Ithaca hearing reviews anticipated 2025 HUD entitlement funds; nonprofits pitch housing, repairs and job training

The Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency held a public hearing on the 2025 HUD entitlement consolidated planning process and heard presentations from local nonprofits proposing projects that would use the agency’s anticipated Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME allocations.

IURA staff said the agency is estimating about $796,000 in CDBG funding and about $244,000 in HOME funds for 2025; those figures are preliminary and subject to HUD’s final budget and formula. Seth, IURA staff, told attendees that the agency is proceeding with its normal public hearing steps while awaiting final federal amounts. He also said that requests for funding this year substantially exceed the anticipated entitlement amounts.

The hearing brought detailed proposals from housing developers and service providers. Victoria, a developer with Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS), presented a plan to redevelop the municipal parking and an existing family medical building at West State and South Geneva streets as a five‑story, all‑electric mixed‑income senior rental building with 56 one‑bedroom units and a childcare space on the first floor. "The majority of the units ... would be for households earning up to 60% of area median income," Victoria said, and she added that INHS would accept Housing Choice Vouchers. INHS staff described a total project budget of about $25 million, noted that Low Income Housing Tax Credits and New York State Homes and Community Renewal are expected to be major funding sources, and said application to the…