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INHS refines West State Street apartment elevations, proposes murals and explores car‑share spots
Summary
Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services updated the committee on exterior finishes for the West State Street affordable housing project, discussed murals for stair towers, and raised the possibility of partnering with Ithaca Car Share for on‑site car‑share parking; staff suggested engineering will need to review any conversion of on‑street parking.
Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) returned to the committee on June 13 with revised building elevations, a proposal for public‑facing murals and an initial query about adding car‑share parking to the West State Street apartment project.
INHS representatives said they are toning down a previously high‑contrast black‑and‑white palette in favor of a softer field color with vertical accent bands and a terra‑cotta tone to echo nearby brick architecture. They also proposed an art treatment in a central stair tower and a larger mural on the building’s western stair tower to enliven the façades.
Victoria (last name not stated), speaking for the team, said INHS had contacted Ithaca Car Share and McGraw House and was exploring the value of adding a dedicated car‑share space and an accessible parking spot near the project to improve resident mobility. Nikki Sarah, planning staff, suggested the engineering division be involved in any conversion of on‑street parking and noted the city is reluctant to remove curbside parking where possible.
Board members asked for context: where mural materials would be located, whether murals would be painted on panels or applied media, and how the palette will look in winter light. Andy Rollman and others asked for demonstrations of floor plans, ground‑floor programing, and how the child care and community spaces will be accessed following recent changes to ramps and entrances.
INHS said it will also present construction staging plans — including coordination with Welliver and how to maintain access on a busy corner — and is working with geotechnical engineers; a preliminary geotech indicated sandy soils that will likely require driven helical piles to deeper, firmer strata.
Direction: INHS will return with updated renderings that show elevations in context, mural details (media and location), a construction staging plan, and a response to ILPC input once available. Staff encouraged coordination with engineering on any car‑share or on‑street parking changes and requested planting/landscape plans so the committee can assess maintenance and winter appearance.
