ITHACA, N.Y., July 16th, 2024 — SouthWorks is pleased to announce the first-ever Open House on July 30th and July 31st, 2024. Community members, prospective tenants, brokers, business incubators, and other interested parties are all invited to experience the current space.
The Site
The SouthWorks site is a 95-acre property at 620-640 South Aurora Street, which previously housed Morse Chain and—most recently—Emerson Power Transmission. The site is located within both the City and Town of Ithaca and has been vacant since 2012. SouthWorks will be developed over the next 10 years as a new mixed-use neighborhood to include the adaptive reuse of over 800,000 square feet of former industrial buildings, plus around 1-million square feet of new construction.
The SouthWorks team is gearing up for the first phase of occupancy, which will include office, workshop, warehouse, and light manufacturing spaces available for lease as soon as mid-2025. Additionally, the anticipated start of construction for the first phase of housing is Q3/Q4 2025. An Open House is scheduled for the end of this month to both celebrate this exciting milestone and connect with prospective tenants & interested community members.
Open House Information
On Tuesday, July 30th, the Open House will be by appointment only between 9:00am and 5:00pm. Prospective tenants, brokers, business incubators & other parties interested in leasing space or providing referrals are invited to schedule a tour by e-mailing Sarah Barden, Community Outreach & Leasing Coordinator, at sbarden@shiftcapital.us. Members of the development team will be on-site to discuss specific company needs and tour relevant spaces.
On Wednesday, July 31st, the Open House will run from 3:00pm to 7:00pm with no appointment necessary, though RSVPs through this form are appreciated. Site tours will run every half hour. Neighbors and the greater Ithaca and Tompkins County community are invited to join to learn about the project vision, chat with SouthWorks partner organizations, and tour the space. Closed-toed shoes without a heel will be required to attend the tour. Members of the press are also invited to attend to speak with the development team.
The Development Team
SHIFT Capital is a Philadelphia based, nationally recognized neighborhood investment group who executes real estate projects and financing strategies that create equitable communities for the long-term. SHIFT is partnering with L Enterprises, US Ceiling Corp, and Xylem Projects on the development after purchasing the site in December 2022. The SouthWorks ownership group brings together extensive experience in development, construction, and placemaking, along with proven track records in delivering equitable community-serving projects.