ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — Amid talks to demolish the permanently closed parking garage, the Moosewood Restaurant is urging the Common Council to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of repair options instead.

The parking garage has stood in downtown Ithaca for 53 years and was shut down in May 2026 due to deterioration and safety concerns. On September 2nd, 2026, the Ithaca Common Council authorized an option agreement by an 8-1 vote that could see the property transferred to the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (IURA) for a future project. During the meeting, Mayor Robert Cantelmo and City Manager Dominick Recckio expressed interest in demolition of the property, believing it would be the best course of action in terms of cost, public safety, and potential new development.

On October 10th, 2026, the Moosewood Restaurant created and shared a petition on their Facebook page, calling on the Common Council to reconsider demolition, expressing concern over the amount of business downtown businesses and restaurants have lost, and could continue to lose, should the parking garage be demolished instead of repaired.

Part of the petitions reads, “It’s imperative that the Ithaca City Council conduct a thorough evaluation of the parking garage to determine if repairs could extend its life, rather than opting immediately for demolition. In many instances, infrastructure can be maintained or improved at a fraction of the cost and environmental impact associated with new construction… We urge the City Council to commission an independent study on the current structural integrity and required upgrades of the Seneca Street Parking Garage, and to provide full transparency with residents about the findings. These decisions should be made with community involvement, not behind closed doors.”

Find more information about the petition on The Moosewood Restaurant’s Facebook page here. The full Ithaca Common Council meeting from September 2nd, 2026, can be found here.