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Last August, officials and developers celebrated the opening of Asteri, a massive, multiuse building in the heart of downtown Ithaca. The project was supposed to put a dent in the city's housing crisis and boost downtown businesses and hotels.

But a year later, the building's owners are facing legal action — including a lawsuit from some of their own residents. The suit alleges mismanagement and dangerous living conditions. It’s not the only legal proceeding involving the building.

Asteri has become one of the most common sites for 9-1-1 calls in the City of Ithaca. And its location right off the Commons means all those issues are front and center.

Editor’s note: transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors. Access it by clicking the transcript button on the embedded player.

Original air date: August 1, 2025

Produced by Megan Zerez.

Reporting by Matt Butler.

Cover photo by Casey Martin.