Cornell University officials announced today that the search for a developer for the proposed downtown Ithaca office building has led to detailed negotiations with Ciminelli Development Company Inc. of Buffalo, N.Y. The university will be a major tenant in the mixed-use facility, to be located on or near the Ithaca Commons.

John Majeroni, director of Cornell's Real Estate Department, said Ciminelli was selected for its outstanding qualifications and experience, as well as its vision for the project. "While all three of the developers we were talking to are great firms and any of them would have done a fantastic job, Ciminelli was best qualified for this particular project," Majeroni said. He added that the project will support other recent economic, cultural, and civic investments by the public and private sectors in the downtown area, and hopefully stimulate new interest as well.

Majeroni said the arrangement is not yet concluded, but Cornell and Ciminelli are working to finalize the development agreement and program for the project. Majeroni estimates that the project design will be completed this fall, with construction to commence by the fall of 2002.