ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — A $10 million award for Ithaca is going to good use. 

Mayor Robert Cantelmo tells 607 News Now the Downtown Revitalization Initiative award money will help to redevelop the West State St. corridor. 

“I think of that part of the city as one of the more egalitarian parts of our community,” Cantelmo told WHCU’s Joe Salzone on 607 This Morning. “That stretch of corridor is a part of the city you travel through whether you’re an Ithaca local, whether you’re passing through on Route 79, whether you are a Cornell or Ithaca College student making your way downtown for something. It’s really a connector and a prospective hub,” Cantelmo continued.

“The City’s DRI proposal outlines a strategic, place‑based approach that invests in housing creation, historic preservation, cultural assets, infrastructure improvements, and locally driven economic development projects,” according to a statement from the city.

When it comes to planning for the future, Mayor Cantelmo says he’s excited.

“We have a really great vision of extending the activity of the Commons out west toward Route 13,” Cantelmo said Friday, Apr. 24 on WHCU. We have a proposal in concert with community stakeholders, businesses that represent that corridor, and community leaders.”

“There’s a lot of work still being done on the planning side that has to happen before shovels hit the ground in maybe nine to 12 months,” Cantelmo added. “Once we do, it’s going to be transformational.

Cantelmo sees the addition of more housing as part of his vision for redeveloping the West State St. corridor.