Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services seeks parking lot for senior housing project

Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) is set to acquire a parking lot at the corner of West State Street and South Geneva to support a new affordable housing project aimed at seniors. The parking lot, which consists of 12 to 13 spaces, is valued at $370,000 and is part of a larger initiative to develop a 56-unit housing complex that will cater primarily to seniors with physical disabilities.

The project will also include a ground-floor childcare center, potentially operated by Head Start, although the final operator has yet to be confirmed. This initiative comes after INHS secured site control of the adjacent family medicine building from Travis Hyde Holdings, which previously leased the property.

The Ithaca Common Council is expected to take final action on the acquisition on May 7, 2025. However, the purchase agreement includes contingencies, meaning that INHS will not finalize the acquisition until they secure financing from the state for the housing project. If financing is not obtained within three years, the agreement will terminate.

As part of the planning process, INHS has already selected an architect from Rochester, and the project is currently undergoing review by the planning board. This development is a significant step towards addressing the need for affordable housing in the community, particularly for seniors and individuals with disabilities.