THE STATE OF OUR DOWNTOWN
PRESENTATION TO THE ITHACA ROTARY CLUBGary Ferguson, Downtown Ithaca Alliance
August 1, 2018
Our downtown is in constant evolution
From its earliest days. . .
To the late 19th century buildings. . .
To the development of the 20’s. . .
To the era of the auto. . .
To the era of the Commons & DeWitt Mall. . .
Capturing Regional Growth- 2000 – 2008. . .
A decade of redevelopment• DeWitt House• Harold’s Square• Canopy Hotel• City Centre• Tompkins Financial• Marriott Hotel• State Theatre• Carey Building
• Hotel Ithaca• Lofts at Six Mile Creek• Cayuga Place• Cayuga Garage• Press Bay Alley/Court• 202 The Commons• Tompkins Center for Hist./Cult.• Breckenridge Place
Transformational change
ADDED SINCE 2004:• Total SF of space• Total New Investment ($)• Housing Units• Hotel Rooms• Retail/Office SF• Parking spaces
NET DOWNTOWN GROWTH:• 1,180,000 SF• $280 million/ $200+ M planned• 532 units• 399 rooms• 362,000 SF• 700 parking spaces
TOMPKINS COUNTY CENTER FOR HERITAGE & CULTURE202 THE COMMONS
117 N. CAYUGAPRESS BAY COURT
Up next: Green St. Garage Redevelopment
Beginning stages-- A Downtown 2030 Plan
Key Downtown Strengths• Compactness & Walkability• Proximity to Neighborhoods• Our existing businesses & assets• Density with street level character
Key Downtown Weaknesses• Downtown compactness• Proximity to neighborhoods• Ithaca’s population size• Retail mix
Key Downtown Opportunities• Further density and in-fill development
• Our creativity in problem solving• The tech sector and Ithaca as a millennial gateway
Key Downtown Threats• The retail evolution/revolution & the internet
• Shifting growth to the periphery• Parking supply
Trends to watch• Will Downtowns remain hot?• The high cost of housing• Experiential retailing• Food & beverage superseding retail
Issues for 2030• Re-defining Downtown• Inclusivity & Diversity• Growth in a Mature Downtown• Connecting Downtown• Building a “great place”