Archive: Opinions

I read with interest your editorial about the need for sewers in the Town of Lansing and how "Development" will be stalled without the sewers. 

While I agree that the industrial area near the airport needs a sewer system to ensure continued employment for many people in the area, just how important are these other projects?   

While the housing project earmarked for the Woodsedge Drive area has merit as it has been touted as "low cost" housing, what will be the ultimate cost to the area residents in terms of environmental safety?  This project has just been rightfully tabled (hopefully, forever) due to environmental concerns.

In addition, the 138-condo units proposed for Triphammer Road between Water Wagon and Asbury Roads is also another boondoggle. 

Do the residents of this area know what is proposed? Do they know the disruption to their neighborhoods this project will bring?  The developers of this project have requested permission to connect a sewer line to the proposed airport industrial area sewer line and bring it down Warren Road, possibly down Hillcrest Drive (exact street has yet to be determined), all the way to the intersection of Water Wagon and Triphammer Roads. 

Since I originally lived on Long Island, I am knowledgeable about what is involved when a sewer line is installed in a suburban/semi-rural area.  Residents of the area will be dealing with several years' worth of ripped up roads, dirt, inability to walk on the street (that means jogging, walking dogs, taking strolls, etc.), unsightly construction debris and equipment, inability to access sections of streets, home driveways, etc. 

The developers plan to turn the operation of the sewer system over to the Town after the construction is completed.  In this instance, since the sewers are being installed for the purpose of building a project for a private, profit-oriented entity, who knows how much this project will ultimately cost the taxpayers once the system is "turn over" becomes reality?

Finally, let's look at the need for 138 condo units approximately 6-7 miles away from Ithaca Center.  These units will not be considered as "affordable".  They are high-end units, with expected prices of approximately $325,000 per unit.  In addition to TWELVE years of construction debris (it is expected the project will take 12 years to complete), in addition to the ruination of viewsheds of people living in the area and the destruction of wildlife and other environmental problems (separate from the sewer nightmare) after having checked with 3 separate real estate brokers from 3 local real estate entities, I was told off the record that units located that far from Ithaca center will not be able to be sold at those prices.  There is no market for these units. 

Right now we are in the worst recession in 80 years.  Other high-end condo units (that range in price from $325,000 to $360,000) that have been built over the last few years and earmarked for continued addition of units are NOT SELLING. 

Indeed, my own informal study of free-standing homes in Lansing that range in price from $275,000 to $350,000 available in other areas of the town which are also NOT SELLING.   

What could we be thinking to consider approval of these projects?  Who has earmarked our beautiful town for deveopment?  THE DEVELOPERS, THAT'S WHO!  They will line their pockets, increase our taxes, overburden our already overburdened school district with more children entering our schools, ruin the environment and then go on to the next beautiful town to cause more destruction.

In this economy, people are thinking about survival in their existing homes.  Let's consider projects that will help existing residents at least maintain the status quo and that will not ruin our quality of life.

From: Elisabeth Hegarty
Ithaca, NY