A lot has changed since then. Day Hall and Ithaca signed a long-term agreement a few weeks after Rawlings took office and later in 1995, Alan Cohen was elected mayor. A lot is at stake here for Cornell and there is a will to make this happen. It is that sense of purpose and vision that makes this development such a laudable achievement. It also reflects the Cohen administration's commitment to support a strong downtown core, while plans proceed for large-scale retail development in Southwest Park.
Nothing is more valuable to a functioning downtown's economy than a solid work force.
Visitors are key, too, but in the end, office workers will spend four times as much money in downtown businesses. Key players included Common Council members, notably Susan Blumenthal, D-3rd Ward, former university Vice President Fred Rogers, Director of Cornell's Real Estate Department John Majeroni and a variety of City Hall and CU staff members. The new building won't go up without a lot of future debate, including what to do about parking. It reflects a very strong partnership. The Ithaca Journal.