City of Cortland Planning Commission Gives Green Light on Homer Ave. Redevelopment

During last night’s City of Cortland Planning Commission, the Commission listened, reviewed, and then approved the site plan for the proposed redevelopment of the Homer Ave. shopping plaza at 172, 174 & 178 Homer Ave. The plaza currently has Cortland ReUse, the Seven Valleys Health Coalition, and Dollar General as tenants in the plaza.

The project has already gained approval from the Cortland County Planning Board and the City of Cortland Zoning Board of Appeals for the needed variances on the project. The redevelopment includes the demolition of the western side of the shopping center and relocating both ReUse and Seven Valleys in available space behind the Dollar General.

In its place construction would commence on two three-story apartment buildings with a community center inbetween. One of the apartment buildings would be run by the YWCA of Cortland’s Aid to Victims of Violence; the second would be designated as workforce housing.

During the public hearing regarding the project, one resident voiced concerns over possible traffic and asked if a traffic study was done for the project. A representative from Passero Engineering Architecture, who is representing Christopher Community Inc. on developing the property said due to the change from all commercial to mixed-use residential, a traffic study was not required as expected traffic would decrease from a strictly commercial property.

Overall, the Planning Commission praised the redevelopment of the property, especially as Homer Ave. serves as a gateway to the City of Cortland. The Board voted unanimously to approve the site plan for the project.

The redevelopment of the property though, needs to pass one more hurdle until all approvals are given and is expected to take place during the Planning Commissions October meeting. As the redevelopment is being done on two lots, one of the shopping plaza and then the vacant gas station. Christopher Community looks to combine both parcels into one, which needs Planning Commission approval. That meeting will take place on October 7th.

Afterwards Christopher Community Inc. is to apply for funding through the state, which they noted could take up to 5 months until a decision is made for funding. Realistically, construction would begin as early as Summer of 2025.