Grinspoon Hillel Center at Cornell University (722 University Ave)

722 University Avenue, Ithaca, NY 14850

Under Review

What is it? · Identity & scale

Project type: Institutional
Review stage: Under Review
Total sq ft: 23,190
Stories: 3
Acreage: 0 ac

Who & what? · Context & documents

Developer / applicant entity: Cornell Hillel (Applicant: Ari Weiss)
Reviewing board: Planning Board

Site notes

Site Plan Review and City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) before the City of Ithaca Planning and Development Board (initiated June 2025 and reviewed September 2025) to construct a 3-story plus below-grade level, 23,190 SF institutional, educational, cultural, and dining facility (5,665 SF footprint) on a vacant 0.47-acre (20,274 SF) parcel at 722 University Avenue. Includes a ground-floor cafe and outdoor dining plaza, community kitchen, classrooms, student lounge spaces, wellness rooms, and staff offices.

Source

City of Ithaca Planning & Development Board· Sep 12, 2025

Public record & decisions

Applicant Claims

Activates a vacant University Avenue parcel adjacent to Cornell University with a 23,190 SF student cultural center, community kitchen, and street-level cafe plaza.

Staff / Agency Concerns

Subject to City of Ithaca CEQR environmental determination and urban design review along the University Avenue corridor.

Public Testimony

Written public comments solicited by the Ithaca Planning and Development Board for the June and September 2025 review cycles.