City of Cortland councilperson Katy Silliman (D-2nd Ward). (Photo provided by the City of Cortland).
Members of the Cortland Common Council, along with the mayor, discussed community feedback on the housing development proposed for the former school building in the city at its meeting on Tuesday.
Construction could take about 18 months, INHS officials said at a meeting last month.
At Tuesday’s meeting, councilperson Katy Silliman (D-2nd Ward) said some of her constituents have expressed concerns about the proposal.
“The Parker project was originally the idea of the childcare agencies being in there. That died in September and it hasn’t been a full year,” she said. “Some people do feel like we’re rushing and they feel like getting INHS in there is a foregone conclusion.”
Silliman spoke about her support of the project.
“I am a big fan of that project. INHS, their number one goal is building a fostering community,” she said. “People are very concerned about the density issue. They feel this is going to change the number of people who live in that neighborhood.”
The project, Silliman added, could potentially include a partial daycare wing, which would be well received by the city.
“I think that's something people really want to see, the daycare, and INHS would add some more housing up above,” Silliman said. “But people are worried because there’s a lot of blight around that neighborhood. They’re worried about the kind of clientele that INHS would bring in.”
Silliman said she trusts the company and its track record to bring in good tenants.
“There would be some single parents, there would be some retirees, there would be some disabled people,” she said. “There would be young adults who are just getting started, wanting to be independent. But I understand that it’s frustrating to people that we only got this one proposal.”
Councilperson Wayne Schutt (R-1st Ward) said some of his constituents do not want to see low-to-medium-income housing being built in a neighboring ward.
“My ward is going to have to have some assurances for me to vote yes on this, because this is on the border of my ward,” he said. “They caused a huge outcry. They said very clearly we do not want low-income housing, we do not want Section 8 housing, (and) we do not want handouts. My ward is all for a hand up. If you’re in trouble, by circumstance, we’re happy to help you. If you live that way by choice, and you’re going to bring something bad to my neighborhood, I don’t want you anywhere near it.”
Cortland mayor Scott Steve encouraged residents to visit INHS’ website for more information.
“I encourage you to read those answers on the website and encourage residents to read them,” he said. “If they find something that is not on there, send it to me, (and) we’ll make sure they'll respond to it.”
