Historic Building Being Restored
Renovations on a historic downtown Ithaca building are proceeding at a fast clip.
Making the old building look just like it did in 1891 when it was built, is in part, nearing completion, said Ithaca City Manager Chelsey Foster.
“They’ve put in 12,000 new bricks, and are going to put them all around the back,” he said of the building that once housed the Kernen Style Shop. “They’ve added brand new windows.
“The first floor and the basement have been gutted, and new electricity and plumbing have been installed,” he added. “It used to be just a basement, and now it can be used for meeting rooms and work space.”
A photography studio is planned for the first floor, Foster said, pointing out that the opening is scheduled for later this month.
A couple of apartment units are planned for the top floor, he said, adding that it will take a few more months before the building is totally complete.
A federal grant of more than $300,000 was obtained through the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to assist the developer.
The remodeling couldn’t have taken place without the grant, Foster said.
Downtown apartments are something relatively new, he said.
“We want to encourage more apartments through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority,” Foster said. “We took a group Mason and toured their apartments.”
The trip was scheduled so city officials could see how Mason’s downtown units were done.
Through a MSHDA grant of up to $35,000 per unit, the development has proved successful.
“They have waiting lists for MSHDA apartments,” he said. “They have 30 some downtown apartments when before they had zilch. It has revitalized the downtown.”
Strict requirements have to be met in order to get the grants, which includes a sizeable investment by the developer. And for five years, the developer must rent to low to middle income residents. The apartments are rent controlled.
After the five years, however, the owner can do whatever he or she likes and charge however much the market can bear, Foster said.
A couple of more buildings with about six units in Ithaca are also in the planning stages, he said.
The city’s next step is to work out parking arrangements and fire suppression should any apartments be built on a third floor.
“We’ve got some work to do,” he said. “We’re excited.”