Rochester Development News [Archive]

RochesterAddict

April 10th, 2008, 07:12 PM

http://cmsimg.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A2&Date=20080408&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=804080344&Ref=AR&Profile=1003&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0
Duffy takes hopeful view for future
Democrat and Chronicle

Mayor Robert Duffy delivered a sobering State of the City address on Monday, one devoid of major new announcements and instead reliant on hopeful determination that his administration can improve the city.

Still facing a sizable budget gap — estimated at more than $17 million for 2008-09 — the mayor promised a major reorganization of city services. The plan will reduce the city's six Neighborhood Empowerment Teams offices to an expanded four neighborhood service centers, one in each quadrant of the city.

Duffy focused most heavily on public safety, however, and the city's financial struggles, while highlighting the promise of a turnaround downtown, given new housing starts and PAETEC Holding Corp. and ESL Federal Credit Union's plans to build new headquarters in the center city.

"This journey of progress we are making together is not a sprint. It's a marathon," the mayor said, continuing later: "We're running a marathon, and this stretch of the course is going to be painful. But we cannot take an easier course."

The police chief-turned-mayor cited a city-commissioned survey that found 48 percent of respondents feel less safe than they did two years ago when he took office. The survey of 650 residents, landlords and business owners showed 39 percent feel more safe, however. And 69 percent think the city is headed in the right direction.

Duffy said 83 percent of people surveyed agreed that the city is improving.

His hour-long address closed with School of the Arts sophomore Timothy Mitchum at the piano, giving an encore of his Grammy Awards performance, singing "Let It Be."

Standing at the edge of the packed auditorium, Marion Walker quietly hummed to himself, and at times sang along. Walker is president of the Jay-Orchard Streets Area Neighborhood Association. JOSANA is one of the city's poorest neighborhoods and was promised much when PAETEC Park was built alongside it, opening in 2006.

"People want to see more, because a lot of things they thought were forthcoming — jobs, a safer community — haven't evolved yet," Walker said. "But they haven't given up hope."

He echoed the mayor's resolute optimism, adding: "There has been disappointment. ... (But) this is like growing up. You're going to have ups and downs. At the end of the day, we are going to go forward."

The reorganization Duffy pointed to is a "first step in a philosophical and operational shift," the mayor said later. Locations for the expanded service centers, to involve teams of NET and police, plus Economic Development, Community Development and Fire Department officials, have not been determined but will be decided by cost and location. One likely location is Upper Falls Plaza, currently home to the east side police station. Duffy said there remains work to be done in terms of the police configuration but said: "It is not just a reshuffling of the cards in the deck.

"We are committed to the neighborhoods," he said, adding that the reorganization is driven by citizen suggestions gathered during six neighborhood budget meetings.

The move will consolidate, even eliminate, some city services. Duffy has warned that he might be forced to cut 100 city government jobs to close the budget gap. In addition to base aid, the state has authorized an optional, one-time spin-up or accelerated payout of up to $20 million. However, city officials have said that non-recurring aid should not be put toward annual operating expenses.

Monroe County is facing its own challenges, with a $29 million gap after the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court ruled last month against County Executive Maggie Brooks' plan to close the shortfall by shifting sales tax revenues away from suburban school districts. Brooks said after Duffy's address that the county still is pursuing an appeal, but she downplayed speculation that the county also might look to shift some expenses to the city.

"I don't think it's productive to punish another level of government to balance our budget," she said but added that others shouldn't figure a county or city budget gap is solely the county or city's problem.

Duffy, meanwhile, said he had no intention of reducing the city's current $119 million in aid to city schools when he delivers his 2008-09 budget proposal next month. And cutting public safety "would be irresponsible."

Rochester has seen eight criminal homicides so far this year, compared with 13 at this time in 2007 and seven for the same period in 2006. In a statement before Duffy's address, state Sen. James Alesi, R-Perinton, said the violence is draining the additional state money being sent to the city. State aid will total $95 million in 2008-09, up from $54 million in 2005-06.

The mayor heralded the success of the city's Zero Tolerance crimefighting initiative — which, since being launched in October, has cost the city nearly $4 million, including $3 million in police overtime, and resulted in an 18 percent drop in serious and violent crime compared with the same period last year; down 30 percent compared with the five-year average. The city has yet to release detailed data to support the crime statistics.

Success, however, requires a multilayered approach, and Monroe County District Attorney Michael Green said after the address that he was encouraged given the push also being made on other fronts, particularly in youth services and literacy.

