Library Place

Introducing Library Place

Bringing together older adults for a downtown lifestyle.

Travis Hyde Properties and Bridges Cornell Heights have formed a partnership to develop an active adult residence in downtown Ithaca.

Find space for mature Ithacans with a healthy urban lifestyle. Beautiful apartments with patios, fireplaces and thoughtful shared amenities like à la carte home health services, courtyard gardens, workout facilities, warming pool, massage room, and off street parking.

Located across the street from Dewitt Park with the Downtown Ithaca Commons two blocks away, Library Place is in the sweet spot of Ithaca’s downtown attractions. It’s special to have this downtown access while still enjoying a residential neighborhood.

ARTICLES - LIBRARY PLACE DEVELOPMENT

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DEMOLITION OF TOMPKINS OLD LIBRARY WILL START SOON ITHACA VOICE - OCTOBER 12, 2018

PLANS TO REDEVELOP OLD LIBRARY SITE INTO SENIOR HOUSING MOVE FORWARD ITHACA VOICE - MAY 29, 2018

OLD LIBRARY TRANSFORMATION TO SENIOR HOUSING MOVING FORWARD ITHACA JOURNAL - MAY 28, 2018

ITHACA DEVELOPMENT: TOP 10 CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN AND AROUND THE CITY ITHACA JOURNAL - OCTOBER 6, 2017

TOMPKINS COUNTY SELLS OLD LIBRARY SITE FOR $925K ITHACA VOICE - SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

APPROVED: LEGISLATURE OKS SALE OF OLD LIBRARY SITE ITHACA JOURNAL - SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

LEGISLATURE TO DISCUSS PROPOSED OLD LIBRARY SALE ITHACA JOURNAL - AUGUST 17, 2017

AFTER PROCEDURAL HURDLES, ITHACA OLD LIBRARY, WATERFRONT PROJECTS STEAM AHEAD ITHACA VOICE - APRIL 17, 2017

LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMITTEE GIVES DEWITT HOUSE OK ITHACA JOURNAL - FEBRUARY 19, 2017

FINALLY! ITHACA OLD LIBRARY ONE STEP CLOSER TO BECOMING DEWITT HOUSE AFTER 4-3 VOTE ITHACA VOICE - FEBRUARY 14, 2017

WILL LATEST ITHACA OLD LIBRARY PLAN PASS CITY REVIEW? ITHACA VOICE - FEBRUARY 10, 2017

LATEST OLD LIBRARY PLANS CALL FOR PARTIAL RE-USE ITHACA VOICE - JANUARY 5, 2017

OLD LIBRARY SITE PROPOSALS MAY BE NEARING END ITHACA VOICE - NOVEMBER 18, 2016

OLD LIBRARY SITE DESIGN CHANGES DON'T SATISFY RESIDENTS; DEVELOPER TO TRY AGAIN  ITHACA VOICE - OCTOBER 21, 2016

ANOTHER ROUND OF CHANGES ON THE TABLE FOR ITHACA'S OLD LIBRARY SITE PROJECT ITHACA VOICE - OCTOBER 11, 2016

AN IMPOSSIBLE BUILDING? OLD LIBRARY PROJECT SENT BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD ITHACA VOICE - JULY 13, 2016

TOMPKINS OLD LIBRARY SITE UPDATE INCLUDES FEWER UNITS, PARKING SPACES ITHACA VOICE - APRIL 12, 2016

CHANGES PROPOSED FOR OLD LIBRARY PROJECT ITHACA JOURNAL - APRIL 11, 2016

OLD LIBRARY PROJECT SLOWLY PROGRESSES THROUGH ITHACA CITY HALL ITHACA VOICE - MARCH 15, 2016

REFRESHER: DEVELOPMENT CONFLICT ON ITHACA'S OLD LIBRARY SITE ITHACA VOICE - JANUARY 26, 2016

WHAT WOULD $14 MIL. 'DEWITT HOUSE' IN ITHACA LOOK LIKE? ITHACA VOICE - AUGUST 21, 2015

AFTER MONTHS OF DEBATE, COUNTY BREAKS DEADLOCK ON ITHACA DEVELOPMENT ITHACA VOICE - AUGUST 4, 2015

OLD TOMPKINS COUNTY LIBRARY REDEVELOPMENT - PRESS RELEASE

May 24, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Frost Travis - ftravis@travishyde.com
Elizabeth Ambrose - eclassen@bridgescornellheights.com

Two Local Businesses Partner to Develop Active Senior Housing Downtown 

ITHACA, NY: Travis Hyde Properties and Bridges Cornell Heights have formed a partnership to develop an active senior residence on the site of the former Tompkins County library. 

