A new restaurant has opened in downtown Ithaca on the ground floor of a parking garage. It is sponsored by the local community college (TC3) using students and locally provided food stuffs. Here's an article from the Ithaca Voice:

http://ithacavoice.com/2014/12/colti...linary-center/

Some images during construction and renderings fro Ithaca Builds:
http://ithacabuilds.com/category/cur...tc3-coltivare/

Here's a ton of pics from Ed Dittenhoefer's album about the project. (Flickr)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/freeai...57644548002084

Not exactly a big development, but it is filling an empty retail store (from the Ithaca Voice):

Here's the link:

http://ithacavoice.com/2014/12/t-j-m...-space-ithaca/

As with everything in Ithaca, two steps forward, one step back.
Just as the Marriott Hotel project is ready to launch (after over 5 years of stops & starts), this (from the Ithaca Times):

Planned Marriott Sign Too Bright, City Board Says

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townn...7bbc.image.jpg


Posted: Wednesday, December 17, 2014 9:24 am | Updated: 12:11 pm, Wed Dec 17, 2014.
By Aaron Donato

Filling hotel rooms is an important revenue priority for the City of Ithaca. At a specially scheduled meeting of the Planning and Development Board on Tuesday, Dec.16, signage at the planned Downtown Marriott was discussed in depth to set a precedent regarding large downtown hotels impact on the downtown cityscape.

Matt Jalazo, representing Urgo Hotels, received criticism from the board regarding the placement of signage on the east side of the planned hotel regarding brightness and position of a planned sign. The size of the sign would be larger and brighter than almost any currently existing signage in Ithaca. Board member McKenzie Jones-Rounds was concerned that granting a variance would set a dangerous precedent for other large hotels to also request large signs.

Various board members were concerned that the sign would clash with the downtown aesthetic and unanimously requested that other options be considered. Updated designs are due to go before the board at their next meeting before Urgo Hotels will have to go before the Board of Zoning Appeals to request a variance for the planned signage.

:(

Here's the link:
http://www.ithaca.com/news/planned-m...b19d5c68e.html

Ithaca Neighborhood housing is weighing options for a piece of property on the city's Northside. There's potential for affordable housing units in an area that needs it. From the Ithaca Voice:

here's the link (including some drawings of options):

http://ithacavoice.com/2014/12/3-opt...grocery-store/

An update on housing projects in and around Ithaca. The area really needs more housing, especially affordable stuff. From the Ithacating blog:

https://brancra.wordpress.com/2014/1...one-community/
:)

Looks like folks are interested in the "Munchkin" like cottage development a few miles outside Ithaca. Interesting entry from Visiteur at Ithacating:

https://brancra.wordpress.com/2014/1...update-122014/

:D

The Inlet Isle on the city's West End has another project going on. Here's an update (including a few pics) from the Ithacating blog by Visiteur:

https://brancra.wordpress.com/2014/1...update-122014/

:tup: but also :???:

An end of year summary of some of the more noted development stories in the city of Ithaca (from the Ithaca Voice):

http://ithacavoice.com/2014/12/brian...-stories-2014/

Looks like 2015 could be a big year for construction.

Looks like the EcoVillage at Ithaca (just outside the city limits) is expanding again. Fairly sizable eco-conscience development for a small metro like Ithaca. Here's an update (including pics and other links):

https://brancra.wordpress.com/2014/1...update-122014/

:)

An article from the Ithaca Voice concerning Ithaca's mayor (in his 3rd year) and his stance (support) of the developments in progress and on the board. Not long, and finally a non-Nimby in a position to do something:

http://ithacavoice.com/2015/01/oppos...thaca-part-ii/

:tup:

Update on a couple of buildings at Cornell University undergoing expansion/renovations.
From the Ithaca Voice:

http://ithacavoice.com/2015/01/new-c...ing-arts-quad/

A brief article covering a few building projects and a couple of other items (from the Ithaca Voice):

http://ithacavoice.com/2015/01/const...c-tech-campus/

An update on some projects from Ithacating blog.

https://brancra.wordpress.com/2015/0...-surroundings/

:)

A more in depth look at the Hilton Canopy Hotel from an article in the Ithaca Voice:

1 — Construction coming soon on Canopy Hotel in Ithaca

https://brancra.files.wordpress.com/...ng?w=510&h=576


We’re learning more about a new hotel slated for downtown Ithaca, a Hilton brand called “canopy Hotel.”

