Developers offer Herald Square on the Commons as lower-cost alternative to proposed county Center of Government

Developers and local advocates on Sept. 16 urged the Tompkins County Legislature to examine Herald Square on the Ithaca Commons as an alternative location for county offices planned for a new Center of Government.

Why it matters: The county has budgeted for a multi-year project to consolidate offices; members of the public said Herald Square, which has roughly 57,000–58,000 square feet of office space, could be occupied in about a year and for materially less cost than the county’s current estimate for new construction.

Martha Robertson, former chair of the Tompkins County Legislature and a longtime local official, urged the body to tour the property and said the developer offered flexible terms including leasing with options to buy. Robertson said Herald Square “has got almost 58,000 square feet of existing office space that is ready for the county to take possession” and argued the county could “have occupancy in a year instead of 4 years.” Sam Lubin, representing Herald Square, reiterated that the property could be delivered more quickly and said “the total cost come in at a third of the proposed cost” if the county chose to lease and have the developer build out interiors.

Developers and their partners suggested multiple approaches — lease, lease-to-buy or purchase of portions of the building — and said the shell and infrastructure are largely in place, reducing construction time and cost compared with a ground-up project.

Legislators and staff noted tradeoffs. Randy Brown (Member, Tompkins County Legislature) and downtown facilities committee members said Herald Square’s locations and ready-built space are attractive but raised concerns about ceiling heights, parking and fit for certain departments that interact with the courthouse. County staff noted the county’s capital estimate for the Center of Government includes demolition, moves, temporary space and renovations across county-owned properties — items that raise the project budget above a raw per-square-foot construction number. Randy Brown also observed the county’s long-term interest in owning a facility versus leasing, which affects future maintenance and capital planning.

Taper: The county’s downtown facilities special committee said it expects updated drawings and additional cost details from the project architect and will continue evaluating the county’s capital plan and alternative locations; the county did not commit to a site at the Sept. 16 meeting.