Aug. 18, 2026 — SouthWorks' affordable housing gets a tax break. Will schools pay the price?

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If an affordable housing development gets a tax break, does it come at a cost to the rest of the community?

It’s a debate that’s been playing out with the massive new mixed-use development known as SouthWorks. Some have described the project as on the scale of a whole new neighborhood.

Last week, the first major phase of that project just got approved for a major tax break. The developers say they need the help to be able to keep rent affordable for working class Ithacans.

But some advocates say the tax break could hurt Ithaca’s public schools … which rely heavily on those taxes to keep classroom lights on and teachers paid.

Additional notes:

Report issues to the City of Ithaca's sidewalk repair program here before Aug. 20 for priority repair.

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Original air date: August 18, 2026

Produced and edited by Megan Zerez.

Reported and hosted by Megan Zerez and Jimmy Jordan.

Cover photo by Megan Zerez.