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Home My WebLink AboutMN-IURA-2026-07-23` 108 E. Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 274-6565 MINUTES ITHACA URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY BOARD 9:00 A.M., Thursday, July 23rd, 2026 Common Council Chambers, Third Floor (City Hall) 108 E. Green St., Ithaca, NY 14850 Members: Robert G. Cantelmo (Mayor), Chair; Karl Graham, Vice-Chair; Shaianne Osterreich; Donna Fleming Excused: None. Vacancies: 1 Common Council Liaison: (not present) IURA Staff: Nels Bohn; Anisa Mendizabal; Charles Pyott [virtual] City Staff: Lisa Nicholas, Director of Planning & Development Guests: None. I. Call to Order Cantelmo called the meeting to order at 9:01 A.M. II. Agenda Additions/Deletions None. III. Public Comments None. IV. Review of Meeting Minutes: May 28, 2026 Graham moved, seconded by Osterreich, to approve the meeting minutes with no modifications. Carried Unanimously: 4-0 Approved: 8/27/26 IURA Minutes July 23, 2026 Page 2 of 6 V. Governance Committee (GC) A. Board/Committee Vacancies: Report Fleming announced there are several vacancies on the IURA Board, Economic Development Committee, and Governance Committee; Board members and staff are encouraged to recruit applicants, including through a possible press release or public outreach. B. Committee Vice-Chairperson Report None. VI. HUD Entitlement Program A. Time Extensions 1. Learning Web — Housing Scholarship Program (Project #3, 2024 HOME) Mendizabal explained that The Learning Web has requested an additional 60-day extension until September 27, 2026, due to factors including late execution of its 2025 contract, having secured below-Fair Market Rent (FMR) units that extended the funding, and tragic circumstances that prevented planned expenditures on one of its leases. Fleming moved, seconded by Osterreich: Contract Modification – Time Extension for 2024 Project #3 “Housing Scholarship Program” WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca 2024 Annual Action Plan (AAP) allocated $84,060 HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funding for Project #3, “Housing Scholarship Program” (2024 Project #3) by The Learning Web, Inc. (LW), and WHEREAS, the original contract expiration date for 2024 Project #3 was March 31, 2026, and WHEREAS, IURA Director of Community Development Nels Bohn authorized extension of 2024 Project #3 by 120 days to July 29, 2026, and WHEREAS, in a letter to the IURA, dated July 8, 2026, the LW requested an additional 60-day extension until September 27, 2026, due to factors including late execution of its 2025 contract, having secured below-Fair Market Rent (FMR) units that extended the funding, and tragic circumstances that prevented planned expenditures on one of its leases, and WHEREAS, any extension over 120 days must be reviewed and approved by the IURA Board, and WHEREAS, although the IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee (NIC) did not meet in July 2026, IURA staff consulted with the NIC Chairperson on this request, and WHEREAS, IURA staff recommend approval of the time extension request, now, therefore be it, IURA Minutes July 23, 2026 Page 3 of 6 RESOLVED, that the IURA hereby authorizes the Director of Community Development to modify the subrecipient agreement with The Learning Web, Inc. for Project #3 “Housing Scholarship Program” (2024 Project #3) to extend the expiration date to September 27, 2026, through a letter amendment. Carried Unanimously: 4-0 2. Habitat for Humanity— 312 S. Plain Street Duplex (Project #5, 2023 HOME) Mendizabal explained that Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland Counties Habitat requested an additional 60-day extension until September 27, 2026, for closing documents with homebuyers to be completed. Osterreich moved, seconded by Graham: HUD Entitlement Program, Contract Modification – Time Extension for 2023 Project #5 “312 S. Plain St. Duplex” WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca 2023 Annual Action Plan (AAP) allocated $95,061.60 HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funding for Project #5 “312 S. Plain St. Duplex” (2023 Project #5) by Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins & Cortland Counties (Habitat), and WHEREAS, the original contract expiration date for 2023 Project #5 was March 31, 2026, and WHEREAS, IURA Director of Community Development Nels Bohn authorized extension of 2023 Project #5 by 120 days to July 29, 2026, and WHEREAS, in communication with IURA Staff, Habitat requested an additional 60-day extension until September 27, 2026, for closing documents with homebuyers to be completed, and WHEREAS, any extension over 120 days must be reviewed and approved by the IURA Board, and WHEREAS, although the IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee (NIC) did not meet in July 2026, IURA staff