"I'm optimistic because I see a lot of good things happening," Green said.

Duffy agreed: "I see far more good stories than bad. But we never seem to celebrate the successes. We focus more on what goes wrong, those negative voices ... whispering in our ears to just give up." But this is the time to push harder, the mayor said, having told the audience at the start of this address: "This is our watch, and we are going to succeed."

Three Midtown tenants make plans to move
Democrat and Chronicle

Downtown will lose its last department store when Midtown Plaza closes this summer.

But two other longtime mall tenants announced Monday that they will stick around — moving a little more than a block west on Main Street.

Peebles department store will close July 19 and has plans to open a new store in late August in Canandaigua's Roseland Center, said Barry Lester, new store development administrator for Peebles.

"Rochester has been a good location for us. It's been a good community for us," Lester said. "It's really not our decision to leave."

The national chain opened downtown in August 1996 and currently employs seven people.

Meanwhile, Fauna's Gifts & Vintage Toys and Whelpley & Paul Opticians will relocate to the Alliance Building and open sometime in June, according to Conifer Realty, which has owned the building at 183 E. Main St. since 1984.

Fauna's, which has been on the upper level of Midtown for 16 years, will be on the first floor in Suite 104 in the Alliance Building, at the corner of Stone Street.

"I am so excited to be going there," said Fauna's owner, Janet Galligan.

She said she was delighted to remain downtown. "It kills me to see all these old buildings go down."

Whelpley & Paul, a locally owned business since 1929 and 40-year tenant at Midtown, will be located in the Alliance Building's Suite 105.

There are 45 tenants remaining in Midtown, which is closing Aug. 1. Nearly two-thirds are looking to relocate, while nearly one in four is likely to close, according to Flaum Management, hired by the city to help tenants relocate.

Midtown will be razed to make way for a new complex that will include the headquarters for PAETEC Holding Corp.

According to the city's schedule, most Midtown tenants will have moved out by the end of June. The skyway connections to Chase and Xerox towers will close June 30.

Only Clear Channel radio and Trailways bus station will remain at Midtown after Aug. 1.

http://cmsimg.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A2&Date=20080408&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=80408007&Ref=AR&Profile=1003&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0
I just thought this pic of our post office looked cool.

http://rnews.com/images_story/highfallsconstruction4808.jpg
Mills at High Falls

Duffy Focuses on Downtown Living
RNEWS 9

Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy's “State of the City” address Monday night proposed the idea of living downtown.

One area in particular trying to reinvent itself as a mixed residential area is High Falls.

Mayor Duffy said 67 new apartments will open at the "Mills at High Falls" next spring. The development is located on State Street across from the Kodak Tower.

The aim is to draw young professionals to live in Rochester.

In all, Duffy said a dozen different development projects will add around 300 new housing units in the downtown area.

Mise en Place lets you grab groceries, quick bite
Democrat and Chronicle

Mangoes. Diet Coke. Goat cheese. Bug spray. Rice flour. Cool Whip. Fresh scallops. Toilet paper.

Stuff you may not need, but you want. Stuff you may not want, but you need. Stuff you will find at Mise en Place Market.

The new South Wedge grocery store with the chef-smart name (it more or less means everything in place and ready to cook) offers a unique and pleasant compromise between suburban supermarket and the mini-mart miasma of potato chips, beer and cigarettes. It sells real food (some fancy, some not) and a few household essentials in a thriving city neighborhood. Mise en Place also doubles as a small cafe/deli where you can get a sandwich, pasta salad or restaurant-quality meal to eat on the premises or take home.

The South Wedge is close enough that I ditched my downtown desk and took a 25-minute stroll to the market, copping that homey, neighborhood feel even though I don't live there.

Lunch specials are on a board when you walk in. You order at the deli counter. Then you grab your drink from the cooler, take a seat in a front window alcove and someone brings your food to you. Like a restaurant, you eat with real dishes and flatware here. How civilized.

My beans and greens over penne featured spicy crumbled Italian sausage from Hartmann's Old World Sausage.

Whenever possible, Mise en Place owner Kenneth Holenbeck likes to feature locally grown or made ingredients. But I could have had a chicken cutlet on a Caesar salad, split pea and ham soup, burger with fries or a fried bologna sandwich with caramelized onions and Swiss. Dinner gets fancier.

