Some Ithaca news - Page 7

whit_x · #**121** Posted **Apr 12, 2006, 9:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ex-Ithacan

Sad news for an Ithaca neighbor. The city od Cortland (the other half of the Ithaca/Cortlan MSA) lost an historic landmark building to fire yesterday. Here's an article with pics:

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...604120330/1002

The only pic of the building I could find from my collection isn't that great:

I hate it when old gems like this are destroyed.

I think there used to be a decent pizza place in that building, although I could be wrong.

Ex-Ithacan · #**122** Posted **Apr 12, 2006, 10:54 PM**

^ I think you're right.

Ex-Ithacan · #**123** Posted **Apr 13, 2006, 11:10 AM**

I hope a nice rendering of this building comes out soon:

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...604130319/1002

Ex-Ithacan · #**124** Posted **Apr 14, 2006, 11:33 AM**

I'm getting concerned about the next phase of the Cayuga Green project:

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...8/1014/OPINION

whit_x · #**125** Posted **Apr 15, 2006, 12:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ex-Ithacan

I'm getting concerned about the next phase of the Cayuga Green project:

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...8/1014/OPINION

Holy S*%^, a bunch of politicians write a document in such a way that covers their butts if anything changes about the project. In living in Florida I'm used to the politicians not realizing what they signed until it's too late. Still, I think that this will get worked out. At the end of the day, here's what probably will happen. The developer will still get part of their money (for the apartments) The money that was going for the theaters will be used to buy out the operator of Fall Creek and Cinemopolis. The space that would have been for the 12 screen theater will be a 6 screen art theater with 3 good restauarants and a little more retail. Fall Creek becomes a dollar theater and the health club at Center Ithaca expands into the Cinemopolis space pretty easliy.

Ex-Ithacan · #**126** Posted **Apr 15, 2006, 12:59 PM**

^ Nice scenario, but don't forget we're dealing with the folks in Ithaca. Could end up a People's Park taking up 10 parking spaces and designate the rest a no development zone.

whit_x · #**127** Posted **Apr 15, 2006, 3:26 PM**

Even they want something built downtown, It's just that they don't want to pay for it. Something will be built there. It might take 20 years and Cornell will wind up with a large part of it, but it something will be built.

Ex-Ithacan · #**128** Posted **Apr 15, 2006, 5:14 PM**

whit, we can only hope.

Ex-Ithacan · #**129** Posted **Apr 18, 2006, 10:35 AM**

Once again the voices of unreason are taking over the Ithaca density issue:

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...604180326/1002

And another article about affordable housing in the Ithaca area (leads me to believe the city/county should be a lot bigger population wise if only housing were more affordable)

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...604180336/1002

whit_x · #**130** Posted **Apr 18, 2006, 11:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ex-Ithacan

Once again the voices of unreason are taking over the Ithaca density issue:

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...604180326/1002

The one person had a good point. With all of the hype about downtown redevelopment, you would think thate would be a maket for someone or someones to buy some of the buildings on the Commons and gut and modernize the upper floors. Yet all anyone wants to do is build new.

Quote:

And another article about affordable housing in the Ithaca area (leads me to believe the city/county should be a lot bigger population wise if only housing were more affordable)

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...604180336/1002

That's the case everywhere, not just in Ithaca. It's a little more extreme there than in other areas in Upstate because Cornell's student population throws the pricing out of kilter inside the city.

whit_x · #**131** Posted **Apr 20, 2006, 12:23 AM**

The coffee wars is about to hit Ithaca as Starbucks prepares to open its first local store. The Ithaca Times discusses this in relationship to how this will affect local chain Gimme Coffee
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?n...d=216620&rfi=6

Ex-Ithacan · #**132** Posted **Apr 20, 2006, 11:43 AM**

^Yeah, this could be a good "battle" to watch. Gimmee is so Ithaca, touchy & feelie, gotta love it. Thanks whit.

Ex-Ithacan · #**133** Posted **Apr 21, 2006, 6:41 PM**

Not good news on the housing front for regular folks in the Ithaca area:

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...8/1016/OPINION

whit_x · #**134** Posted **Apr 22, 2006, 2:27 AM**

About your last oist, Ex-Ithacan, This is especially needed because with gas at $3 a gallon with no end in sight for the price going up, the same people that can't afford a place in Tompkins County or especially in the City or Town of Ithaca are going to be even more hamstrung. The problem is, as mentioned here before, that the student housing market skews prices up, especially in desirable areas such as near Cornell. Also, with the only affordable housing being built being mobile homes, the choices are even more limited, since very few places close in are zoned for mobile homes, those that exist are at or very near capacity, such as in Varna or down at Nate's Floral Estates, and cities have no desire to zone property for mobile homes because of Nimbyism, low return on their investment for infrastructure and schools, and asthetics.

Ex-Ithacan · #**135** Posted **Apr 22, 2006, 10:45 PM**

I think mobile homes are gonna be a tough sell anywhere in the city or town of Ithaca. I know there's been some recent developments in the town for mixed income housing developments near transit stops. Perhaps some mixed income stuff in the city (on transit loops) of a hi-rise variety is a possibilty. I think this could work well in the west end or northside as long as it doesn't degenerate into another set of projects (section 8). Just a pipe-dream of mine, but what the heck.

whit_x · #**136** Posted **Apr 23, 2006, 11:28 AM**

I'd love to see this stuff being built too, edspecially in Fall Creek or in the Southside, but even then, what's considered affordable is targeted at a price point that developers are leery to build at, and as amazing as it sounds for such a touchy-feely place like Ithaca, there's no inclusionary housing ordinance on the books. Even with one on the books (notwithstanding the legal challenges) the amount of housing a project has to have to kick in this provision in a place like Ithaca would create maybe 5 to 10 affordable homes per year.

Ex-Ithacan · #**137** Posted **Apr 24, 2006, 3:34 PM**

Interesting article about Rod Serling:

http://www.ithaca.edu/ithacan/articl...0the_twili.htm

Ex-Ithacan · #**138** Posted **Apr 26, 2006, 9:58 AM**

Looks like there's going to be more retail going in along the Elmira road corridor. kind of strip mall sprawly, but at least it's within the city limits, so the taxes will help, and no green space wasted in the burbs.

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...604260325/1002

Ex-Ithacan · #**139** Posted **Apr 28, 2006, 10:33 AM**

The only "development" type of info I've found recently has to do with the expansion/merchandise change in a downtown store. Maybe the hippies in Ithaca are starting to fade a bit:

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...48/1002/NEWS01

And nothing to do with development, but here's a legal matter involving a local landlord(perv).

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...604280338/1002

Ex-Ithacan · #**140** Posted **Apr 28, 2006, 12:15 PM**

Just a pic I found on the net. A cranky old bar in downtown Ithaca, and someone must have been a bad boy (or maybe it was the dirty pants

).