Neighbor calls Astera housing development a "disaster," urges city accountability

A neighbor of the Astera housing project told the Ithaca Common Council on June 3 that the building has produced intolerable living conditions and asked the city to hold planning and implementation partners accountable.

"This is a disaster," the resident, Fay, said during public comment, describing roaches, animal waste and what she characterized as an unsafe mix of tenants, including people with complex needs housed alongside other tenants. Fay said she feared retaliation for speaking publicly and asked the council to identify who authorized the project.

Mayor (speaking during privilege of the floor) said the city is monitoring the situation closely and is in weekly contact with senior leadership at New York State Homes and Community Renewal, which provided a key grant for the project. He emphasized that Astera is a privately operated development: "this is not a public project...they operate just like a private landlord," the mayor said, adding that if the city had stronger enforcement tools he would use them.

Several council members acknowledged the hardship described by the neighbor and said they were pursuing options. Alderperson Trumbull and others said they understood the complexity and were working internally and with state partners to address problems; Alderperson Keel said the city was discussing ways to help tenants and neighbors reconcile competing concerns.

Why it matters: The Astera complaints highlight tensions that can arise when state-funded or privately developed housing is sited in dense neighborhoods and when residents with differing needs live in proximity. Council members signaled intent to continue monitoring the site and to seek remedies where the city has authority.

What happens next: The mayor said he will continue weekly coordination with state housing officials. Council discussion indicated possible follow-up by city staff and inquiry into enforcement options; no formal enforcement action or new ordinance was adopted at the June 3 meeting.