Changes outlined for Old Library project

By Jay Wrolstad
 
Developer Frost Travis presented an update for his plans to redevelop the Old Library site in downtown Ithaca during a meeting last week with the Tompkins County Legislature’s committee charged with reviewing the project on land owned by the county.
 
The most notable change is that Lifelong, an agency that serves seniors in the community and is currently located adjacent to the Old Library site, at the corner of Cayuga and Court streets, will not relocate to the new building, as was previously proposed.
 
Travis, president of Travis Hyde Properties, addressed the legislature’s Old Library Committee to offer a progress report on the Dewitt House project now that it is well into the review process being conducted by the City of Ithaca Planning Board and Landmarks Preservation Commission.
 
In an approach that Lifelong treasurer Tom Butler told the committee was the best option for Lifelong, the organization will retain its one-story brick building at 119 W. Court Street, which was to be razed to accommodate the new building, is putting its historic two-story white house at 121 W. Court on the market and will be provided rent-free use of the Dewitt House community room for Lifelong classes and programs.
 
This approach, Butler said, will save his organization some $50,000 as opposed to renting space in the new building. Rental fees for use of the community room by other organizations will also be paid to Lifelong.
 
“Our project was initially proposed, in part, to help Lifelong continue to serve the community and to remain financially strong,” Travis says. “The plan was for them to sell their properties on Court Street and own a piece of the new building, but they decided they were better off staying where they are. Lifelong still retains a presence in the building through the 2,000-square-foot community room.”
 
While Lifelong is expected to be the primary user of the community room, the space may be used by other organizations, much like the former Women’s Community Building, Travis says. “Lifelong will now have uninterrupted operation, and that helps them, as our construction will not impact the building on Court Street,” he adds.
 
The number of apartment units in the building has decreased slightly, to 57 from 60, and the number of parking spaces was also reduced. “There are fewer apartments, but they are now bigger,” Travis says. He explains that parking was reduced to 25 covered spaces on the Old Library site after parking proposed for the existing Lifelong building on Court Street was taken off the table.
 
Travis says that, while the units are still predominantly one- and two-bedroom, nine three-bedroom units are now also included. Modifications to the façade include some setbacks and the addition of balconies to mitigate the monolithic look of the new building, as recommended by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
 
While the building is still characterized as senior-focused housing, Travis is mulling whether the age range might be expanded somewhat, in response to input from the community regarding the value a mix of ages could provide for the living environment.
 
“We met with the Dewitt Park Neighborhood Association and other stakeholders in the area and made some changes to the façade,” he says. “We expect that this housing will be attractive to the 50-plus demographic, which is growing rapidly in Ithaca and has a desire to live downtown.”
 
Travis says he has been in discussions with the city Planning Department and Landmarks Commission, but has not yet presented a formal site plan. “We want to get everyone on the same page regarding this project before we move forward,” he says. The formal proposal will be presented to the Planning Board in May, he says, and absent any unforeseen obstacles he expects to make a purchase offer to the county on the Old Library property in September.
 
“If all goes according to plan, we would close the sale in October and address any environmental issues related to the site before construction starts next spring,” says Travis. “The process has taken a long time, starting with the request for proposals by the county. During the evaluation of different plans presented to the county there was some opposition to our proposal, but I feel our project best meets the criteria outlined by the county when it requested plans for the site.”
 
Legislature chairman Michael Lane, who also heads the Old Library Committee expressed some continued concern about parking provisions, questioning whether 25 spaces would be sufficient to accommodate residents and guests. It was pointed out that the existing Lifelong parking would still be there, providing some after-hours parking space.
 
“This is our property, and we want to see it put to a good purpose,” Lane told Tompkins Weekly. “The new plan may not be as senior-centric as before, but it still meets the city’s need for high-density housing.”