First Phase of Housing at SouthWorks Submitted
SouthWorks and Beacon Communities’ collaboration made public
*Preliminary rendering- subject to change
This month the SouthWorks project team, in collaboration with Beacon Communities, Fagan Engineers, and SWBR presented our first housing proposals to the City of Ithaca and Town of Ithaca Planning and Development Boards. Currently in the site plan approval process, this phase of housing will add 230 apartment units to the SouthWorks site and is planned for two locations: The Woods will incorporate 130 units across 8 buildings within the Town of Ithaca, while The Gateway will include 100 units across 2 buildings within the City of Ithaca.
“The SouthWorks team has ambitious housing goals for this site. We want to create a true mix of incomes and housing types, so that the new SouthWorks neighborhood can feel like a part of Ithaca from day one.”-Robert Lewis, SouthWorks Development Project Manager.
THE PARTNERSHIPS
Beacon Communities, of Boston, MA, creates and nurtures healthy, vibrant and sustainable communities, with nearly 150 developments across 11 states and the District of Columbia. Bringing their experience and expertise to this project, Beacon was an easy ally to partner with to forward the SouthWorks mission of creating an accessible, mixed-use neighborhood on Ithaca’s South Hill.
“Beacon Communities is thrilled to be part of the overall Southworks redevelopment in partnership with SHIFT. The proposed communities will not only create 230 mixed-income and affordable housing opportunities, but will help to build and strengthen the new Southworks neighborhoods – directly aligning with Beacon’s mission-driven approach to development, ownership and management.” -Daniel Bellgraph, Beacon Communities Senior Development Director
Along with Beacon, The Gateway and The Woods projects are a collaborative effort formed from meaningful partnerships and the hard work of the design team:
Fagan Engineers, an Elmira-based civil and environmental engineering firm bringing over 40 years of experience in surveying and land development.
SWBR, a multidisciplinary architectural firm located in Rochester focused on creating community-minded spaces that are sustainable and equitable.
Elwyn & Palmer, a structural and geotechnical engineering firm located right next door on Ithaca’s South Hill.
Taitem Engineering, a certified B Corporation and Ithaca-based engineering firm providing energy modeling and sustainability consultation.
Salas O’Brien, an employee-owned engineering and facility planning firm with a diverse range of services, including mechanical, electrical and plumbing.
THE GATEWAY
*Preliminary rendering- subject to change
This city-side community looks to bring its 100 units in the form of one and two-bedroom apartments across two buildings along 1.6 acres of SouthWorks’ northeastern historic fabric. Accessible from a private drive across from South Hill Elementary, The Gateway units will be split evenly across two five-story buildings. Due to the slope of the property, this will present as a 4 story building on its eastern-facing side and as a 5 story building to the western, SouthWorks facing side.
*Preliminary site plan- subject to change
The Gateway will provide apartments for households with incomes ranging between 50% and 80% of the area median income. For the Ithaca area, this includes households making up to $41,300 and $75,520 for a 1-bedroom apartment and $47,200 and $94,400 for a two-bedroom apartment (City of Ithaca income guidelines via HUD). The apartments will have access to outdoor amenities including a dog run, courtyard, and off-street parking. Rents for the 1-bedroom apartments are expected to range between $991 and $1,654 and between $1,187 and $1,983 for 2-bedroom apartments, depending on household income. Tenants can also enjoy amenities such as a community room, lounge, and fitness center.
THE WOODS
The Woods is a 130 multifamily unit project located on the southeastern corner of SouthWorks, adjacent to South Hill Business Campus. The Woods will break ground on 7.4 acres of previously undeveloped land.
*Preliminary rendering- subject to change
These units, following the same 50% to 80% AMI guidelines as The Gateway, will also include 3 bedroom units at an estimated rate between $1,381 and $2,301 across its 8 new buildings. These buildings vary in design and capacity, creating a diverse landscape with beautiful sweeping views. Two mansion-style apartments containing 9 units each will border Danby road, leading way into three townhome buildings housing a total of 27 more units. Three 30-unit multifamily apartment buildings round out the first phase of The Woods’ development, designed to complement the town’s natural and welcoming aesthetic. The site also requires infrastructure build-outs including internal roads and stormwater facilities that will be included in this phase.
*Preliminary site plan- subject to change
“Beacon is absolutely the right partner to build affordable housing at SouthWorks. We know that affordable housing requires intentional approaches to building and management, and Beacon has the deep experience necessary to make this housing successful” -Rob Lewis
LOOKING FORWARD
These two locations are considered one project to the development team and have been submitted to NYS Homes & Community Renewal as a 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit project. Currently under review with the City and Town Planning Boards, the project is expected to break ground in Fall 2026 with an anticipated 18 month construction timeline. The housing in the Gateway and The Woods marks an exciting milestone in bringing the 95-acre SouthWorks neighborhood online to the Ithaca community.