Holenbeck cooked at Restaurant 2 Vine for years and now has decided to start a business on his home turf that straddles both market and restaurant. It's a community resource that other neighborhoods should consider as well.

http://cmsimg.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A2&Date=20080409&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=80409019&Ref=AR&Profile=1003&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0
Midtown's clock will relocate to airport, then hospital
Democrat and Chronicle

Midtown’s clock will get a new home.

Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks announced that the Clock of Nations, long a symbol of downtown’s indoor mall, will be moved to the Greater Rochester International Airport this summer. Officials hope it will be up and running there by July 1.

The clock will likely be located on the central observation deck near the food court, said Airport Director David Damelio. County officials are trying to conceive a way for passersby without airline tickets to view the clock.

But this home will be temporary — for three years.

In 2012, the clock will get a permanent home at the Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong.

“It’s a piece of living history in Monroe County,” Brooks said. “It was such a special part of Midtown. “We’re taking something that was a part of our past and we’re celebrating it.”

The clock was installed at Midtown in 1962 when the plaza was constructed.

Twelve nations, one for each hour, are represented with scenes set in small dioramas. On the hour, one country lights up, the figures move and the dozen dioramas rotate around the clock.

Jazzfest was announced, woo hoo!
http://rochesterbusinessjournal.com/fullarticle.cfm?sdid=72503

Cool new bakery on University Ave just opened:
http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/dining/articles/CHOW+HOUND%3A+Goodness+Cakes+bakery/

RochesterAddict

April 10th, 2008, 07:15 PM

Brighton Planning Board to discuss new senior community
Messenger Post Newspapers

A proposed St. John's Senior Communities expansion plan will go to the Brighton Planning Board next week.

The community, known as “Brickstone,” would have 53 single-family cottages, nine townhouses, 40 apartments and a 10,000-square-foot commercial building. The total project encompasses about 16 acres. The name of the community references Brighton’s brickmaking industry through the 19th century.

The senior-housing development currently includes St. John's Home, a nursing home on Highland Avenue, and St. John's Meadows, a combination of apartments and cottages, at 1 Johnsarbor Drive West, just off Elmwood Avenue. If the town approves, St. John's would add the new complex west of the Meadows campus off of Elmwood Avenue.

The land where St. John's would like to build is partially covered by wetlands, but Kit Pollicove, the vice president of marketing and development for St. John's, said buildings would be constructed around the wetlands and walkways would give a park-like atmosphere. Ponds could also be created, Pollicove said.

About 400 residents live in 338 housing units on the 35-acre St. John's Meadows, which has four campus sections: The Briarwood, The Hawthorne, Chestnut Court and The Cottages. Pollicove said the new campus would be marketed to active seniors and be laid out to encourage walking within the complex and into the community at large.

Once construction starts, it would take about 14 months to complete.

In addition to the Brickstone, the Planning Board will also discuss the environmental impact statement for Faith Village, a project proposed by Faith Temple to build a new sanctuary, school and senior apartment housing east of Buckland Park near South Winton and Westfall roads.

The board will also review the impact statement for a new office park being proposed by Anthony Costello, CEO of Costello and Son Development. Costello is planning an 820,000-square-foot office park and a 168,000-square-foot retail space that will be constructed just north of Interstate 590 and west of Winton Road. The total size of the lot would be about 4,500 feet long and encompass 82 acres. The space would include a hotel, restaurants, shops, a conference facility and about 3,400 parking spaces.

Webster Main Street plans moving full steam ahead
Messenger Post Newspapers

A Webster family hopes their efforts will blow some life back into the village of Webster.
Neil and Eric Bauman have come up with plans for the village’s Main Street, which will bring some facade updates to a strip of buildings along Main Street to bring them current. They hope these changes will inspire other retailers and developers to do the same.

The project, which is being spearheaded by the father-and-son team, is in front of the village’s Planning Board. The board has to approve the project before work can begin, said Chuck Hilbert, of Hilbert Realty, the broker handling the deal.

A proposed rendering of what the strip could look like is available online at www.thecentersatwebstervillage.com.

“Hopefully the whole village becomes the center (of town),” Hilbert said.

Next week, the Baumans and Hilbert will meet with the Planning and Zoning boards again to discuss the plans. The meeting is scheduled for April 17, Hilbert said. He does not believe the meeting is open to the public.

Those plans include new facades on the front, back and sides of the existing buildings, Hilbert said. The house at 40 E. Main St., which used to be Mitch Builders, may be torn down to make way for one or two other buildings. The current facades have no matching look, Hilbert said.