consulted with the NIC Chairperson on this request, and WHEREAS, IURA staff recommend approval of the time extension request, now, therefore, be it, RESOLVED, that the IURA hereby authorizes the Director of Community Development to modify the subrecipient agreement with Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins & Cortland Counties for the 312 S. Plain St. Duplex project (2023 Project #5) to extend the expiration date to September 27, 2026, through a letter amendment. Carried Unanimously: 4-0 IURA Minutes July 23, 2026 Page 4 of 6 B. Project Modification: The REACH Project, Inc. — The Ross House (2026 CDBG) Mendizabal explained the project will be reducing the number of its permanent supportive housing units from 10 to 8 because of building footprint constraints and medical respite unit requirements. Osterreich moved, seconded by Graham: HUD Entitlement Program — Minor Amendment to 2026 Project #5: “The Ross House” WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca (City) is eligible to receive an annual formula allocation of funds to address community development needs through the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Entitlement program from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funding sources, and WHEREAS, the City contracts with the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (IURA) to administer, implement, and monitor the City’s HUD Entitlement Program, and WHEREAS, on June 3, 2026, Common Council adopted the IURA-recommended 2026 HUD Entitlement Annual Action Plan (AAP) for the City of Ithaca, and WHEREAS, the submitted 2026 AAP includes funding allocations of $69,454.00 in CDBG and $30,546.00 in HOME for Project #5 “The Ross House” (Project #5), to support renovation of 618 W. State/M.L.K., Jr. St. to create 10 units of permanent supportive housing (PSH) for individuals experiencing homelessness, along with a medical clinic and medical respite units, and WHEREAS, in correspondence, dated June 25, 2026, Project #5’s sponsor, The REACH Project, Inc. (REACH), wrote that the New York State Department of Health’s licensing requirements and the limitations of the building’s footprint have necessitated changes to the proposed design, reducing the number of PSH units from 10 to eight, and WHEREAS, the changes proposed to 2026 Project #5 do not change the type of activity, its eligibility, location, or purpose, therefore representing a Minor (Program) Amendment, and WHEREAS, the members of the IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee (NIC) have reviewed the project update letter and revised conceptual floor plans and found the change in the number of beneficiaries acceptable given the circumstances described and the community need for affordable units, and WHEREAS, the NIC members collectively recommend the IURA approve a Minor Amendment to 2026 Project #5, reducing the number of PSH units from 10 to eight, now, therefore be it RESOLVED, the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency hereby approves a minor amendment to the 2026 Annual Action Plan ‘s Project #5 “The Ross House,” changing the number of permanent supportive housing units from 10 to eight units. Carried Unanimously: 4-0 IURA Minutes July 23, 2026 Page 5 of 6 VII. New/Other/Old Business A. Review of HUD Grant Disbursement, Loans & Leased Receivable Reports – June 2026 Bohn reviewed the Grants Summary, explaining that the left-hand “On Schedule” column calls out any projects (with a ) that are not progressing on schedule and may need attention. All loan payments are current. All lease payments are current (although one is routinely late in its payments). Once HUD approval has been received, 2026 Action Plan activities will be added to the report. B. REPORTS: IURA Chair/Mayor, Common Council Liaison, & Staff IURA Chair/Mayor’s Report Cantelmo reported the City recently convened its first local planning committee meeting for the current NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative application process. Common Council Liaison Report Note: Common Council Liaison resigned from Common Council. Staff Report Bohn reported the annual HUD letter review of the City’s HUD Entitlement Program was included in the agenda materials, which highlighted that the Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) review process requires a Public Hearing, in addition to the usual public comment period, which would likely take place at a regular IURA Board meeting. Bohn added that the meeting agenda materials also include the following confirmation that the City met the CDBG spend-down requirement. IURA Minutes July 23, 2026 Page 6 of 6 Bohn announced that his proposed retirement as Community Development Director is scheduled for June 2028. VIII. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 9:22 A.M. — END — Minutes prepared by C. Pyott, edited by N. Bohn.