Ithaca Commons – Ithaca, New York
Ithaca, New York, has one of the few surviving pedestrian plazas. In the 1970s several downtown areas closed streets to traffic to create a pedestrian area in the public realm. Very few of these were effective, and later the street was reintroduced in many. Ithaca has been resistant to this trend, instead choosing to replace their original design with brand new elements.
Tioga Street entrance of Ithaca Commons with steel and glass canopy structure creating a sense of entrance and enclosure.
Artist designed Pay it Forward station in the downtown.
Pay it Forward is a fundraising program run by the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Pay it forward helps our homeless and people in need get food and other basic necessities immediately from businesses downtown who are participating in the program. 100% of your donation helps buy a warm meal or basic living necessities for a person in need. Give with intention.
Stone slab with a wood and steel bench structure resting on a portion of it. Creates a convenient space for a guitar player.
Lush landscaping spills out of the beds. Fills the area with height, texture, and color.
Fixed seating and tables, with checkerboard inset on top.
Detail of checkerboard inset.
Several planter boxes aligned to create an oasis of beauty and color.
View eastward of the Commons with paving and several placemaking elements shown together.
View of the Commons from April 2002, prior to being renovated.
Evidence of an active culture of civic participation. Ithaca Underground started in 2007. The mission is: “To provide the people of Ithaca and the surrounding communities with an all ages, racially inclusive environment for their do-it-yourself ambitions, ensuring that new and challenging music and art is available to all.”
LimeBike is a dockless bike share program that helps people inexpensively get between two points. The bike is picked up, you can unlock it using an app installed on your smartphone, and then pay for the ride. GPS tracking makes other riders aware of where bikes are available to pick up.
The Ithaca carshare is yet another example of the sharing economy.
Public art is evident throughout the downtown.
This public art installation in an alley creates a welcoming passage way.
And, while it is technically not on the Commons, ithacamade has “gifts made with (by) character(s).” The store features Ithaca artists and products made in Ithaca. This maker culture and its influence is evident in so many ways throughout Ithaca, giving it a unique flavor and character unlike any other town.