“It’s kind of like ‘no dated,’” or a mish mash, he said. “We’re trying to tie it together.”

Hilbert said updates may cost about $4 million. Last year, the Baumans announced plans to buy the strip of properties after Eric sold his popular eBaum’s World Web site for $17.5 million to San Francisco-based technology firm. They purchased the properties for about $1 million. That purchase included 320 feet along Main Street, from 26 Main St. to 44 Main St., Hilbert said. The length of the buildings is about the size of a football field.

“By having that much frontage ... you can really impact the whole visibility of what a Main Street can look like,” Hilbert said.

Since the Baumans announced their plans last year, two businesses have moved in, including the 2 Lovely Boutique, which was once in the town of Webster, and a magazine.

None of the businesses — which include the Scarlet Thread quilt shop, An’s Dry Cleaners, M&M Great Cakes and Streppa’s Italian Bistro —that were there before the sale moved out, Hilbert said.

Many people in town support the project, Hilbert said. Ann Kowal, president of the Chamber of Commerce, certainly does.

“I’m hoping that it does take off,” she said. “It’s big stuff.”

Cruise Liner Coming to Rochester
RNEWS 9

There might not be much action at the Port of Rochester this summer but in 2009 Charlotte is already on the itinerary and website of at least one long-time cruise ship operator.

The operator is New York City based Travel Dynamics International. 2009 will mark the company's 40th year of cruising and its first stop at the Port of Rochester.

"Rochester will be its maiden voyage. This will be the very first time this beautiful new ship will be coming into the Great Lakes and the first Great Lakes port that it will visit will be Rochester," Steve Burnett, Executive Director of Great Lakes Cruising Coalition said.

The Port of Rochester will be the last stop on the Clelia II's 11-day voyage in June 2009.

The five-deck expedition vessel will take 100 passengers from the Atlantic Ocean off Newfoundland, Canada, through the St. Lawrence Seaway, stopping in Nova Scotia, Quebec City, and Montreal. Charlotte will be the final stop.

Burnett said you can't compare the Clelia II to the fast ferry.

"This is a world wide cruise ship that's coming in and this does not just shuttle between Rochester and Toronto," Burnett said.

Burnett said the Clelia II is built to run year round. He said can stand up to ice and operate in water as shallow as 12 feet.

When she isn't cruising in the Great Lakes the Clelia II will run voyages trough Antarctica.

Burnett said he's been working closely with the City of Rochester and Travel Dynamics International to ensure the Clelia II's maiden voyage next summer is a success.

"It's something to celebrate I think," Burnett said.

LLD makes way for Starbucks
Rochester Business Journal

LLD Enterprises, the local company behind the 92-acre shovel-ready site in Honeoye Falls, started demolishing property Wednesday at one of its two new retail developments.
Wednesday morning in Brighton, LLD began making way for a new Starbucks and other tenants at the former Rund’s Restaurant on West Henrietta Road, where an 8,000-square foot development is planned.
The company developed a similar site on Route 96 in Victor, near EastView Mall. That 8,800-square-foot site includes Metro Mattress and Sunset Hydroponics.
LLD currently is working on another retail project on Route 332 in Canandaigua: a 8,830-square-foot retail development, near Tops Markets LLC.
A local real estate brokerage firm, LLD has approximately 30 properties in New York, 13 of which are in Monroe County, and four are in Ontario County.

State budget was announced benefitting all of upstate:
http://democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/NEWS01/804100363/1003

xzmattzx

April 11th, 2008, 09:03 PM

The previous thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=403455)

ManAboutTown

April 11th, 2008, 10:57 PM

Being a corporate HQ city has its pluses and minuses:

