ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — Work begins next year on a permanent homeless shelter. 

Tompkins County Legislative Chair Dan Klein tells WHCU that the Ithaca-based HOLT Architects, which the Legislature recently chose to lead the construction project, will start work on planning the shelter next year–but doesn’t expect to see any construction in 2025.

Until the shelter opens on Cherry Street in Ithaca, Klein says the county will continue using motels for temporary housing.

Meanwhile, the county is operating the Code Blue shelter in the former Key Bank building on North Tioga Street in downtown Ithaca.

FULL INTERVIEW: Tompkins County Legislative Chair Dan Klein on Ithaca’s Morning News