Ithaca officials formally moved toward redeveloping the long-closed Seneca Street parking garage site last week, calling the downtown property a “generational opportunity” as Common Council approved a series of housing, public safety and governance measures during its May 6 meeting.
City officials said the deteriorating Seneca Street garage will remain closed following an independent structural evaluation that found reopening the facility was no longer in the city’s best interest because of safety concerns, deterioration and the projected cost of extending the structure’s lifespan.
Planning and Development Director Lisa Nicholas presented a framework for eventually transferring the property to the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency, which would oversee a future redevelopment process pending additional Common Council approvals.
“The redevelopment of the Seneca Street Garage is a generational opportunity to make a critical investment in our downtown,” Mayor Robert Cantelmo said in a statement released after the meeting. “Aligning with the vision of our Downtown Revitalization Initiative, this builds momentum behind Ithaca’s Renaissance: supporting long-term housing goals, strengthening our local economy, and contributing to a more active, welcoming city.”
Housing and zoning issues also played a major role in the meeting.
Common Council approved an ordinance expanding Planned Unit Developments citywide, giving developers additional zoning flexibility while the city continues work on a broader zoning rewrite. Council also issued a negative environmental declaration under the State Environmental Quality Review process, determining the expanded PUD framework would not create significant adverse environmental impacts.
City officials said the move is intended to encourage more innovative housing and development projects aligned with Ithaca’s long-term planning goals.
Council also approved seasonal outdoor dining and alcohol service permits for downtown businesses ahead of the summer season.
On the governance side, council members adopted a formal City Council Code of Conduct establishing standards for ethics, decorum and accountability, including a process for reviewing alleged violations.
Public safety initiatives approved during the meeting included home rule requests seeking state authorization for red-light camera and school-zone speed camera demonstration programs in Ithaca. Council also renewed regional emergency response agreements, including participation in the Joint Ithaca–Tompkins County Specialized Response Team and the Tompkins County Drug Task Force mutual aid partnership.
City officials additionally approved a labor agreement amendment involving unused sick leave accruals for Department of Public Works employees represented by CSEA.
Council also authorized a partnership between the city’s Department of Information and Community Engagement and Cornell’s Center for AI Innovation to digitize and create AI-assisted search capabilities for city legislative records dating back to 2009. Officials said the project is intended to improve public access to records and increase operational efficiency without committing city funding.
During the acting city manager’s monthly report, officials highlighted ongoing staffing shortages, continued work to stabilize city finances and efforts to complete overdue audits. The report also detailed ongoing coordination surrounding the order to vacate at 118 East Green Street, including weekly inspections and outreach efforts involving county and state agencies.
Officials said preparations are also underway for the city’s upcoming budget process, including a special presentation scheduled for May 12 at City Hall.
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