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Continuing its examination of how the County could vacate the Old County Library building, the Legislature’s Capital Plan Review Committee today reviewed updated preliminary concept drawings prepared by LaBella Architects, showing how the Community Justice Center Day Reporting Program, now located in the Old Library, might be accommodated in a slightly expanded County Human Services Building.  Members of the committee also toured the space that would be affected in the southern part of the building, adjacent to the Beverly Livesay Conference Room.

Reviewing two alternate approaches, the Committee directed the architects to produce more detailed information on one of the options, which proposes a 1,600 square foot one-story bump-out at the building’s southeast corner.  Under that proposed floor plan, Day Reporting would be located at the southwest corner, Department of Social Services interview rooms relocated from there to the southeast, where the conference room is currently located, and extending into the addition, along with a relocated Livesay Conference Room, reduced to about 60% of its current size.

The committee made it clear that it is examining potential approaches at this point and that there has been no decision to expand the building to accommodate the CJC and will receive a detailed presentation from architects next month.

Also related to the Old Library, the committee continued its discussion of the process to dispose of the Old Library, County Planning Director Ed Marx presenting a summary of current and proposed new City zoning requirements and permitted uses in the area.  The proposed new zoning, now under review by the City, would, in part, permit a larger and higher building on the site, and would eliminate parking requirements.  City Planning Director JoAnn Cornish, Deputy Director for Economic Development Phyllisa DeSarno, Downtown Ithaca Alliance Director Gary Ferguson also were on hand to discuss the proposed City density requirements.

Commissioner Marx said that, for the Old Library site, he would see a mixed-use building with a heavy residential component as showing promise, particularly for senior housing, especially because of the site’s proximity to Lifelong.  He noted that there is clearly a demand for senior housing, and that the opportunity to do that in the City would be desirable.

In response to a question from Committee Chair Mike Lane, Planner Cornish said the Old Library site would potentially be a good location for a future “governmental center,” which could include a new City Hall, were the City able to sell its current building.

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