The 74,500 sq ft hotel includes a small restaurant space of 2,000 sq ft on the first floor, as well as standard hotel amenities like a small meeting room and a gym. The $19 million project hopes to start construction this spring.

I think we’re up to version 7 now, but the differences in the proposed “canopy Hotel” are now so subtle that you’d have to be looking hard to spot the changes. The entrance facade is virtually the same, but the mechanical penthouse has been updated to better blend in the rest of the structure, and a couple of stylized wall inserts have been planted into the northwest wall to give the 7-story, 123-room hotel a little visual interest.

More renders here, a geotechnical report here, a new cover letter here, and traffic study materials here and here. Thank goodness a lot of this work has gone paperless.

According to the documents, the new “canopy Hotel” brand by Hilton:

“…is marketed towards the millennial generation (those born between 1980 and the mid-2000s), however, is relevant for the older generation of hotel guests. Each canopy Hotel is designed to incorporate the essence of its local surroundings and neighborhood feel; such as offering a local welcome gift and evening tastings of local food, beers, wines, and spirits to providing local fitness and recreation options in terms of jogging and bicycle routes (bicycles will be available for rent).”

Yes, ‘canopy’ is meant to be lower-case and ‘Hotel’ is capitalized. I’m sure the brand creators thought that was hip and edgy. Yet another reason why I would never be a good marketer.

Here are a series of images from the project:

http://ithacavoice.com/wp-content/up...-PM.png?34f5ae

http://ithacavoice.com/wp-content/up...-PM.png?34f5ae

http://ithacavoice.com/wp-content/up...-PM.png?34f5ae

http://ithacavoice.com/wp-content/up...-PM.png?34f5ae

http://ithacavoice.com/wp-content/up...-PM.png?34f5ae

http://ithacavoice.com/wp-content/up...-PM.png?34f5ae

http://ithacavoice.com/wp-content/up...-PM.png?34f5ae

http://ithacavoice.com/wp-content/up...-PM.png?34f5ae


Here's the link to the article (some other info included):

http://ithacavoice.com/2015/01/const...-start-spring/

An enlightening article ref: affordable housing in the Ithaca area. I'm sure there are other cities with some similar obstacles to being able to house people with all levels of income. From the ithaca Voice:

http://ithacavoice.com/2015/01/ithac...s-development/

I look forward to the next installment. I just hope the sky is not really falling.
:(

The second installment of the above article:

http://ithacavoice.com/2015/01/ithac...pment-part-ii/

An article from the Ithaca Times ref: development on Inlet Island on the city's west End:

http://www.ithaca.com/news/resettlin...ad667c408.html


Here's a pic of the island

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8618/...6e33390c_h.jpg

Mixed emotions about one of the new developments in Collegetown (from the Cornell Sun):

http://cornellsun.com/blog/2015/02/0...nge-club-sudz/

Here's info ref: the project:

https://brancra.wordpress.com/2014/0...town-327-eddy/

The Ithaca Area can't seem to get out of its own way when it comes to future development. From the Ithacating blog:

https://brancra.wordpress.com/2015/0...ehensive-plan/

:(

Marriott begins
 

Daily Sun has an article on the Marriott...not much new, but the hotel occupancy numbers were interesting. Really hope the convention space happens with Hotel Ithaca or someone else.

Work Begins on Downtown Marriott
By JONATHAN SWARTZ

http://cornellsun.com/blog/2015/02/0...town-marriott/