Some Ithaca news

[whit_x]

Originally Posted by Ex-Ithacan

^ I'm hoping some more restaurants and, in my wildest dreams, a comedy club might open in the downtown area. Doesn't seemas if the Commons can attract any "mainstream" retailers. The thing downtown really needs is a food market of some sort (with a pharmacy included). If all the proposed residential structures are built, there will be hundreds of new residents with no place to shop for groceries.

I agree with you, since the Wegmans and the P & C are a bit too far away. I'd just settle for somewhere that you can buy meat, since there still is that natural foods place in the Dewitt Mall for all the vegetables.

[Ex-Ithacan]

I think a mini-Wegmans (for urban setting) would be a good experiment. If successful, they could look into all kinds of cities where downtown residential is taking off.

[whit_x]

Originally Posted by Ex-Ithacan

I think a mini-Wegmans (for urban setting) would be a good experiment. If successful, they could look into all kinds of cities where downtown residential is taking off.

They used to have some of those around Rochester (Mt. Read and in Midtown Plaza), but they've gotten away from it when they realized that building monster stores around Philly and DC would bring in more money.

[Visiteur]

Ex, since we're discussing Ithaca, I figured this would be the best place to put in my two cents.

Kiplinger's and Cities R&R give Ithaca National Billing. Ithaca gets the equivalent to a pat on the back.
VegNews and Mother Earth News and Outside Magazine give it a thumbs up, and suddenly, everybody seems interested in visiting the area. "Oh, Ithaca is cool, the magazine said so! We have to visit there this summer!"

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't think it's a bad thing. But I want someone to explain to me how top-billing ratings are virtually ignored, but little commendations attract dozens of calls to the local tourism office. It's time like these that I have to wonder about the priortities of people. Who knows, maybe if Ithaca gets a "Best Small City Atmoshpere" award, they'll be able to attract some new business to the Commons and the city.

[Ex-Ithacan]

^ Tis a strange, strange world indeed Vis. I guess every little bit of positive pub helps. Of course there are quite a few Ithacans who hope no more people move to the area and it stays the same as it is for the rest of humankinds time on Earth. Whaddya gonna do?

[whit_x]

Originally Posted by Visiteur

Ex, since we're discussing Ithaca, I figured this would be the best place to put in my two cents.

Kiplinger's and Cities R&R give Ithaca National Billing. Ithaca gets the equivalent to a pat on the back.
VegNews and Mother Earth News and Outside Magazine give it a thumbs up, and suddenly, everybody seems interested in visiting the area. "Oh, Ithaca is cool, the magazine said so! We have to visit there this summer!"

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't think it's a bad thing. But I want someone to explain to me how top-billing ratings are virtually ignored, but little commendations attract dozens of calls to the local tourism office. It's time like these that I have to wonder about the priortities of people. Who knows, maybe if Ithaca gets a "Best Small City Atmoshpere" award, they'll be able to attract some new business to the Commons and the city.

Because at the end of the day, despite all the commendations by Kiplingers and Cities R& R, Ithaca is still, as the bumper sticker says, centrally isolated. When you're 25 miles or so from the nearest interstate, with a joke of an airport in town, relocating your business is a bit dicey. For the Earth First types that want to get off of the grid for a few days, however, Ithaca is heaven on earth.

[Visiteur]

I like your response whit. Ithaca's remoteness is a blessing and a curse.

From the Journal: "Man dies at Lucifer Falls"

Does anyone see that as eerie in a verbal way?


And this image came up in one of my Syracuse searches. It's s'posed to be in the town of Ithaca, and a 'new' facility (Ithaca Medical Center), But I have no idea if this is one year old of five.

[Ex-Ithacan]

^ Not sure what that is Vis. Yeah, I wondered about the Lucifer falls death too. btw, another gorge death (3 in 2 weeks):

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...608150330/1002


But not all the news is bad:

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...608150324/1002

[Ex-Ithacan]

Holy Schmokeys, looks like Ithaca is gonna make the CBS national news on friday (8/18). I know it's not for anything important, but any publicity is good publicity for a small town, right?

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...608160325/1002

[Visiteur]

I guess in little burgs like Ithaca and Two Rivers, little arguments like this give people something to talk about beyond the news and weather.

Friday's the same day I move to Ithaca too, coincidentally.

[Ex-Ithacan]

Originally Posted by Visiteur

I guess in little burgs like Ithaca and Two Rivers, little arguments like this give people something to talk about beyond the news and weather.

And maybe free ice cream

Originally Posted by Visiteur

Friday's the same day I move to Ithaca too, coincidentally.

Congrats, and welcome to 5 square miles surrounded by reality

Hope the weather is good for the move, and it goes fairly smoothly.

[Ex-Ithacan]

Kind of funny that 2 of the local coffee houses are ramping it up not too long after Starbucks opened its first Ithaca store:

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...608160303/1002

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...608160305/1002

[Visiteur]

Competition is healthy

This should be my last post for a little bit while I pack up and then go over to Ithaca and get nice and settled in. It'll be nice to take a break from the CNY reality.

*and in Visiteur's dreams, a 10-story mixed use is proposed in the heart of Ithaca, with a high floor-to-ceiling height and a great design...*

Actually, there's a rumour about a new county office building that I'd like to check into at some point. But, until then, keep us all posted Ex!

[Ex-Ithacan]

Best of luck with the move & school Vis. Keeps us posted on your progress when you finally get settled. Who knows, I might be heading towards Ithaca later this fall. Enjoy you time in college.

[Ex-Ithacan]

The gorges are beautiful, but dangerous also. I use to go swimming at this spot a lot when I was a kid (I know, it was a long time ago). My aunt & uncle owned a bording house near the suspension bridge.

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...608190307/1002

[Ex-Ithacan]

Uh-oh, Ithaca's down to one public bowling center:

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...608220328/1002

[Visiteur]

Speaking of the gorges, I just went down in the gorges yesterday, near Thurston Avenue. I've never even walked in a river before, let alone one with little waterfalls every 100 feet. Really spiffy stuff. The female sunbathers were nice too...not that I was staring, of course.

[Ex-Ithacan]

^ Vis, you rascal, leave them gals alone and start studying.

[Ex-Ithacan]

Fire in the old Ithaca Gun factory bldg:

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...608230332/1002

What's so bad is some NIMBY's behind the factory helped put a hold on a development which was gonna need the 70 foot heigth variance.
The developer (Wally Diehl) was going to pay for the hazardous waste clean-up. The project was going to be a 7 story building (including 2 decks of parking at the bottom), but nooooo.

btw, here's an aerial showing the area (courtey of Living dryden blog), the factory is the blue building in the middle at the bottom of the pic:

[Visiteur]

That's just silly for those NIMBYs. If they can put up with the Johnson Art Museum nearby, they should be able to tolerate a little midrise near the falls.