“New York Telephone would be the major tenant in the office building proposed by Colbert developers at the corner of State and Aurora streets, the corporation and the developers confirmed today.

The telephone company plans to use 8,000 square feet of space for business offices, now located in smaller quarters at 208 E. Buffalo St., two blocks away. A new ‘PhoneCenter’ where customers can shop for telephones and arrange service is on the drawing boards.

The site represents the final parcel of the city’s Urban Renewal property. Sale of the lot to the Colberts must be approved by Common Council….

Robert Colbert Jr., developing the project in partnership with his father, Robert Reed Colbert, said today he has several prospective tenants for the remaining 4,500 square feet of space in the one-story building.

State and Aurora, one of the city’s busiest corners, is a popular spot for cars to leave pedestrians planning to shop at the Ithaca Commons, Colbert said, and a small plaza area with benches would be provided.

‘In effect, it would be a continuation of the mall,’ he said.

The tentative design has walls of dark brown brick, with sandstone panels and small display windows. Parking would be available for some 40 cars.

The Colbert partnership, called the Trebloc Development Co., expects to hire a local architect.”

Jane Marcham, "N.Y. Telephone Is Colbert Tenant," Ithaca Journal, March 17, 1975, 3.