Architects present 7‑story student housing design near Grandview House; ILPC raises materiality and shadowing concerns

Developers and architects on June 17 presented a seven‑story student housing proposal at 215 College Avenue and sought advisory input from the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission on impacts to the adjacent Grandview House, an individually designated landmark.

The project team described a 7‑story building set back at the ground level to preserve visibility of the Grandview porch and to create a terraced entry that the team said responds to the Grandviews scale. The applicant said the design breaks the mass into two linked volumes with a lighter material at one mass and a darker material at the other; the proposal also includes vertical bay windows and a stepped 23‑foot terrace set back from the sidewalk to echo the Grandviews porch datum.

Commissioners and staff commended the team for attempting to preserve sightlines to the Grandview and for breaking the new buildings mass into smaller elements. At the same time members asked for additional details before an advisory comment is forwarded to the planning board: a shadow‑analysis showing solar impacts on the Grandview, sample cut sheets or material mockups for the proposed cement fiber panels, and east/west/south elevations that show the new building in direct context with neighboring buildings. Commissioners also raised concerns about dark facade materials on the elevation facing the Grandview and requested the applicant explain how the selected materials and setbacks will limit perceived mass and avoid creating a canyon effect.

The project team said they are pursuing a design that emphasizes longevity and high‑quality materials and noted some program numbers: the applicant stated the building is a seven‑story structure with "86 units and 151 beds" as presented at the meeting; the team said the first 20–23 feet of the building on the Grandview side are set back and that amenity spaces and a public terrace are planned at grade. The applicant also said the project is undergoing environmental review with the planning board; the ILPCs role is advisory for impacts on adjacent historic resources.

Commissioners asked the applicant to provide context drawings—four‑elevation views that show the proposal in relation to existing nearby buildings—and to provide material samples and final elevations for the commission to review before the ILPC finalizes advisory comments to the planning board. The commission did not take a formal vote; the applicant will continue the planning‑board environmental review process and return with the requested materials.

Where the meeting record is unclear, the commission requested that staff ensure the final summary memo to the planning board accurately reflect the discussion and concerns raised at the ILPC meeting.