The City of Ithaca has issued an immediate Order to Vacate for the residential tower at 118 East Green Street, requiring residents to leave the building due to serious fire safety concerns.
The order affects floors four through eleven, which contain 181 housing units.
City officials say the action was prompted after firefighters responding to a fire alarm found broken and missing glass in stairwell windows. These stairwells serve as the tower’s only emergency exits, and the damage created unsafe conditions that prevent them from functioning as protected exit enclosures during an emergency.
Officials also note that the damaged windows compromise the building’s smoke evacuation system, a critical safety feature designed to control smoke and fire in high-rise structures.
Under New York State law, municipalities must enforce building codes to protect the public from fire hazards and unsafe building conditions. The state’s Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code identifies emergency exits as essential life-safety components that must remain safe and usable at all times.
High-rise buildings rely on occupants being able to “protect in place” during emergencies, using the building’s structure and safety systems to contain smoke and fire. City officials say the number of broken windows in the hallways and stairwells has rendered those systems unreliable, leaving the building without adequate fire and life safety protections.
Because both stairwells are now out of compliance with state building code, city officials determined the situation poses an immediate threat to residents. The vacate order will remain in effect until the stairwells are fully repaired and brought back into compliance.
While some properties can maintain a fire watch during repairs, city officials say this approach has previously been unsuccessful at this location.
The vacate order does not apply to the conference center at 116 East Green Street, where fire control systems remain fully operational.
City officials say the Ithaca Fire Department and Building Division are prioritizing resident safety. Police officers will go door-to-door if necessary to ensure tenants are aware of the order.
The property owner is responsible for correcting the hazardous conditions. The City of Ithaca is working with the landlord, an on-site supportive services provider, and Tompkins County officials to identify temporary housing options for displaced residents.
