ITHACA, N.Y. — Ithaca’s Annual Pride of Ownership Awards program recognizes owners of properties within the city of Ithaca who have developed projects or taken care of their properties in ways that enhance the physical appearance of city neighborhoods and commercial areas. The program is a joint project of the Ithaca Rotary Club and the City of Ithaca.

Founded by former Common Council member Susan Blumenthal, who felt that developers and property owners should receive recognition for work that went above and beyond the requirements of the project, the awards are focused on projects that are thoughtful, unexpected, and lift the aesthetic experience of their setting and surroundings.

The following are the Susan Blumenthal Pride of Ownership Award recipients for 2020:


957 East State Street
New Fence and Gate
Owners: Max Pfeffer and Pilar Parra
Builder: Whitmore Fence Company

This charming 1910 Craftsman-style house is now complemented by a wooden fence at the front of the house which provides privacy and noise protection, with a wrought iron fence on either side to keep out the deer while still allowing views of their beautiful and unique yard. A wrought-iron gate breaks up the solid wooden wall and draws the eye to the welcoming front door.

Greenstar Cooperative Market
New Location
770 Cascadilla Street
Design by: STREAM Collaborative

As news to no one, one of our local treasures has relocated and expanded! Their 29,978sf store in the new city waterfront Market District has faced, and overcome, an opening during the pandemic, and is widely (and proudly) seen as the continuation of a local success story.

421 N Cayuga Street
New Front Staircase and Entry
Owned and Designed by: J & C Potter

The entrance to this home is first distinguished by a charcoal gray concrete slab at the base of the stairs, elevating the appearance of the wooden stairs to that of a functional object.  The new staircase design combines geometric lines and angles—bringing together square wooden supports, a patinaed heavy gauge wire mesh intermediate between the top and bottom rails, a custom-made rectangular stainless-steel handrail, and low-profile galvanized steel post caps.

Brindley Street Bridge

The Brindley Street Bridge Project represents the latest infrastructure project undertaken by the City of Ithaca in the West End. It involved relocating the Brindley Street Bridge over Cayuga Inlet to align it with the West State Street/Taughannock Street intersection including intersection improvements, traffic signal modifications, landscaping work, and a thoughtful repurposing of the original one lane bridge to a pedestrian (non-motorized) bridge.

Waterfront Trail at Allan H. Treman State Park Marina

At a time when our local outdoor spaces mean more to us than ever, some 1.7 miles of paved asphalt and stone dust multi-use trails, compliant with the American with Disabilities Act, were added this year to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park’s northern section. Arching gently through the meadows north of the Treman Marina, this multi-use accessible trail spur provides exceptional wildlife viewing, shaded picnic groves, and sweeping views of Cayuga Lake, as well as rain gardens and seating added at the edge of the existing dog park to biologically treat storm water runoff and encourage rain water infiltration.

Stewart Park Inclusive Playground
Design Team:  Parkitects, Play by Design, Earthplay, TG Miller Engineers and the
Friends of Stewart Park

The newest additions to this new and inclusive playground include a large and highly accessible school-age play structure designed by Parkitects along with a curved berm with an accessible pathway that provides access to multiple entries to the playground at varying elevations. In addition, a cover for the historic carousel was installed that will protect this iconic park gem for years to come.  Future phases include the development of a new splash pad and an adjacent, accessible bathroom building.