Progression Continues on the SouthWorks Redevelopment Project
Mikayla Mack Rovenolt | May 24, 2023 | Tompkinsweekly.com
What was once known as Morse Chain, Emerson Power Transmission Plant and, most recently, the Chain Works District, is being reimagined as “SouthWorks.” While many are aware of the proposal of the new project, recent developments have set the plan in motion.
InDec. 2022, partners involved with the project officially closed on the property at 620 S. Aurora St. SouthWorks is described as “a new mixed-use neighborhood, including housing, technology, commercial, retail and industrial/manufacturing to serve as a catalyst for Ithaca's local economy.” The project will also develop the Gateway Trail, which will run at the base of the property and connect the South Hill Recreation Trail to Buttermilk Falls and the Kirby Edmunds Bridge.
The $300+ million endeavor is led by Philadelphia-based SHIFT Capital in addition to the property's previous developer, David Lubin, of Ithaca-based L Enterprises. SHIFT is also working with two woman-owned firms on the project: Rochester-based US Ceiling Corp., led by Melissa James-Geska, and New York City-based Xylem, led by Nnenna Lynch. Vicki Taylor Brous, an Ithaca local and project coordinator for the site, is also working with SHIFT.
“We're a mission-driven, B-Certified real estate group focused on building equitable neighborhoods. That is what we do. And through that, we do a lot of adaptive reuse, and I think one of the important things for us was our team,” said Brian Murray, SHIFT Capital partner and CEO. “We're using some of the existing team and bringing in some new members to the team. We just wanted to make sure that we were looking at it with a fresh set of eyes and evaluating all the opportunities within the site.”
Heather McDaniel, of Ithaca Area Economic Development, said now that SHIFT Capital has purchased the site and has a full team, they are updating a number of the studies on the site and conducting new studies.
“They're updating some of the traffic and transportation infrastructure studies and have put together sort of a vision of different uses for all of the building and looking into electrification studies, not just for SouthWorks, but for the surrounding housing area,” McDaniel said. “Now they're looking at sort of financial feasibility for different parts of the project. This is probably the largest development Ithaca will ever see, so it's going to take some time.”
Vicki Taylor Brous, an Ithaca local and SHIFT Capital employee, has been working on the project since its conception in 2013. She has been a consultant in construction for 10 years and has worked on the environmental impact statement and grants.
Brous added that SHIFT has a focus on uplifting communities, which is perfect for this Ithaca project because they are taking a holistic approach to the site's development.