Ithaca Commons Project Undergoes Cost-Cutting

By SARAH CUTLER

In response to a budget shortage for the ongoing Commons redesign project, the City has made cost-cutting measures in order to preserve amenities such as a playground and gateway structures.

In addition, the Downtown Ithaca Alliance has begun efforts to attract private sponsorship to fund a fountain, for which there is a funding gap of $500,000.

The inclusion of the saved amenities will further animate the Commons, creating the vibrant and prosperous public space that the City and public sought to create, Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick 09 said in a memo on April 22.

According to John Schroeder 74, a member of the Ithaca City Planning and Development Board, all projects other than the fountain are set to be completed as a result of the City cheapening reducing the cost of aspects of the redesign, despite the additional $2 million it recently received in funding.

In order to address the remaining deficit after Common Council added that $2 million, the City found ways to accomplish the spirit of the design in a cheaper way, said Schroeder, who is also the Production Manager for The Sun. This includes substitution to cheaper materials like granite for some of the structures.

According to Schroeder, this streamlining of resources led to the shortfall being cut to about $500,000, which would be required to construct the above-ground portion of the planned fountain, which will be located in Bank Alley.

The understanding was that the Downtown Ithaca Alliance would fundraise to cover the fountain, Schroeder said.

Downtown Ithaca Alliance Executive Director Gary Ferguson said he currently feels good about the fundraisers success. Though he said he is not yet ready to release the names of sponsors, he said they have included a combination of families, banks and other community businesses.

A lot of people have stepped up to make this a community project, he said. This donor program will provide needed funds for finishing the project while at the same time providing value and exposure to donors and sponsors.

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Ithaca Commons Project Undergoes Cost-Cutting