Tonight I attended a very interesting talk by Lisa Nicholas regarding the future development of Ithaca. It was very interesting to learn that the Tompkins County is growing at a pretty fast pace while the city of Ithaca itself is not really growing but rather staying constant. This, Ms. Nicholas, explained was due to a few reasons, but a big one being that Ithaca does not have a lot of vacant residencies, and thus rent and housing prices are very high. In order to attract the growing population of Tompkins County to settle in Ithaca, the city is undergoing a lot of planning and development, such as the addition of hotels and space-saving residences that are located above stores.

This got me thinking. My hometown, The Woodlands, is a very fast-growing, master-planned town like Ithaca. The Woodlands prides itself on its proximity to nature, and serene environment. When buildings are built, they have to undergo lots of regulations, and only a limited number of trees can be cut down for the purpose of building, with the goal of preserving the environment and the unique woodlands vibe. Now, as the population in The Woodlands is growing at a tremendous rate, much of the forest has been cut down to build residences, schools, and shopping centers, sometimes to the dismay of current residents who really valued the natural setting in which The Woodlands was built upon. How would the fast growth in Ithaca, accompanied by the building of hotels, and residences affect the current residents? I am really glad to hear that as Ithaca is building and growing that they really involve the locals with the decision-making process. I really look forward to see the growth of Ithaca and its effects in the near future!