Dryden Village awaits DOT approval on proposed apartment complex

The village of Dryden and its partnered developers are looking to break ground soon for a 749-unit apartment complex.

But first the village, with assistance from the town of Dryden and the Tompkins County Highway Department, needs a piece of approval from the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT).

The village is looking to build an apartment complex called Ezra Village. It will be located at the corner of Mott Road and North Street and will span 42 acres.

Ithaca-based developer Rocco Lucente has developed the apartment complex for the village. The Lucente family has created numerous apartment complexes, more recently the Village Solars apartments in Lansing. Developing major projects for over 40 years, the Lucente family has built the East Gate Apartments, Hanshaw Corners townhouses, Sanctuary Drive subdivision, Briarwood I subdivision and more.

“We’re really trying to create places for people to come together and build community,” said contracted architect Larry Fabbroni Jr. last year during a presentation. Fabbroni is working alongside Lucente on the project.

Named after Ezra Cornell, cofounder of Cornell University, the proposed apartment complex ties into the university and the large number of village residents who work there.

The DOT recently expressed concern about the traffic pattern surrounding the complex’s proposed location, prompting a traffic study done by the state.

“We’re coming out with a solution for the DOT to sign off on it,” Village Mayor Mike Murphy said, noting that he is unsure of the timetable for the DOT’s response.

Murphy was hoping to start construction on the project this past fall or before the first snowfall, but the DOT requires that the traffic issue be solved. Murphy noted, however, that the village hopes to begin the project this year.

“It’s tough because [the pattern of traffic] was created [by the roads], and it already exists,” Murphy said.

Town officials and the county highway department are assisting the village with the proposed traffic solution. This is due to a portion of the projected apartment complex in town and near Route 13.

“It affects [the county’s)]highways,” Murphy said.

According to the apartment complex proposal, the development is aimed at workforce housing, created for households that earn between $44,000 and $73,000 annually. 

The proposal calls for the project to be phased over a period of anywhere from 11 to 15 years. The development is anticipated to cost $71 million due to the longevity of the project, but Murphy noted that the cost is subject to change.

Projections show that the apartment complex would be built in approximately 10 phases. Other numbers include the density of the project, which has around 20 units per acre.

Murphy noted that the apartment complex could bring in over $2.5 million in potential village, town and county tax contributions. He added that the village could see over $500,000 in tax contributions.

“We understand the character of the village,” Fabbroni said. “And we’re not here to try to change that.”

Murphy declined to comment further on the proposed traffic solution, but he noted that the solution comes with a “strong goal” to begin the project this year.

“We’re pushing strong, and so are the developers,” Murphy said. “We’ll wait and see what happens. It’s a good step forward.”

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

In brief:

Dryden students to hold can drive in February

Students from Dryden Middle School are holding a bottle and can drive from Feb. 10 to 17 at the Clark’s Food Mart in the village of Dryden.

The money raised will go toward a trip to Hershey Park for eighth-grade students this year.

‘Paws to Read’ event scheduled for Feb. 17

The monthly “Paws to Read” event at Southworth Library in the village is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 17 at 10:30 a.m.

The free-of-charge event encourages children to practice reading to friendly dogs from Cornell Canine Companions. To register for the event, go to southworthlibrary.org.

Village of Freeville provides information on spring election

With the spring election happening in a few months, the village of Freeville recently announced that the following offices and terms are designated to be filled:

• Trustees: two-year terms for two seats apiece
• Mayor: two-year term

The village spring election is scheduled for March 19. Independent nominating forms are available at freevilleny.org and at the village hall at 5 Factory St. during regular business hours.

Completed petitions must be submitted to the village clerk between Feb. 6 and Feb. 13. The number of signatures collected must be at least 5% (16 signatures) of registered voters. 

For more information, go to freevilleny.org or contact the village at 607-844-8301.