The Ithaca Commons WebSite

The Ithaca Commons WebSite:

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Photos by Cornell Law School [ Who takes an active partnership in the promotion of Ithaca and their school - they see positive links and this is the result. ]

The Ithaca Commons WebSite and The Ithaca Urban Entertainment Center and Construction Directory WebPage was generate as a supplement to Ithaca Night Life ( NightLife ), NY. This is part of a promotional process in which to attract more tourist to the local scene and thereby creating an additional economic reality locally by tourism.



The singificant factor in promoting centers, IE. the Ithaca Commons is that it draws [ There are less parking problems now - a - days too ! ] people into a central area in which to be seen and at times meet friends all the while shopping at exotic shops. Recently, several downtown merchants have been doing complete face lifts on their stores facades and thus with the additional construction and new mass traniset stations Ithaca is about to be - renewed.



The objective of which complys with the following paper - thesis:



1.0 Introduction
“Downtown- where all the lights are bright” may be lyrics in the popular 1960’s Petula Clark song, but they are ironic considering the song reached its popularity just as the lights were dimming on many downtowns across the country. In another decade, downtowns sat in ruins of their former glory.
As politicians, civic leaders, and the few remaining business and residents who remained downtown tried creative endeavors to renew the old center of the city; those who left for the suburbs shifted their thinking about the city as well. Downtown had become desolate, crime-ridden, and often dangerous, especially at night. Once fashionable neighborhoods lay in decay and the old bustling shopping districts became home to the homeless, gangs, and drug addicts. It seemed like an impossible situation.
A brief history of downtown, including background on other revitalization and urban renewal programs and economic stimulants that are related to urban entertainment centers. In addition, this paper presents a definition of the urban entertainment center and how it differs from other attempts at renewal in terms of definition and goals. Baltimore, Maryland and Denver, Colorado are two cities that have used urban entertainment with varying degrees of success, and this paper discusses each of them.
Finally, this paper presents an examination of some of the specific issues associated with building and maintaining urban entertainment centers, and concludes with a discussion of their effectiveness to be a catalyst for downtown revitalization.
2.0 History
American downtowns were not always is need of revitalization. From the colonization of America until the early 20th century, cities bustled with activity; the influx of immigrants, and the downtown district stood as the center of business, religion, and politics. However, the 20th century brought many changes. New technologies, such as streetcars, made possible the ability to live, work, and play in areas once thought too far from one another and from downtown. Following World War II, the Federal Housing Administration insurance program, which protected banks against mortgage default, VA loans to war veterans, and the availability of affordable transportation coalesced and creation of the suburbs.


Source : An Examination of the Use of Urban Entertainment Centers as a Catalyst for Downtown Revitalization / John S. Bender

The Ithaca Commons:

The primary working area of the Ithaca Downtown Partnership is the Ithaca Commons:

IE. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Ithaca Commons is a two-block pedestrian mall in downtown Ithaca, New York, built in 1974 Its boundaries are Green Street to the south, Cayuga Street to the west, Seneca Street to the north, and Aurora Street to the east. It sits at the intersection of Tioga and State Streets. Shops, galleries, restaurants, and bars line either side of the Commons, while the walkway is dotted with trees, benches and sculptures. It serves as the center of the central business district for the Tompkins County area.

The Commons is the center of Ithaca and Tompkins County civic life, serving as the main community meeting space. The City and Town Hall abut the Commons, and the local state representatives have their offices on or adjacent to it. Many of the stores have apartments on their second and third floors. During the summer months, local entertainers and theater groups put on free performances at the 3 covered pavilions on the Commons. The stages are also utilized for many politically inspired protests and speeches.

The Commons hosts several festivals throughout the year. The main festival, the Ithaca Festival in the summer, is centered on the Commons for 2 of its three days. Traditionally, the final day of the festival is at Stewart Park on the Cayuga Lake waterfront. Two relatively new festivals which have found a home on the Commons are the Apple Harvest Festival in the Fall and Chili Cook-Off in the Winter.

The Sagan Planet Walk, named after famed Cornell University astronomer Carl Sagan, begins in the Commons and stretches 3/4 mile from the Commons through downtown Ithaca to the Sciencenter. The Planet Walk traces a to-scale path of the solar system, including colorful pictures and facts about the planets.
The Commons (Green Street) is also the main hub for the Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) bus network. With a few exceptions, most routes originate/ terminate at or stop at Green Street, which is also a frequent connection point between the various routes.
See a live view of the "Bernie Milton Pavilion" in the center of the Commons on the Commons Cam website.