Student Housing Development in South Hill, Ithaca, NY

The residents of South Hill, Ithaca are a strong testament to the double edge sword that is new student housing development in communities.   815 South Aurora Street has been approved as the location of new student housing development by the Ithaca Planning Board.  The meeting happened last week on September 24.

The decision was not passed without strong opposition however...

South Hill resident Roger recently spoke on the move:

“The difference here is that during inclement weather, there is a choice that is made to visit the garden.  On this site [815 S. Aurora St.], one must go into the fall zone because people live there and frequent the parking lot/fall zone on a daily basis - it is the only way out of these apartments buy vehicle or bicycle. One must walk through the fall zone to take out the garbage.”

Further opposition came from Michael Belmont, who is moving to Ithaca from Rochester::

“To be clear I respectfully encourage this board to deny this site plan as proposed.  The Visum project has been given special consideration and has been allowed to fly under the code’s radar on many occasions and has inspired changes in the code at times like a reduction in a cell tower fall zone.”

Emily Petrina, a member of the board, said she supports the building and feels that the nearby road, Route 96B, has grown into "a major thoroughfare in and out of the city of Ithaca."

All in all, student housing development in Ithaca warrants the growing demand students have for off-campus student housing.