Some Ithaca news - Page 26

whit_x · #**501** Posted **Jan 11, 2007, 12:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ex-Ithacan

Hey, go for it. Maybe you can get a free trip back upstate.

One catch is I'd have to pay for at least one trip first to take the exam (Gotta love NY bureaucracy). Still, it would be home and close to family (maybe too close). I'll actually be in town for a couple of days this week. If I see anything, I'll let y'all know.

Ex-Ithacan · #**502** Posted **Jan 11, 2007, 5:50 PM**

Good luck whit, keep us posted.

Ex-Ithacan · #**503** Posted **Jan 11, 2007, 5:59 PM**

So it's Ezra Cornell's birthday. He looks good for 200 yrs old.

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...WS01/701110338

Quite a radical dude for the 1800s, eh?

Visiteur · #**504** Posted **Jan 12, 2007, 6:54 PM**

Well, I've been gone for a few days, and I'm sure you all missed me

. Back in the day, old Ezra Cornell was considered to be something of a Godless heathen for having a non-denomination school. So I s'pose he was a 'radical dude' for the time. And heavens, he let women go to the same school as men! He MUST have mental issues

.

Ex-Ithacan · #**505** Posted **Jan 13, 2007, 5:31 PM**

^ LOL, good to have ya back Vis.

Ex-Ithacan · #**506** Posted **Jan 13, 2007, 5:59 PM**

Here's an aerial of downtown Ithaca from the early 60s (I'm guessing). It's the way I remember downtown from my youth when I was going to school at DeWitt Junior High, before it became a mall/office/residential building:

whit_x · #**507** Posted **Jan 15, 2007, 12:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ex-Ithacan

Here's an aerial of downtown Ithaca from the early 60s (I'm guessing). It's the way I remember downtown from my youth when I was going to school at DeWitt Junior High, before it became a mall/office/residential building:

Having just been in town, it's a bit surreal not seeing the parking garage with the apex/bridge across Green St there. Seeing the before picture up there, it's a completely different place without the Woolworth's building/parking lot there on Green St, and the Ithaca Hotel still in the picture where Rothschilds/Iszards/McCurdy's was on the corner of State and Aurora. A couple of other things. First, the Gateway apartments are just about done, and should be opened in about 3 months. Second, the Tractor Supply store on Elmira Rd where Ponderosa, the Carvel shop, and a couple of other businesses were has started construction. Finally, a couple of businesses have moved back onto the Commons, including Habitat (moving back from its location next to Barnes and Noble to a site in Center Ithaca facing the Commons.)

Visiteur · #**508** Posted **Jan 16, 2007, 1:22 AM**

Wow, for a younger guy like me, it was difficult at first to even recognise certain features. I had to use the clocktower building on E.State to orient myself.

And, seeing as I'm back in town tonight, I'll go and have a look at the near-finished Gateway building in the morning. And maybe take a photo

.

Oh, and last, but not least, news notes from the town of Ithaca planning board meeting, incl. one $35 million dollar, 7,500 seat athletic facility for IC.

EDIT: Hmmm...apparently I missed the link. I must be going senile.

Ex-Ithacan · #**509** Posted **Jan 16, 2007, 11:54 AM**

Yeah guys, a whole different downtown back in those days. Around 6 blocks of buildings were demolished for urban renewal: Woolworth's site, Center Ithaca Site, both sides of Aurora st. bridge, Mental Health building site. The Seneca street garage replaced a couple of buildings and a small parking lot. The urban renewal kind of screwed up the look of density, didn't it? Wish we had a comparison pic from the same angle today.

Ex-Ithacan · #**510** Posted **Jan 16, 2007, 6:14 PM**

Speaking of the old days, found these two oldies on Flickr:

East State street just east of Aurora st:

Looking west on State Street from Aurora:

From the late 40s.

whit_x · #**511** Posted **Jan 16, 2007, 10:34 PM**

I remember when the Strand burnt down. Kinda wish that they had done more with that lot than what went up.

Ex-Ithacan · #**512** Posted **Jan 17, 2007, 11:31 AM**

Hey whit, were you in town about the Planner position? If so, how'd it go?

Ex-Ithacan · #**513** Posted **Jan 18, 2007, 1:03 PM**

I forgot to post this article about the propose new athletic center at Ithaca College:

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps...27/1002/NEWS17

good stuff.

whit_x · #**514** Posted **Jan 18, 2007, 10:37 PM**

Not this trip. This time it was just to visit family and friends, since I couldn't get out over the holidays. I forgot to mention that Kinney Drugs is about to open a new location in Trumansburg across from the Shur Save and next to the fairgrounds.

Ex-Ithacan · #**515** Posted **Jan 19, 2007, 11:18 AM**

^ I think I read in the Journal that the market at the other end of town is closing.

Ex-Ithacan · #**516** Posted **Jan 19, 2007, 11:45 AM**

Looks like my old hood is diversifying in the commercial tenants:

http://www.cornelldailysun.com/node/20814

Always had a diverse population (many foreign students), but now the retail/commercial stuff is catching up.

whit_x · #**517** Posted **Jan 19, 2007, 12:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ex-Ithacan

^ I think I read in the Journal that the market at the other end of town is closing.

Make that closed. However, I also read that this is only short term, since another store is taking its place there.

Ex-Ithacan · #**518** Posted **Jan 19, 2007, 1:02 PM**

^ OK, thanks whit. I sure hope Walmart doesn't get any ideas about a supercenter on the T-burg Road.

donybrx · #**519** Posted **Jan 19, 2007, 1:57 PM**

I love the shots of old downtown ithaca a few posts back......check out the signage.....how simple, poignant. Just neon or incandescent bulbs....small beacons/ messages in the darkness...

Ex-Ithacan · #**520** Posted **Jan 19, 2007, 2:37 PM**

True dat dony, true dat. A much simpler time and life.