Public Hearing Tonight During Planning Commission Meeting For Homer Ave Plaza Redevelopment

Tonight beginning at 5:15pm at City Hall on Court Street in Downtown Cortland, the City of Cortland Planning Commission will hold a public hearing prior to their vote for the Homer Ave Plaza redevelopment located at 172, 174, & 178 Homer Ave. Developer Christopher Community Inc. is seeking site plan approval for the redevelopment of the project for a renovated shopping center, construction of affordable housing, a community center, and offices for the YWCA Aid to Victims of Violence program along with housing for the organization.

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.

Plans call for the demolition of a portion of the current shopping center where the Seven Valleys Food Rescue and Cortland ReUse are located. Both organizations would be relocated to the then renovated portion of the building where Dollar General is and P&C once operated from.

In the place to the former section of the plaza and large paved parking area would be the construction of two three-story buildings with one designated as affordable “workforce” housing for those making 30-60% of the area median income. The second building, located closest to Homer Ave. would be operated by the YWCA’s Aid to Victims of Violence offices on the first floor with the remaining floors for residents part of the YWCA program. In total, there will be 61 apartments; 18 one-bedroom, 23 two-bedrooms, and 18 three-bedrooms.

If the Site Plan Application during tonight’s meeting, the project still has a ways to go before the first shovel can hit the ground as Christopher Community Inc. would have to apply for state funding for the project. Realistically, if funding is awarded, demolition would start in Summer 2025 at the earliest.