ITHACA — After about a year of construction and years of planning before that, a new apartment complex in Ithaca’s Collegetown is now open.

City officials and developers cut the ribbon on 307 College Avenue, better known as Collegetown Crossing, on Thursday. The building features many differently-sized apartments aimed at Cornell University students, and is occupied by a GreenStar grocery store on the ground floor.

Developer Josh Lower says the opening is the culmination of a dream for him.

“The ‘Crossing’ part comes from a crossing of paths, a crossing of modes of transportation, and a crossing of Cornell and Ithaca where it intertwines together,” he said. “My hope and vision is that the building allows permanent residents, students, faculty, and staff to make connections that otherwise might not happen.”

Lower says the building will bring a lot of good to the neighborhood.

“It will have an impact on thousands and thousands of students who come through Ithaca and Cornell,” he said. “Similar to planting a seed for a tree that will grow to provide shade for people you’ve never met, it will help improve the experience of both Cornell students and non-Cornell students.”

Lower says there’s currently 98 people living in the building, making it already full to capacity.