Kodak gives $10M to renovate, expand UR Eastman Theatre
By JANICE B. PIETERSE
Rochester Business Journal
April 11, 2008
Eastman Kodak Co., building on the legacy of founder George Eastman, is giving $10 million to the University of Rochester toward a $35 million renovation and expansion of the Eastman Theatre, officials said Friday.
In honor of the gift, the performance hall will be named Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, officials said.
UR president Joel Seligman said Kodak’s support reflects an enduring partnership between the imaging giant and the UR.
“Kodak’s investment will have far-reaching benefits for the Eastman School of Music, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the people of Rochester, who will enjoy an enhanced performance hall and the economic development benefits that will come from construction and an increasingly vibrant cultural district downtown,” Seligman said in a statement.
Kodak CEO Antonio Perez said the company recognizes the importance of the arts to the local economy and quality of life.
“This project will add to the rich cultural and educational vitality of our community, and help companies such as Kodak continue to offer employees not only a great place to work, but a vibrant place to live and raise their families,” he said.
Kodak’s gift comes from the company’s Rochester Economic Development Fund, created in 2004 to invest in the local community, officials said.
The 85-year-old Eastman Theatre was built by Eastman and is owned by the UR. It is used by the Eastman School and RPO, which presented its first concert there in March 1923.
“This is a defining moment,” said Eastman School dean Douglas Lowry. “That our landmark theatrical venue will bear the name of the company founded by George Eastman is truly historic. Even more, the Eastman Theatre renovation and expansion project will enhance the school as a world leader in presenting new ideas and enterprises in music teaching and performance. Undoubtedly, Kodak’s support dramatically advances that cause.”
The UR has received $13 million for the project from the state, secured in 2007 by Assemblymen Joseph Morelle, D-Irondequoit, and David Gantt, D-Rochester.
Construction is set to begin in July, with completion by early 2010. The performance hall is being renovated to remove 800 seats, leaving 2,250 total, improve acoustics and expand the lobby. A new building next to the Eastman Theatre will include a recital hall, a rehearsal hall and recording and teaching studios.
The new wing completes Eastman’s original vision for the theater, officials said.
The relationship between the UR and Kodak reaches back to the bond between then-UR president Rush Rhees and the Rochester industrialist, officials said. Eastman suggested to Rhees that the university should have a professional school of music, and he bought a struggling music institute and gave the property and corporate rights to the UR. Eastman then bought property on which a new school and theater were built and was involved in all aspects of planning and design, and stopped at the construction site daily, UR officials said.

New addition will be built to the left in this picture:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/Rochester_Eastman_Theatre_-_Exterior.jpg/800px-Rochester_Eastman_Theatre_-_Exterior.jpg

ManAboutTown

April 13th, 2008, 06:11 PM

Add another one to the development mix. Supposedly beneath the ugly metal cladding is an attractive building. My guess is that someone will buy the Cadillac and convert that too as that is the only thing keeping that stretch of Chestnut from blossoming.

Chestnut St. condo project may be part of downtown development

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i227/swedishczech/richford.jpg

A young real estate developer plans to turn the vacant office building at 65-67 Chestnut St. into high-end condominiums with street-level retail.

The redevelopment plan proposed by Matthew Wood, 27, of Rochester is just one of several private development projects under way downtown that are trying to capture a growing demand for housing in the center of the city.

"There is a significant pent-up demand for urban housing," said Heidi N. Zimmer-Meyer, president of Rochester Downtown Development Corp.

Wood's plans are preliminary — much depends on what kind of aid might be available from state and municipal sources — but he's thinking of putting 30 to 40 condos in the nine-story building, with the first two floors devoted to retail. He talked about adding a restaurant or coffee shop.

Wood's uncle and adviser, real estate agent Ted Wood, said his nephew had been looking at the building for three or four years before it came up for auction last year, coincidentally on the same day that PAETEC Holding Co. announced plans to build its headquarters on the site of Midtown Plaza.

He closed on the building, for $413,000, three weeks after ESL Federal Credit Union announced its plans to build its headquarters two blocks away on Chestnut Street. The building is also just across a side street from the Cadillac Hotel, now used to house social service clients.

"We're dead center smack in the middle of it all," said Matthew Wood, who owns a number of smaller housing projects in the city.

Indeed, 65-57 Chestnut is smack in the center of what will be a construction zone, adding both complications and cachet to the project.

One of several hurdles the project must surmount — like just about any newly redeveloped downtown building — is its current lack of parking.

"One of the first things we say is, 'Have you brought in an engineer?'" said Zimmer-Meyer. Some projects, such as the Temple Building, have created underground parking.

Ted Wood said he didn't think underground parking was an option for 67 Chestnut because of the size of the building and the number and size of the columns supporting it.

"We're looking at the potential of leasing Midtown parking," he said.

The feasibility of keeping the underground parking garage as the Midtown site is redeveloped is still being determined, but probably will be resolved by the time the Woods hope to begin construction in 2009.

Still, the building's placement presents "an unusual opportunity," Zimmer-Meyer said. "It's going to be next to PAETEC's world headquarters." It's also a short walk from Sagamore on East, a luxury condo and retail project on East Avenue, other redevelopment projects and the East End cultural district.

