SouthWorks Announces Incoming Businesses; Invites Community to 2nd Annual Open House
ITHACA, N.Y., Date – On Tuesday, August 12th from 3:00pm-7:00pm, SouthWorks will be hosting its second annual open house, with opportunities for community members to learn about the project, tour the site, and meet incoming businesses. No appointment is necessary, though RSVPs through this form are appreciated. Site tours will run every hour, and closed-toed shoes without heels will be required to attend the tour. Former employees are encouraged to sign up to share their stories to help carry the site’s legacy into the future of the campus.
RSVP here to attend the Open House.
The Site
SouthWorks is a 95-acre site at 620 South Aurora Street in Ithaca, New York. Once home to Morse Chain and later Emerson Power Transmission, it has been vacant since 2012. Over the past decade, significant remediation has been conducted, bringing the site in compliance with NYS DEC residential standards. Now in redevelopment, the site will feature over 800,000 square feet of commercial space throughout the adaptively reused historic buildings and about 1 million square feet of new construction, predominantly residential. “We’re excited about the dynamic mix of uses planned for this site, from apartments and restaurants to manufacturing,” said Development Project Manager Robert Lewis. “We’re especially thrilled to welcome Found, who are poised to bring fresh energy and new life to SouthWorks.”
FOUND in Ithaca
Renovations are underway to welcome SouthWorks’ first tenant, FOUND in Ithaca, an antique mall and beloved local business currently located at 227 Cherry Street. Their new space will double the business’s footprint and allow for an expanded number of dealers. “Found in Ithaca needs a new home and we're so excited to have found the perfect one: SouthWorks!” said owner Vanessa Weber. “The funky industrial aesthetic, the size, the more visible location (with a fabulous view), and the awesome team behind the redevelopment made choosing SouthWorks a no-brainer. We hope to celebrate our next 15+ years here and more.”
SouthWorks Empowerment Center
Later this year, or early next year, renovations will begin on the SouthWorks Empowerment Center, the site’s northernmost building located at the top of Turner Place, with anticipated occupancy in mid-to late-2026. The first floor will house a daycare with 144 childcare slots operated by First Learning, an experienced childcare provider with multiple locations in the Greater Rochester area. The rest of the building will be home to a construction incubator & workforce development training space managed collaboratively by Livingston Associates and Ascend Workforce Solutions. Their footprint will include flexible office space for local and regional construction firms, as well as classroom and workshop space to support internal and community-wide training programs and create career pathways to trade jobs on the site.
Affordable Housing
The SouthWorks team has also partnered with Beacon Communities to develop SouthWorks’ first phase of the multifamily development initiative. Beacon Communities is one of the leading affordable and mixed-income housing companies in the Northeast with a strong presence in upstate New York. At SouthWorks, they will develop, own, and manage approximately 150 affordable and mixed-income apartments featuring 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units. The team is working with NYS Homes and Community Renewal, Empire State Development, Tompkins County and the Town of Ithaca to secure financing for the first phase of the residential development. The Open House celebrates this progress and invites the community to learn more about the site’s future.
The Development Team
SHIFT Capital is a Philadelphia-based, nationally recognized B Corporation that executes real estate projects and financing strategies that create equitable communities for the long term. SHIFT is partnering with L Enterprises as well as WMBE-certified USC Builds and Xylem Projects on the development. The SouthWorks ownership group brings together extensive experience in development, construction, and placemaking, along with proven track records in delivering equitable community-serving projects.
Directions
The SouthWorks entrance is across from the South Hill Elementary School playground off of South Aurora Street/96-B. Turn in where you see the old Emerson Power Transmission sign. (If you are coming uphill from the City, it will be your first right after the stoplight.) Google maps/Apple maps may try to take you to an entrance further south on S. Aurora/96-B that is chained off. If this happens, head downhill until you see the Emerson sign on your left. There will be no access during the Open House via Turner Place or Cayuga Street.
Contact
For press inquiries, Open House information, leasing inquiries, or general project questions, contact Sarah Barden, Community Outreach & Leasing Coordinator, at sbarden@shiftcapital.us.