ITHACA, NY – On October 21, 2026, SWBR joined Visum Development Group, Rockabill Consulting and Development, Arbor Housing and Development, Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga, funding partners, local leaders, and residents for the ribbon-cutting of Stately Apartments, a new mixed-income property bringing 57 affordable homes and vital supportive services to the City of Ithaca.
Located at 510 West State Street/MLK Jr. Street, the five-story, $30M project serves individuals and families earning between 30% and 60% of the area median income. A unique collaboration between Visum Development Group, Rockabill Consulting and Development, and Arbor Housing and Development, it responds to a pressing need for attainable places to live while adding new energy to Ithaca’s West End.
Replacing previously underutilized structures, the building introduces a mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments alongside shared gathering areas, indoor bicycle storage, and ground-floor retail frontage on West State Street. Accessibility was integrated throughout the design: all 57 apartments are visitable, six are mobility-accessible, and three are fully adapted for people with hearing or visual impairments. This inclusivity is especially vital in a county where the rental vacancy rate stands at just 3.2%.
Supportive services are also central to the project’s mission. Twenty apartments are designated as permanent supportive housing through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI). Five will serve the unhoused, while the remaining units are reserved for people with a history of substance use disorders. Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga will provide on-site support and connections to essential resources, helping tenants build stability.
The project received more than $9.2M in support from New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), reflecting a coordinated investment by state and local partners in expanding housing choices for vulnerable populations and strengthening neighborhoods through purposeful, people-centered design. Its central Ithaca location places tenants within convenient reach of employment, healthcare, educational institutions, public transportation, parks, shops, and other everyday services.
SWBR served as Architect of Record, working closely with STREAM Collaborative (Design Architect) and Pike Residential (General Contractor) to deliver the 60K SF project. The finished property adds much-needed affordable homes to Ithaca while advancing broader efforts to create a more accessible and equitable city.