updated: 3:10 pm, Thu Aug 11, 2011.


On Wednesday, August 10 the board of zoning appeals (BZA) of the City of Ithaca granted a use variance to the Bill Manos, who owns five lots next to his diner at 359 Elmira Road. Manos has engaged developer A.J. Patel, who will plans to build a 106-unit Fairfield Inn there. At the public hearing one neighbor spoke in favor of the project and alderwoman Jennifer Dotson, G-1st, spoke in opposition.

Engineer Larry Fabbroni has been overseeing the project for Patel. He received praise from BZA members for the quality of his presentation of the project. Fabbroni had to justify the variance, which would allow him to build 51 spaces of parking and extend part of the hotel into part of the consolidated parcel that is zoned residential.

Owner hardship had to be shown. Fabbroni noted that when Manos bought the land in the early 1960s it was permitted to build rooming houses and dormitories on the land. The zoning was revised in the late 1970s. The hardship was thereby shown not to be “self created.”

Fabbroni also did a study that showed that the portion of the property zoned residential could not be profitably developed.

The BZA determined that no negative effect on the residential neighborhood was demonstrated by anyone who spoke during the hearing. Fabbroni has promised to build a 35-foot deep vegetated buffer along Spencer Road, build a pedestrian walkway from Spencer to Elmira Road, and to never allow motorized vehicle access from the hotel parking lot to Spencer Road.

Next week the project will go to the city planning board for site plan review.

link:
http://www.ithaca.com/news/article_4...cc4c03286.html
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  #1377  
Old Posted Aug 13, 2011, 1:24 AM
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This involves a small slice of land across Cayuga Street from the high school (from the Ithaca Times):


Quote:

Public Works: Fall Creek Park Meets with City Approval

Posted: Thursday, August 11, 2011 12:09 am
By Bill Chaisson Ithaca Times

At their Wednesday, August 10 meeting the board of public works of the City of Ithaca tightened up a resolution sent to them by Tompkins County planner Scott Doyle at the behest of city attorney Dan Hoffman. The county planning department has proposed creation of a small park in a triangular plot of land between North Cayuga Street, Fall Creek and Rt. 13. The area is now a gravel parking lot with an inadequate vegetated zone along the creek.

“Phase one [of this project] involves planting a buffer with trees, shrubs, ground cover,” said Hoffman. “There will be paths through it, but there will be no parking there. In phase two they will build a structured parking area with a little landscaping. And in phase three a trail will be created between Cayuga Street and the Fuertes Bird Sanctuary.” Hoffman said that the goal of creating this park is to make a more robust vegetation buffer along the creek and provide an easily walked trail to Stewart Park

“I have trouble with Scott Doyle's resolution,” said the city attorney. “What kind of permission should be give? How do with deal with environmental review? What has been done so far is incomplete. who pays for what?”

The members of the board were united in their feeling that the city should not cede ownership of the land, but give the county a revokable license.

Hoffman told the board members that New York State would prefer that they do an environmental review for all three phases of the project at once. “I don't see a problem reviewing the whole project,” said board member Rob Morache. “Wouldn't that be better when they are seeking funding for it?”

There is funding for the first phase of the project, the planting of the vegetative, from the Soil and Water Conservation Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The funding for the second and third phases has not been arranged.

link:

http://www.ithaca.com/news/article_1...cc4c03286.html
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  #1378  
Old Posted Aug 17, 2011, 11:38 PM
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Might be a need for a new county office building (of course the county can't afford it).
This temporary solution is not in the most desirable neighborhood for the older folks. From the Ithaca Times:


Quote:
Office for Aging to Move to Carpet Bazaar Building

Posted: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 11:00 am
By Louis DiPietro

After months of deliberation, the Tompkins County Office for the Aging (COFA) will have a new home in a prominent downtown location, albeit temporarily.

By a vote of 12-3, Tompkins County Legislators approved a proposal Tuesday to renovate the Human Services annex - the old Carpet Bazaar building on State Street - for flexible use and move COFA there temporarily.

Legislators considered six different alternatives for COFA's future home before Legislator Peter Stein proposed the substitute, "flex use" resolution.

Stein said the move handles the urgency in relocating COFA, which will be forced out of the County Courthouse by early next year, and provides more time to seek out other permanent spaces for both COFA and the Community Justice Center.

The Community Justice Center, which calls the old library home, is also seeking a new space. Stein said the old library, with its musty smells, leaks, bad electric and poor bathroom facilities, is not the kind of place to house an important county program.

"This option offers us a functional space," COFA Director Lisa Holmes told the Legislature prior to the vote. "I'm happy with this option."

Tuesday evening's vote was a sigh of relief for some area seniors who had hoped for a prominent location for COFA. About ten area seniors addressed the Legislature during public comment, urging them to consider moving COFA to the annex because it's a prominent and accessible downtown space.

