Dryden town officials pledge $50K to support affordable housing project

Town of Dryden officials recently pledged money from the town’s community housing development fund to support a proposed affordable housing project in the hamlet of Varna.

At its May 9 meeting, Town Supervisor Jason Leifer and fellow board members agreed to put $50,000 from the community housing development fund toward a 53-unit apartment project by Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) at 5-9 Freese Rd. in Varna.

If approved, the $16 million project will include three multi-family buildings — a couple of two-story buildings and one three-story building. Six single-family home lots are also attached to the project.

According to documents, INHS’s proposal noted 65 bedrooms for the dwelling units, with the units a mix of 1- and 2-bedroom apartments. The single-family homes could have four 2-bedroom units and two 3-bedroom units, totaling 14 bedrooms, but documents stated that INHS may change that concept.

Eyeing to have the apartment complex built across 4.68 acres, INHS is partnering with Adam Fishel of Marathon Engineering and Steve Hugo of HOLT Architects on the project. The sketch plan also shows 83 parking spaces at the proposed complex.

The apartments would be designated for low- and moderate-income households, including those who earn 30% to 90% of the area’s median income. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the median income in Tompkins County is slightly under $70,000.

Board member Leonardo Vargas-Mendez, who is also chairman of the town’s affordable and workforce housing committee, said at the May 9 meeting that it’s a “pretty substantial project” proposal from INHS.

“I think we should support it,” Vargas-Mendez said, noting that all parties involved will continue to make decisions and recommendations on funding. “The funding will really help the development of the project.”

Since the town budgets a specific amount of money for the community housing development fund, Deputy Town Supervisor Dan Lamb wondered if the funding should go toward different projects.

“This is money the town commits to affordable housing,” Lamb said. Lamb reiterated that he thinks it’s a “great project,” adding he didn’t get the sense of a “financial challenge” from INHS.

Vargas-Mendez said that the support is needed in case INHS has any funding shortfalls. He added that the project, however, could be “sustainable financially.”

“I think it’s a good use of the funding,” Leifer said.

INHS, noted in the nonprofit organization’s mission statement, is “dedicated to expanding housing opportunities for low and moderate-income residents of Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Schuyler, Seneca, Tioga, and Tompkins Counties.”

The site on Freese Road previously had a proposal for 32 townhouses and 15 single-family homes by Pittsburgh-based Maifly Development in 2020. The developer, however, backed out of the project when the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down the economy.

Details on the approval process of INHS’s proposal are yet to be determined. The project’s site plan review is on the agenda for the town planning board’s meeting on Thursday, May 23.

Dryden Dispatch appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Local pottery studio to offer summer art camp

A summer art camp is being offered by Claybird Studio in the village of Dryden.

Located at 15 W. Main St., the pottery-based studio has camps July 29 to Aug. 2 and Aug. 26 to 30. Camp each day will go from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Each camp will include sewing, pottery-making, weaving, embroidery, sculpting, painting and more. The cost for each camp session is $475 per week.

For more information, contact info@claybirdstudio.com or 201-264-2815. Further details on the summer art camp are at claybirdstudio.com.

Dryden Recreation announces summer music series

The Town of Dryden Recreation Department recently announced its “Music in the Hollow” summer series.

Each show will be free of charge, with a 6 p.m. start time at the Ellis Hollow Community Center at 111 Genung Rd. in Ithaca.

The summer lineup is as follows:

• June 15: The Pelotones
• July 9: Rachel Beverly
• July 16: The Small Kings
• July 23: Ariel Arbisser
• July 30: Joe Crookston
• Aug. 6: The Notorious String Busters
• Aug. 13: Terrapin Station
• Aug. 20: Scuba Jerry
• Aug. 27: Common Railers

For more information, contact the town recreation department at 607-844-8888.

Village of Dryden schedules hydrant flushing this month

The village of Dryden has announced that the flushing of hydrants in the area will go until Friday, May 24.

Village officials ask that residents refrain from doing light-colored laundry during that time. For questions, contact the village office at 607-844-8122.

Southworth House tours start in June

The Dryden Town Historical Society (DTHC) has announced that tours of Southworth House at 14 North St. in the village will start in June.

The guided tours will be held on the first Saturday of each month between June and October. The tours are scheduled for June 1, July 6, Aug. 3, Sept. 7 and Oct. 5.

Each Saturday with scheduled tours will have three time slots: 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon.

To make an appointment for a tour, call 607-844-4691. Further information is available in the DTHC’s April newsletter at drydennyhistory.org.