The Chestnut Street building is at least 58 years old, possibly older, having once been a hotel and later an office building. The Department of Motor Vehicles once occupied the partly submerged ground floor, as did a restaurant. It's been vacant for several years.

The Woods met with city officials recently to see what types of tax breaks or other incentives might be available. Ted Wood said the answers to their questions depend on how much the state budget will include for Restore NY, a state economic development program that typically helps with downtown redevelopment projects. They're also hoping to get other breaks, such as a 10-year property tax abatement.

Meanwhile, the Woods plan to get going on the design of the project — Ted Wood said two-bedroom and three-bedroom units are contemplated — and environmental reviews. Asbestos can be a deal breaker for some projects, but he said it appears that there's little in the building, as earlier renovations apparently removed asbestos-covered pipes.

Matthew Wood said he owns a number of rental properties, the largest of which is a 21-unit apartment building at 359 Alexander St. The Chestnut Street project would be his first condominium development and the largest project so far.

Zimmer-Meyer said Matthew Wood represents a second generation of downtown developers coming on the scene after developers such as Larry Glazer of Buckingham Properties have completed successful projects.

She noted one such developer, Taib Elkettani of Casablanca Properties, who is trying to rehab the Cox Building, 36-48 St. Paul St., into 91 apartments with underground parking and street-level retail. Similar projects are under way or in the planning stages for Warner Place, 72-82 St. Paul, and other locations.

This second generation of project designs incorporates multiple uses, such as retail, offices and recreation, into housing projects. These so-called "lifestyle centers" have been popular in other areas for some time, she said, and are now seen as the key to bringing back a vibrant downtown.

They replicate what perhaps accidentally came together so successfully on Gibbs Street, she said.

"What the modern customer is looking for is something 'authentic,'" Zimmer-Meyer said. Reflecting on the luxury lofts in the Sagamore and others that seek to provide unique living spaces, she said: "They give you a piece of something that a single-family house with a white picket fence on a cul-de-sac just won't give you."

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080413/BUSINESS/804130340/1001

RochesterAddict

April 14th, 2008, 10:40 PM

http://my-expressions.com/up_media/4051/pblog/5159/1207876260.jpg
The George Eastman House - National Museum of Photography in Spring. I just thought this was a nice picture.

Renaissance Square workshop set
Rochester Business Journal

A public workshop on the proposed Renaissance Square development is scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. April 24 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center, project leaders announced Thursday.
Four design concepts will be shown. Project architects will be available to provide details and answer questions, officials said.
The project, estimated to cost $230 million, includes a bus station, a performing-arts center and a downtown campus for Monroe Community College. Its leaders are weighing the viability of the development, with a decision scheduled to be made in April 2009.

Schumer gives conditions for Renaissance Square funding
Rochester Business Journal

Sen. Charles Schumer on Monday said he will extend federal funding for Renaissance Square for only one more year unless project officials make significant progress toward implementing the proposed $230 million development.
Schumer laid out four conditions that must be met by project manager Main and Clinton Local Development Corp. for federal funding to be extended. If the conditions are not met, he said, the funding will be directed to other projects, hopefully in the Rochester area.
“Rochester-area residents have been more than patient waiting to see the vision of Renaissance Square come to fruition, and something must be done to get the shovels in the ground and construction under way,” Schumer said during a news conference at 1 Chase Plaza, across Main Street from where the project is proposed.
Nearly $19 million in federal funds are set to expire Sept. 30. Schumer, a supporter of the project, said he will try to extend the funding for another year. Additional extensions will come only if the four criteria are met.
Project managers must decide whether to proceed with the project by Jan. 31 because that is the deadline for lawmakers to submit appropriations requests, Schumer said. Managers have said they plan to decide in April 2009.
The design of the project must include a best-case and worst-case scenario because only $175 million has been secured, leaving a $55 million shortfall, he said.
Project managers must provide details on who will operate Renaissance Square, how much it will cost to run and who will support it, Schumer said.
The decision-making process must be an open process, Schumer said, noting that positive steps have been made recently to update the public.
Some $81.2 million in federal funds are committed to Renaissance Square, to include a bus station, a theater and a downtown campus for Monroe Community College.
The potential loss of some of the $19 million was first revealed two weeks ago by Rep. Louise Slaughter, a project critic, in an interview with the Rochester Business Journal.

