Christmas came early for several major development projects in Tompkins County and the Southern Tier.
New York state’s Regional Economic Development Council awarded over $453 million through various state agency programs on Dec. 23, funding transformative initiatives, economic development and housing projects across the state.
The Southern Tier was awarded $26.4 million that will support 27 projects across the region.
Additionally, an Ithaca project in the Southern Tier was chosen among four winners of the inaugural $150 million Advancing Collaboration for High-impact Initiatives for Economic Visions & Expansion competition — or ACHIEVE Competition. These projects are aimed at advancing “catalytic economic development projects backed by enhanced implementation funding to jump-start regional growth.”
TheSouthern Tier SouthWorksACHIEVE proposalwas awarded $38 million to support the development of SouthWorks — “a mixed-use, adaptive reuse project in Ithaca that repurposes the blighted former Morse Chain Factory site. SouthWorks will offer housing for all income levels, an innovation hub to retain start-ups in advanced manufacturing, biotech and ag-tech, a living laboratory for trades-focused workforce development with childcare and wraparound services, and an integrated neighborhood with locally tailored amenities for recreation, livability and the arts.”
Tompkins County was previously awarded $1 million through New York State’s County Infrastructure Grant Program to support infrastructure construction for The Woods, the first phase of a large-scale redevelopment project on Ithaca’s South Hill.
The SouthWorks Ithaca development plan includes 915 total residential units, 900,000 square feet of housing, 821,000 square feet of adaptively reused industrial and commercial space, and mixed-use development that includes light industrial, commercial, restaurant, retail and recreation.
A handful of other projects in Tompkins County received major REDC funding awards in Ithaca and Lansing.
Here is a description of each project, according to the REDC.
Town of Ithaca: SouthWorks Beacon Woods Housing
Award: $5 million
Description: The Town of Ithaca will complete an infrastructure project to support significant housing development on 5.25 acres within SouthWorks, the redevelopment of the 95-acre Morse Chain/Emerson Transmission Plant site. Planned infrastructure includes site preparation, roadway network, water main, and sanitary and storm sewer. Installing new infrastructure is essential to transform this isolated parcel into a viable neighborhood and enable the construction of much-needed affordable and workforce housing. The residential component of the project will feature 150 units consisting of multi-family apartment buildings (low-rise structures) and townhomes to serve a broad spectrum of income levels.
Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.
Award: $382,648
Description: Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. will redevelop a vacant medical office and city-owned parking lot at 209 W. State St. in downtown Ithaca as mixed-income, senior housing with a childcare center. The new center will feature classrooms for children aged 18 months to 5 years old, a multipurpose activity room, kitchenette, office space, and outdoor play area. The facility will help address the critical need for childcare seats in the Southern Tier
Ithaca: SouthWorks Childcare Center
Award: $5 million
Description: DMK Endeavors will undertake the buildout of the SouthWorks adaptive reuse development in the City of Ithaca and open a First Learning childcare center. The daycare will include an outdoor play space, serving infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children, helping to close the childcare service gaps in the City of Ithaca. This project will spur future development at the site, supporting regional economic development, workforce stability, and livability goals
Tompkins County: Center of Government Building
Award: $2 million
Description: The project will construct the new Tompkins County Center of Government (CoG) building at the corner of North Tioga and East Buffalo Streets within the DeWitt Park Historic District in downtown Ithaca. The four-story, 50,000 square foot CoG launches the overall revitalization of the County government campus, which will include a separate project to renovate nearby buildings (Old Jail, Daniel D. Tompkins Building) in future years. The CoG addresses a significant space shortage that will create an improved work environment for over 170 employees and ensure equitable access to services. County offices and employees are currently scattered throughout Ithaca. Preserving 170 jobs at the new CoG campus and improving the streetscape and public areas promotes a vibrant urban environment where employees have access to nearby childcare and can live, work, and shop in neighborhoods accessible by walking, bicycling, and public transportation. The CoG showcases sustainable building systems and reduces embodied carbon throughout the building’s lifecycle highlighted by LEED Gold building standards, a green roof, bi-directional EV chargers, and a district geothermal system integrated with neighboring County buildings.
Village of Lansing: Uptown and Craft Roads Sidewalk Connectivity Project
Award: $572,139
Description: The village of Lansing will construct approximately 3,335 linear feet of sidewalk along Uptown and Craft Roads. The new sidewalks will connect two apartment complexes, two public bus stops, the Triphammer Marketplace, three municipal parks, the Lansing trails neighborhood, and several health and medical care facilities. Filling in these gaps will create a more complete pedestrian system allowing for the reduction in vehicle miles traveled and associated greenhouse gas emissions.
What is the Regional Economic Development Council?
There are 10 Regional Councils, which are public-private partnerships made up of local experts, government, business stakeholders and non-governmental organizations. Members of the council collaborate to develop long-term investment and economic development plans. Each region competes for state resources based on its presented strategies.
The 2025 REDC Initiative Project will be supporting 381 projects statewide, $313 million to help advance regional strategic plans and state priorities, $60 million in Regional Council Capital Fund and $100 million from the Pro-Housing Supply Fund.
In a release, Gov. Kathy Hochul expressed her gratitude to the people behind the scenes involved in the REDC and their contribution to the state.
“The focused investments laid out in the locally designed plans will create investment opportunities that will help to build an enduring and successful future for all New Yorkers,” Hochul stated.
This article originally appeared on Ithaca Journal: $50 million to push Ithaca SouthWorks, housing, childcare projects forward
Reporting by Kalyn Grant, Ithaca Journal / Ithaca Journal
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