Stone Quarry Apartment Project Press Coverage

Recent complaints of environmental contamination at the site of an affordable-housing complex on Spencer Road have gotten the attention of a federal agency, but the practical effect may be limited.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development advised the City of Ithaca to reopen the public-comment period on using federal money to help Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services and not-for-profit developer Pathstone Corp. build the 35-unit Stone Quarry apartments project on Spencer Road.

A photo of a sign giving notice for a hearing on site plan review of the Stone Quarry apartment
project was provided to the City of Ithaca. (Photo: City of Ithaca)


Ithaca residents of the area around Spencer Road and Stone Quarry Road pledge to keep fighting the planned affordable-housing rental complex that won city approval this week.

Ithaca, N.Y. — Yesterday, Ithaca officials said they didn’t need to give state agencies a clean-up plan for toxic pollutants found on the site of a controversial city development in 2012.

Today, that story has changed. The executive director of the Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services acknowledged Tuesday that the state is in fact requiring the city to submit a clean-up plan subject to state oversight.

Ithaca, N.Y — After a heated discussion with multiple twists and turns, Ithaca’s planning board tabled a proposal for a controversial housing development on Tuesday.

The meeting began with several residents near the planned housing complex speaking out against it. Many of them pointed to an Ithaca Voice story published Tuesday showing that toxic contaminants exist at the site.

UPDATE: The City of Ithaca Zoning Board has voted to table any further development approvals until the board can review more information regarding the recent environmental concerns. The Stone Quarry Apartment complex will be back on the board's agenda next meeting, August 26th.

Spencer Rd. resident Benjamin Kirk.

Ithaca, N.Y. — Toxic pollutants were found two years ago on the site of a major housing project on Spencer Road that is now very close to receiving the go-ahead for construction, documents first released today show.

Some city officials disagree with a local environmental watchdog on the significance of the findings.

Soil tests were done by a consultant for the developers of Stone Quarry Apartments, as the project is known, in 2012.