Grants report: Reach negotiations, potential 56-unit senior housing at 205 West State St., and application updates

Staff updated the Ithaca Redevelopment Agency Grants Committee on multiple grant- and development-related items, including conditional negotiations with Reach for a HOME Emergency Rental Pilot (ERP) contract, lingering vouchers from prior grantees, and a potential redevelopment proposal involving a city-owned parking parcel at 205 West State Street.

Staff said the committee previously authorized negotiations with the top-ranked applicant for a HOME ERP award and that initial discussions have focused on commitments to multi-year operations, outreach plans, and strategies to reduce returns to homelessness. Samantha Stevenson (Reach COO, referenced by staff) told staff Reach is committed to project completion and outreach partnerships with other local housing providers, but challenges remain around long-term stability for participants in short-term rental assistance programs.

On downtown redevelopment, staff reported that INHS (referred to in the meeting as IHS/INHS) acquired a former family medical building on State Street and that the city council voted to declare the adjacent city-owned parking lot (205 West State Street) surplus to permit potential redevelopment. INHS has proposed a 56-unit affordable senior housing development with ground-floor day care; staff emphasized the parcel disposition and any redevelopment would require separate negotiation and approvals, including IRA involvement for real-estate negotiations.

Staff also noted several grant-administration items: a completed computer lab project (GX) with vouchers still pending, BHU negotiations continuing, and reminders about the upcoming application schedule and longer review meetings in February. Staff urged committee members to attend scheduled review meetings and to forward committee questions to staff promptly so applicants can be notified in advance.