ITHACA — City of Ithaca leaders say now that the redesign of the Commons is over, it’s time to concentrate on bringing more life to the downtown center.
Lawmakers say they’re considering new rules for active use of ground-floor spaces on the Commons. They say there’s been similar action in Collegetown recently after re-zoning projects there.
Common Council member Seph Murtagh explains what active use means.
“An active street could be defined in a number of different ways, but here I think what it means is restaurants, retail, some kind of use that enhances the pedestrian experience on the Commons,” he said. “This is an idea that’s only in the very early stages of discussion.”
Murtagh says it’s not the first time active use has been discussed in the city.
“I understand this is an issue that has been brought up before, and I think it wasn’t approved because I think there was concern about how this might affect office space on the Commons and different types of uses that don’t fit the definition,” he said. “We decided that it might be a good time to revisit the issue, especially with the completion of the Common redesign.”
Murtagh says the plan is meant to make the new Commons a more welcoming and enjoyable environment.
