ITHACA, N.Y. — In response to concerns raised by local residents, Tompkins County commissioners have ordered a legal review of the property‑tax exemptions granted to Cornell University’s fraternity houses. The review, led by County Attorney Maury Josephson, will determine whether the eight university‑owned Greek‑housing properties should continue to qualify as educational exemptions under county assessment rules.
Properties under review
The county’s assessment records show eight fraternity houses with a combined estimated market value of roughly $12.85 million. All eight are currently listed as wholly exempt from city, county and school property taxes.
Among them is the Chi Phi house at 107 Edgemoor Lane, valued at about $1.62 million. The house is considered dormant after a 2024 sexual‑assault allegation involving a woman identified as Jane Doe. Cornell remains the legal owner, and the property’s taxable value is recorded as zero.
Other exempt properties include the Delta Upsilon house at 6 South Avenue (≈ $1.87 million) and the Delta Kappa Epsilon house at 13 South Avenue (≈ $1.65 million). Together, the seven active fraternity houses total more than $11.2 million in market value; adding the dormant Chi Phi house brings the figure to about $12.85 million.
Why the review matters to taxpayers
County officials say the exemptions are classified as “educational” and have been in place for decades, stemming from earlier litigation between Cornell and the City of Ithaca. However, residents like longtime Ithaca citizen Harry Canning argue that private fraternity homes should not receive the same tax treatment as other educational facilities.
“I was a fraternity member a long time ago at a different college, but our fraternity house paid taxes,” Canning told reporters. “It’s a private home, like an apartment building, and apartments pay taxes. Fraternity houses should also.”
His comments highlight a broader concern that the tax‑exempt status may be depriving the county of revenue that could support essential services such as schools, road maintenance, and public safety.
Legal and procedural steps
The County Attorney will examine the legal basis for the exemptions, assess which properties truly qualify, and consider whether current uses affect eligibility. The review does not immediately alter the tax status of any property; the exemptions remain in place while the analysis proceeds.
County assessment officials note that the $12.85 million figure represents the combined market value of the properties, not the amount of tax revenue that would be collected if the exemptions were removed.
University response
Cornell University has been contacted for comment on both the exemptions and its oversight of the fraternity housing portfolio. The university has not yet provided a public response.
Implications for the community
Should the review conclude that the exemptions are unwarranted, the county could see an increase in property‑tax revenue that would benefit local schools, infrastructure projects, and other community services. Conversely, maintaining the exemptions would preserve the longstanding arrangement that treats university‑owned Greek housing as an educational asset.
Tompkins County’s proactive approach reflects a commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparency, ensuring that all property owners are treated equitably under the law.
Original reporting: CNY Central WSTM (Sinclair) – local — read the source article.
