Ithaca · Local digest

Ithaca Common Council approved several major decisions on September 2 affecting housing, transportation and public safety. The city will seek redevelopment proposals for the former Seneca Street Garage site, with goals including market-rate or mixed-income housing, owner-occupied homes, and climate-resilient design. Council also received $252,437 in additional funding for its Active Transportation Network Plan to support bicycle and multimodal transportation infrastructure through surveying, traffic-calming analysis and detailed design work. On public safety, the city will use $2.48 million in remaining capital funds to study less expensive alternatives to a new public safety building, potentially including expansion into City Court space rather than new construction. Council adopted a 2026-27 Executive Work Plan with 36 major deliverables including housing-density analysis, zoning modernization and flood-mitigation planning. The city faces a projected $5 million to $6 million budget gap for 2027 and is working to complete overdue audits while managing approximately $147.7 million in debt across all funds.

Michelle Kortenaar, executive director of the Sciencenter in Ithaca for seven years, will retire at the end of February 2027 after 17 years with the nonprofit organization. The Sciencenter, a nationally recognized hands-on science museum located at 601 1st St., welcomes over 100,000 visitors annually and serves all second-graders in Tompkins County through its Discovery Trail program. According to reporting from the Ithaca Voice, Kortenaar has overseen deepening community partnerships including collaborations with Head Start for early childhood science education and the development of programs like Future Science Leaders for middle school students. The organization is beginning a national search for a new executive director while Kortenaar continues overseeing infrastructure improvements through her retirement.