The department was originally slated to occupy the Human Services annex, but the Community Justice Center became the front-runner for the annex because their current offices at the old library were costing too much in maintenance, county leaders said.

In other matters, the Legislature moved to delay any action involving the county's proposed Road Preservation Law. Legislature Mike Lane said he'd first like to consider comments expressed during the public hearing, which was held prior to Tuesday's meeting.

the link:

http://www.ithaca.com/news/article_4...cc4c03286.html
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  #1379  
Old Posted Aug 21, 2011, 9:55 PM
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If I'm not mistaken, I believe the waterfront is one of the designated areas for development. Hard to understand why people would get so upset over buildings 5 stories tall. Good old Ithaca.

From the ithaca Journal:

Quote:
City takes fifth swing at waterfront zoning

9:40 PM, Aug. 19, 2011

Ithaca - A public hearing on waterfront rezoning ordinances focusing on Inlet Island drew mostly positive comments from property and business owners on the island.

The hearing, which took place Wednesday evening, was the fifth one on the changes, thanks to multiple amendments to the zoning proposal.

Steve Flash, part owner of the Boatyard Grill, said, "The idea is to enhance our ability to make the inlet more accessible and more attractive for community members and those from outside and increase the vibrancy of this area in particular."

However, some are concerned the changes, which include an increase in the maximum number of stories for buildings in the area to five, would result in the views of the lake and hills around Ithaca being blocked.

City resident Dave Nutter said, "I think things five stories high and with 100 percent coverage means there are going to be no trees and no views."

The changes will be circulated to property owners in the affected area before further action is taken on them.

-Liz Lawyer
the link:

http://www.theithacajournal.com/arti...text|FRONTPAGE


An additional article from the Ithaca Times:

Quote:
City Planning: Inlet Island Rezoning Law Recirculated

Posted: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 11:53 pm
By Bill Chaisson

After a public hearing at their meeting on Wednesday, August 17, the planning and economic development committee of the Ithaca Common Council decided to recirculate its proposed revision of waterfront zoning on the Inlet Island. "We're recirculating this instead of voting on it," said alderman Eric Rosario, I-2nd, "because members of the planning board that were going to comment on the version that we were looking at last month felt that the intent was not clear."

Comments made during the public hearing were generally in favor of the rezoning, but residents Dave Nutter and John Fuchs expressed affection for the present state of the inlet area and opposition to the perceived requirement that all new structures be up to five stories high.

A significant revision to the initial proposed law is the division of the island into two zones instead of one. "Eighty to 85 percent of what is being rezoned already allows five stories," said Rosario. "The strip along the east side of the island is only new area [for that height requirement.] There were concerns that a new minimum of three stories was being proposed. In fact the minimum is two stories in WF-2, and in WF-1 the minimum height is three stories." There are also exemptions for buildings on small lots and for any structure with a water-dependent use. All existing one story buildings are grandfathered in.


“I am an artist and I am going to be one of the developers of Inlet Island,” said Tom Newton, one of the founders of the Firehouse Theatre and the ancestor of this newspaper. “It is going to be a wonderful and vibrant community. We were bringing Venice, Amsterdam, and San Francisco to Ithaca; I realize this is a change for the Inlet Island community, but it's a positive change. We are not going to put up ricky-ticky New York City kind of tacky things. Castaways will always be Castaways.”
here's the link:

http://www.ithaca.com/news/article_9...cc4c002e0.html
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Last edited by Ex-Ithacan; Aug 21, 2011 at 10:10 PM.
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Old Posted Aug 25, 2011, 10:31 PM
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Not sure I feel a great deal of confidence with much of this. Of course my hope for greater density and height doesn't seem to have too many fans. From the Ithaca Times:


Quote:

Mayoral candidates speak at downtown Ithaca forum

Posted: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 12:00 am | Updated: 11:18 am, Wed Aug 24, 2011.

Mayoral candidates speak at downtown Ithaca forum By Rob Montana editor@ithacatimes.com Ithaca Times |


It was a full room Tuesday morning to hear from many of the candidates vying to replace outgoing Mayor Carolyn Peterson.

The forum, sponsored by the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, focused primarily on downtown, though other city issues were raised. The nearly two-hour forum brought together Democratic candidates J.R. Clairborne, Pam Mackesey and Svante Myrick - who face off in a primary on Tuesday, Sept. 13 for the Democratic nomination - and independent candidates Christopher Kusznir and Wade Wykstra.
..........................

For more, here's the link:

http://www.ithaca.com/news/article_0...cc4c03286.html


Related article from the Ithaca Journal (with some dandy comments, lol):

http://www.theithacajournal.com/arti...ey=mod|mostcom
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