A new downtown bakery
Democrat and Chronicle

Sweet Chicks Pastry Shoppe is a new bakery downtown at 17 E. Main St. In addition to homemade treats, the bakery also offers full lunches, catering, local delivery and wedding cakes, according to owners Lisa Hanlon of Rochester and Cindy Repp of Pittsford.

Payless Shoe, Scott's Hallmark decide to close with Midtown
Democrat and Chronicle

Several more Midtown Plaza tenants have chosen to close and not relocate downtown when the historic complex shuts down this summer, according to the city.

"Maybe in two or three or four years, I think it would be very beneficial to come back," said Scott McNiven, owner of Scott's Hallmark.

Planned developments, he said, should draw more people downtown. "It will be even better."

Peebles department store announced earlier this week it would not remain downtown, but planned to open a new store in Canandaigua.

The city will acquire Midtown next month and plans to close the complex to the public on Aug. 1. The parking garage will remain open until Sept. 30. The property is being razed to make way for PAETEC Holding Corp.'s new world headquarters.

Also closing is Payless Shoe Source, Hair Elite and Midtown Barber Shop & Style Center. Barber shop owner Michael Terrigino said he will join Tower Barber Shop in Chase Tower. The Coat Factory already was shuttered.

Meanwhile, of Midtown's 45 remaining tenants, at least 23 are finalizing or have signed leases within the Inner Loop. A number of them are looking at the Sibley Tower Building, city officials said.

Longtime Midtown tenants Fauna's Gifts & Vintage Toys and Whelpley & Paul Opticians will relocate to the Alliance Building on Main Street, a block away.

Starbucks to fill old restaurant's shoes
Democrat and Chronicle

In a sure sign of the times, the former Rund's Restaurant building on West Henrietta Road in Brighton was knocked down last week to make room for ... another Starbucks.

The building at West Henrietta and Brighton-Henrietta Townline roads with the distinctive green awning had been empty for some time, and it hadn't even been a Rund's in recent years. Other restaurants and bars — MacGregor's and Davinci's — had tried their hand at the location where Rund's succeeded from the 1960s into the early 1990s.

Jim Rund, who ran the restaurant until his retirement in 1992, was at the site during demolition Wednesday, taking pictures. Developer David Dworkin and business partner James August, of LLD Enterprises LLC, are planning a 7,400-square-foot building, called Townline Commons, on the site that will include a Starbucks with a drive-thru.

The property had been vacant for some time when the partners bought it in June 2007 for $390,000. Since then, they sought approvals from the town of Brighton for the project.

"We're very happy to see this," said Tom Low, Brighton's public works supervisor.

"I think it'll do well. It's certainly a busy area for employment," Low said. "You've certainly got the trade people going by to pick up their morning coffee."

The heavy traffic can be a hindrance, too, as people try to get back into traffic, but Dworkin noted that the property, at 2851 West Henrietta Road, also has an access road leading to the town line road.

Starbucks will occupy just 1,750 square feet, Dworkin said. He and August are talking with other retailers about leasing the other space. "We're designing the building to do any size of tenant" or several tenants.

Because the location is relatively close to both Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Rochester, a business that caters to college students might be a good fit, Dworkin said. Or, the building may just appeal to a business that wants to capture some of the traffic on busy West Henrietta Road.

LLD Enterprises owns more than a dozen buildings in the area. Most of them were built for the tenants, such as the mattress and hydroponics stores on Route 96 near Eastview Mall. The company also is developing a 92-acre site in Honeoye Falls for Custom Brewcrafters and other tenants.

In the city of Rochester, LLD owns the former Button Factory in the High Falls District.

RochesterAddict

April 15th, 2008, 06:56 PM

Seneca Zoo meets the challenge; now has more than $1 million for next project
Messenger Post Papers

That roar you hear may be the sound of approval from lions on their way back to the Seneca Park Zoo.

The Seneca Park Zoo Society has announced that it exceeded the fundraising necessary to qualify for a matching grant from the Riedman Foundation to help with its new Africa exhibit.

Since October 2007, the society has raised $767,141, more than meeting the requirements for the foundation gift. The Riedman Challenge Grant meant that the foundation would match, up to $500,000, what the society raised by March 31, 2008.

“I am delighted that the foundation’s first-ever challenge grant was such a resounding success,” said businessman John Riedman. “The Seneca Park Zoo is a jewel in our community and deserves strong support.”