Travis Hyde Properties, led by Frost Travis and Chris Hyde, is a local developer of housing and commercial projects in Ithaca. Bridges Cornell Heights is a pioneering senior living provider founded by Elizabeth Classen Ambrose.  The new residences will blend the Travis Hyde Properties expertise in property development with the Bridges Cornell Heights innovative approach to senior living.  

Sixty-seven units will be included in the project, situated at the corner of Cayuga and Court Streets. One-, two- and three-bedroom options will be available.  Amenities will include a restaurant, à la carte home health services from an on-site agency, community room, courtyard gardens, workout facilities, warming pool, and parking. The new partners will also be working with neighboring LifeLong, to provide on-site activities and programs.

Active senior housing is an underserved housing market segment in downtown Ithaca. Bringing together older adults for a downtown lifestyle will bring benefits to the community, as well as to the residents.  “The one fountain of youth that exists in our world today is social connection,” said Elizabeth Classen Ambrose, proprietor, Bridges Cornell Heights. “We know we feel happy when we are with friends, but research has proven that increasing social bonds lowers blood pressure, improves immune response and actually extends life expectancy.” 

With Dewitt Park across the street and the Commons two blocks away, the new housing is in the sweet spot of Ithaca’s downtown attractions. “The walkability score for the Dewitt Park west side is 96%,” said Frost Travis. “It is convenient to Ithaca’s best retail and restaurant options, as well as festivals and events. It’s special to have this downtown access while still enjoying a residential neighborhood.”

Designs by HOLT Architects are being finalized, and feature a 4-story building surrounding a courtyard garden at the southeast corner of the property. Parking will be below ground and amenities will be ground level.

“We are proud to be working with Elizabeth and the Bridges team on this unique downtown living space,” quoted Chris Hyde. “This is going to be the perfect place for the couple who is ready to downsize and get rid of the lawnmower.  I know I would like to do that.” 

Partnership Profile

Travis Hyde Properties | Bridges Cornell Heights

Travis Hyde Properties, a family-owned business, has been operating in Ithaca as a property manager and developer since 1977.  Travis Hyde Properties has 38 employees and owns and manages 900,000 square footage of property.

The Travis Hyde Properties portfolio includes residential, commercial, retail, medical professional, storage and light industrial spaces over 19 properties in Ithaca and Binghamton.  Iconic properties in the portfolio include Center Ithaca, Eddygate, Clinton House, Carey Building, Gateway, and the River House in Binghamton. 

Principals Frost Travis and Chris Hyde are working with HOLT Architects to finalize the best design for the former Tompkins County Library site.  “We knew there was an unmet need for active senior housing downtown,” says Frost Travis. “We wanted to build in amenities that an older adult population would enjoy. We were thinking: on-site dining choices, green spaces, programs and activities.  And when we decided to make concierge wellness services part of the package, we knew we wanted Elizabeth and her team from Bridges Cornell Heights to develop the program.”

Bridges Cornell Heights operates several licensed enhanced assisted living residences in Ithaca, New York.  Founded in 1989, Bridges Cornell Heights employs 50 workers. Bridges Cornell Heights served as the prototype for the development of NYS Enhanced Assisted Living Residence Licensure and has been recognized for sensitive development in a historic district by Ithaca’s Rotary Club and Historic Ithaca.

Principal Elizabeth Classen Ambrose has innovated in the area of senior living by concentrating on the intersect between hospitality and healthcare. With an exceptional resident to staff ratio of 4-to-1 (which far exceeds the industry standard staffing ratio of 9-to-1), the Bridges Cornell Heights focus is on extremely high level of service. 

“When we started talking about partnering for an active senior living space downtown, it was obvious that our skills would fit together for this project,” Elizabeth says. “Also, both of our businesses are continuously studying the Ithaca market, even if it comes from different angles. Both of our businesses rely on integrity and service.” She adds that the Ambrose, Travis, and Hyde families all have been friends for more than a decade.

The partnership agreement was formed in November of 2017 and is a Limited Liability structure.

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