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Fifty years ago, the very last car drove down the stretch of State Street that would later become the Ithaca Commons. It was followed by bulldozers, backhoes and dump trucks, all to make way for the pedestrian mall we know today.

Today the Commons serves as the backdrop for some of the biggest stories we cover, from protests to festivals to affordable housing.

Former Ithaca city planner Thyss Van Cort was not only there that day when cars gave way to people, he helped make it happen.

Stay tuned until the end for additional news from this week.

Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.

Original air date: Nov. 14, 2025

Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.

Reported by Matt Butler.

Cover photo courtesy of the History Center in Tompkins County.