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Villagers Share Concerns Over Cayuga Affordable Housing Project

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Cayuga residents were quick to express their disapproval of the affordable housing project taking place in the village.

Over four dozen village residents were at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES on Thursday for a public meeting on the Wheat Street Apartments project, the affordable housing project creating 47 housing units at the former elementary school.

Following an approximately 30-minute presentation by representatives from Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS), the next 75 minutes were dedicated to a Question & Answer session. During the Q&A, attendees were quick to express their concerns about the potential consequences the project could have on the community.

Over 4 dozen attend the public meeting on the Wheat St Apt project held at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES on 04/16/24. (Ed Vivenzio, Finger Lakes News Radio).

One concern expressed by many was the strain that adding 47 housing units would have on emergency services. Residents questioned whether law enforcement and ambulance services could cope with additional calls for service anticipated with the increase in residents.

Related to this, concerns were raised over what effect an increase in students coming into the school district would have on the district.

“[Prospective tenants are] not bad; they’re not evil,” said one man in attendance. “They have needs and needs require services to mitigate them, and we don’t have them.”

Questions were brought up as well regarding whether residents could see a potential tax increase due to an increased burden on emergency services and infrastructure an influx of residents could bring.

There was also friction between how these new potential residents would fit into the close-knit community present in the village. According to the 2020 census, Cayuga has a population of 472. Wheat Street Apartments could potentially add an estimated 140 additional residents to the village.

The former school was purchased in 2020 by the Gavras Center to house those 55 years or older and those with mental disabilities; however, plans changed. The project will now be owned by Wheat Street LLC, with INHS acting as a managing member. Apartments will be rented based on income level.

According to INHS, 43 units will be reserved for households with incomes up to 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Four units are reserved for households with incomes up to 70% AMI. The project team adds it’s committed to housing nine individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities at the apartment complex.

Based on unit size and median income, rent would range from $687 to $1,130 per month.  The Gavras Center will work with the nine individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities who will have apartments set aside for them.

This change in who could apply was a point of contention for many in attendance. Some claimed they were lied to by the Gavras Center with one referring to it as “a bait and switch.”

“Every part of this presentation is a lie to the people of Cayuga,” said Mayor Don Wilson Jr.

Kate de la Garza is the Executive Director of INHS. She handled the majority of the Q&A session. She thanked residents for their input and said that she wants INHS to be seen as a valuable part of the community.

“We will work to be a good neighbor,” said de la Garza. “We’re going to be a part of this community.”

As the meeting wrapped up, it was clear that more communication would need to take place in the future.

INHS has developed over 1,200 units of housing since its founding in 1976. The group services Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Schuyler, Seneca, Tioga, and Tompkins Counties. This will be the first INHS unit in Cayuga County.

Work is currently underway on the Wheat Street Apartments. 31 housing units will be in the school which is currently under renovation with an additional 16 units in three new townhouses. Of these 15 will be one-bedroom units, 16 two-bedroom units, and 16 (the townhouses) three-bedroom units.

Applications are anticipated to be available in November with the apartments officially opening in March 2025.

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