INHS was recently given the green light to begin construction at its most recent community development, Village Grove, located on a portion of 19 undeveloped acres of land at 46 South Street on the south side of the Village of Trumansburg.

The $27 million project will include six affordable rental townhomes, 40 affordable rental apartments in a two-story building, and a new home for the Trumansburg Community Nursery School in a stand-alone commercial building. Village Grove received nearly $1 million from New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)’s inaugural Buildings of Excellence awards, nearly $185,000 from NYSERDA’s Low-rise Residential New Construction Program and is INHS’s greenest project to-date. The all-electric development will be Passive House certified and will utilize both ground-source and air-source heat pumps as well as off-site community solar.

The redevelopment of the large vacant parcel of land will create a transformative, energy efficient model community with housing for a range of income levels in a walkable neighborhood that is close to downtown amenities and schools. The inclusion of the new Trumansburg Community Nursery School will allow more parents to pursue employment and educational opportunities. TCNS welcomes children of all incomes in a collaborative, community-based approach to childcare.

Acting Executive Director of INHS Patricia Paolangeli said of the project, “INHS strives to develop housing that is part of a larger community vision. Village Grove will provide access to critical human services and contribute to New York’s carbon neutral future while addressing community needs that were identified in multiple local and state plans. We could not be more grateful for the support we’ve received from the community, funders, and partners. This project is as much theirs at it is ours.”

Village of Trumansburg Mayor Rordan Hart said, “I appreciate INHS’s dedication to investing in the Village of Trumansburg. Housing demand remains sky high in Tompkins County, and efforts to meet that demand in ways tailored to suit the community is worth celebrating. INHS went to great lengths to see that this project will become part of the fabric of the community, not only through the addition of quality housing supply to the market, but also through their integration of TCNS to the design. Generations of children have benefitted from TCNS’ mission, and their new facility will allow them to continue their efforts for generations to come.”

NYSERDA President and CEO, Doreen M. Harris said, “NYSERDA is pleased to provide support for Village Grove as construction begins to create modern, healthy, and affordable living spaces for Ithaca residents. Projects like this that incorporate renewable solar energy, heat pump technology and other energy efficient features are part of growing a climate friendly housing stock that is helping support the State’s goals to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and ensure all New Yorkers benefit from clean energy investments.”

Funding for Village Grove includes Federal and State Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity from the Key Community Development Corporation, below-market-rate loans from New York State Homes and Community Renewal and the NYS Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, a construction loan from Key Bank NA, and a permanent loan from the Community Preservation Corporation (CPC). Grants have been secured from the Tompkins County Community Housing Development Fund, NYS Empire State Development, the American Resue Plan Act (ARPA) through Tompkins County, and NYSERDA.

The Village Grove development team includes HOLT Architects, Claudia Brenner Design, TG Miller Engineers & Surveyors, Trowbridge Wolf Michaels Landscape Architecture, and Purcell Construction.

Construction of the project is set to be complete in December 2024 with rental applications available in July 2024.