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SENECA PLACE
On The Commons
City's Newest Address
Opens Tall and Proud, Ithaca Journal, Jul 26, 2005
Project Snapshot
The $32 million mixed-use project consists of approximately 100,000 SF
of Class-A office and ground floor retail space and a 104 room Hilton
Garden Inn. The 9-story, 175,000 SF building is located at the northwest
corner of Tioga and E. Seneca Streets in the heart of downtown Ithaca.
Cornell served as the catalyst for the project for the purpose of
invigorating the downtown core and sustaining Ithaca as one of New York
State’s finest small cities. Seneca Place represents a strong
public-private partnership between the City of Ithaca, Cornell University
and Ciminelli Development Company, Inc., a private developer from Buffalo,
New York, who was selected by Cornell after a comprehensive selection
process in 2001. Linked to the project, the City of Ithaca is developing a
700 car parking garage with first floor retail space - Cayuga Green. The
projects received broad public support. Construction on the project started
in December 2003 and it opened July 26, 2005.
Cornell is the anchor tenant in the office component of the project leasing
3 full floors, 70,583 SF, for 20 years. The university moved about 300
employees into the building from its Alumni Affairs and Development Office
and the Johnson School of Business. Ciminelli rents additional office and
first floor retail space.
The Hilton Garden Inn is the first new hotel constructed
downtown in over 20 years. Businesses occupying the building will employ
over 500 people, an increase in the downtown employment base of 15%, with
an annual payroll over $20 million that, when combined with hotel and
meeting facility guests, will serve as a substantial pedestrian traffic
generator for the downtown core bringing an estimated 230 new visitors to
downtown every day, in addition to the 535 employees. Economic impact
includes new tax revenues of $825,000 per year (sales, room, real estate)
and new downtown sales revenues of $4.7 million (food/beverage and retail
annual sales).
Project Team
- Sponsors:
Cornell University, Ciminelli Development, City of Ithaca
- Architect:
Fontaneese, Folts, Aubrecht, Ernst and Bammel, Buffalo, NY
- Construction:
Ciminelli-Cowper
- Lender: M&T Bank
- Hotel Franchisor:
Hilton Hotels
- Hotel
Operator: Emerald Hospitality
Purpose
The project's main purpose is to help keep Ithaca a great place to live
by strengthening the downtown central business district, thereby keeping
the surrounding residential areas desirable. A strong, healthy and
vibrant Ithaca community is very important to Cornell in attracting
students, recruiting faculty and staff, continuing development efforts with
alumni, and maintaining the general reputation of the university.
How do we strengthen the Ithaca community?
A healthy central business core is necessary for a strong and attractive
community. A key way to strengthen downtown is to have more people
working and living there. For example:
- 1 person
working downtown has the same impact as 4 people visiting or shopping
downtown.
- 1 person living
downtown has the same impact as 8 people visiting or shopping
downtown.
The additional employees and residents will generate
demand for other businesses like retail stores, entertainment, and many
other services.
Many of the project's benefits flow to the entire community and not just
to downtown. For example:
- A strong central
business core is essential to a healthy, attractive community.
- New property and
sales taxes will benefit schools and the county.
- Jobs will benefit
those living throughout the county.
Seneca Place Customer Support
Kilpatrick's Publick
House Ribbon Cutting, Mar 16, 2006
January 2006 Parking Update
The parking rates for
the permit holders at the Green Street garage, the Cayuga Street garage and
the handicapped parkers at the Seneca Street garage will remain
unchanged through July 2006. Only the parking rates for the employees
parking in the Seneca Street Garage (the "non-handicapped"
parkers) are subject to an increase as of January 1, 2006. In summary, the
current rates are as follows:
- Seneca Street Garage:
$60/mo
- Seneca Street Garage
Handicapped: $40/mo
- Green Street Garage: $20/mo
- Cayuga Street Garage: $0/mo
Customer Survey
Useful information:
- Download map showing
building, parking and transit stop locations
- Transit: You
can obtain and download information at www.tcatbus.com. There is a direct shuttle
between Downtown and Campus every 10 min via Route 10 bus (Campus -
Downtown Shuttle) which stops across the street at the Seneca Bus
Shelter. Broader service is provided by Route 30, which also
leaves from the same bus stop. Other locations around the
Commons provide service throughout the community.
Customer contacts:
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