The project is the brainchild of developers John Novarr and Phil Proujansky, who proposed a multi-site “Collegetown Innovation District,” but after facing a lukewarm reception, decided to work on projects one at a time, with Catherine Commons being the “easiest” two of the five sites in terms of programming and scale. Catherine Commons (210 College Avenue)Ĭertainly the largest project underway right now is Catherine Commons, stretching along two blocks on the west side of College Avenue. Tenants will also enjoy the use of gyms and community spaces provided at Visum’s other properties nearby. Units can come fully furnished, provide in-unit washer/dryer, and are dog and cat friendly. Workforce housing it ain’t, and you know Visum will have little trouble filling these units because they’re at Cornell’s doorstep. Rents range from $1,900/month for a studio to $5,500/month for a four-bedroom unit. The Gem, designed by Ithaca’s HOLT Architects, replaces an older three-bedroom house with a 10-unit apartment building hosting 22 bedrooms. The request for construction bids on this project gave its cost at $1.55 million. Being a three-story, wood-framed structure, it’s plausible that the building will be ready for student renters by August, in time for the fall semester. That section draped in black tarp is likely still curing. You can still see the site is excavated and the foundation walls for the new building are being formed. Now, the photos above are taken from a distance because the crew from Schuyler County’s Cooley Construction Corporation were actively moving material into the site. That marginal increase in total beds, plus the fact that it’s brand new housing, equates to some serious coin in a captive market like Collegetown’s. A 3-bedroom, 2-bath is going for $4,500/month online, electric and heat not included, and on-site parking for an additional fee.

Advertisements for the project tout a gym, wi-fi, washer and dryer, fully furnished units, in-unit Smart TVs, and an on-site electric vehicle charging station, which will be behind 320 Elmwood. It’s a pretty safe bet that this project will be ready for student renters in time for the Fall 2023 semester. The larger apartment building is still in the process of being framed, with the ridge beam for the roof gable in place, and interior wood stud walls in the process of being erected. The concrete foundation is insulated and will be finished with a stone veneer at a later stage of construction. Lansing contractor Plumb, Level & Square (Joe Lovejoy) has the duplex fully framed, wrapped in TYPAR housewrap, roofed, and windows fitted but rough openings for the doors yet to be carved through the wrap. Now, to his credit, Jason Demarest is known for historically sympathetic designs, and that carried through here, with Victorian and Craftsman elements (roof pitches, dormers, etc.) in the two buildings under construction. Combined, the redeveloped site will have nine dwelling units with 26 bedrooms. A 10-bedroom apartment house and a duplex with two three-bedroom units came down to make way for a new seven-unit apartment building at 325 Dryden Road, and a new duplex at 320 Elmwood Avenue. This project managed to catch the ire of Belle Sherman residents and of the Board of Zoning Appeals it took a lot of work by architect Jason Demarest, and some concessions from the developers, to get a new infill project approved for the site in May 2022.Īll things considered, it’s not a lot gained, given the heated debate engendered. Gateway Center / “The Dean” (401 East State Street)įor a relatively small project, Red Door Rentals and AdBro Development (Greg Mezey and Chris Petrillose) sure knew how to create their share of controversy.

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