The development team for 215 College Avenue presented revised streetscape plans on June 13 that aim to activate College Avenue with an intermediate terrace and to soften Linden Avenue with terraces, planting beds and a more articulated façade.

Presenters said the site has a broad setback with variable widths between property line and building face (roughly 8–18 feet) that allow a public terrace on College and a stepped garden on Linden. The terrace on College Avenue will be raised slightly above sidewalk grade but accessible via a short ramp and steps; designers said the elevated configuration preserves an open amenity area while maintaining visibility into the lower‑level amenity room. Renderings showed benches, planters and an accessible route to the terrace.

On Linden Avenue the team proposed a gravel planting bed, a garden area and a sequence of balconies and vertical window panels to break the façade and create a residential scale. The designers said they adjusted first‑floor materials, wrapping warm wood tones around the base to create a distinct entry expression and to reduce the sense of a monolithic façade.

Board members praised the creative responses to prior comments but asked for additional clarifications. Andy Rollman and others asked for a clearer Ground Floor plan in relation to the site — specifically, how the childcare, community space and accessible ramps will function together — and for elevations that show the terraces in context with neighboring grades. Staff asked for winter renderings to show the look and maintenance of planting and gravel beds during Ithaca winters.

The project team said it will provide additional sections and a transportation and construction staging package for the full planning board; the team also noted early coordination with BikeWalk Tompkins and planned bicycle amenities including a bike tool pump station.

No formal approvals were taken; the committee will expect updated visualizations, construction staging and any TDM (transportation demand management) materials at the next meeting.