In total, 247 individuals and corporations supported the effort, with a record number of new donors giving to the campaign.

With the matching grant, the zoo now has $1,267,141, just over one-quarter of the $4 million it is hoping to raise by next year to build the third and final phase of its “A Step Into Africa — Ngorongoro Crater Exhibit.” The funds will be restricted to the last phase of the that project.

The first phase of the Step Into Africa exhibit was the new barn, which also included expanded exterior spaces for the zoo’s African elephants, Genny C. and Lilac. It opened in 2006.

Construction on phase two, which includes a new splash pool for the elephants and a new baboon exhibit, started in 2007. They are expected to open next month.

Phase three is expected to include a lion habitat and something tentatively being called Crater Lodge, which would have a food-service facility.

Zoo spokeswoman Pam Cowan said lions were exhibited at the zoo as a visiting animal in 2002 but were last on permanent exhibit at the zoo in 1984. Groundbreaking for the lion habitat is scheduled for the fall of next year.

“The success of the Riedman Challenge brings us one step closer to reintroducing lions to our zoo and completing our new African-themed exhibit area,” said Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks.

Some national news, we could see more vacancies in our plazas here:
Retailer bankruptcies rising
Plain Vanilla Shell

Sagging consumer spending and tighter credit are squeezing many U.S. retailers, resulting in a growing number of bankruptcies, The New York Times reported.

Thousands of stores are closing and retail chains are curtailing operations because of the economic slowdown, the newspaper said Monday.

Eight chains -- including Levitz Furniture and The Sharper Image, which specializes in electronics -- have filed for bankruptcy protection since last fall, The Times said. The crunch is reaching out to affect larger chains, such as Linens 'n Things, a bedding and furniture retailer that operates 500 stores.

Citing people briefed on the situation, the newspaper said Linens 'n Things may file for bankruptcy this week.

Foot Locker, Ann Taylor and Zales Jewelers plan to close hundreds of stores during the coming year, the report said.

Retailers rely heavily on credit for their day-to-day operations, but Al Koch -- a vice chairman and managing director with AlixPartners, a corporate turnaround and financial advisory firm -- told the Times that U.S. banks, which have problems of their own with the mortgage crisis, are increasingly reluctant to lend money to the retail sector.

"You have the makings of a wave of significant bankruptcies," said Koch.

"For years, no deal was too ugly to finance," he said. "But now, nobody will throw money at these companies."

RochesterAddict

April 16th, 2008, 05:34 PM

Coffee shop is rebuilding Webster's old train depot
Democrat and Chronicle

To Kathy Turiano, coffee isn't just something you drink, it's something you experience that ultimately brings people together.

"I think coffee houses are a vital part of creating community ... and that they help to intersect our busy lives," said the 43-year-old village of Webster woman.

Her intersection point was in danger of being blocked in 2004 when a popular coffee shop, Zamar Cafe located on East Main Street in the village of Webster, decided to close its doors.

If there were two things Turiano was passionate about, they were her town and her cup of coffee.

The computer science engineer reopened the coffee shop with Dena Jones under the name Joe Bean in late 2004.

In just two and half years Turiano and Jones outgrew the facility, which seated 45.

Instead of renewing on the lease in 2007 they decided to build afresh.

As part of marketing and support for the community Joe Bean had participated in a number of events where they met Larry Frumusa, principle of Frumusa Enterprise, LLC.

"I really liked them because they were involved and community focused," said Frumusa who approached Joe Bean to be part of a $20 million development called Parkside Village that he is building at Rail Road Street and Route 250.

Joe Bean would rebuild the old train depot that has been abandoned since 1964.

Frumusa is also the developer of the Webster Holiday Inn and Express located at Hotel Road and 104; and also Scenic Village Apartment Homes at Route 250 and 104.

According to Willard Barham, the building inspector for the village of Webster, the train depot was used by farmers and merchants who could not ship goods by way of the Erie Canal, New York Central and Hudson Railroad.

As it stands today, the building is in extremely poor condition, "but you have to look at it with vision," said Turiano

"We're ecstatic," added Barham.

"With today's economy slowing down everywhere, they're giving us something that we can be proud of that marries history with the present."

Remodeling the old train depot is the first building that will be completed for Parkside Village.

The village of Webster's historical society had a lot to do with the overall design of the new Joe Bean structure, which will highlight certain elements of the old train depot that include its high beams, windows, wooden planks, slanted roof and cornices.

Frumusa estimates the project will cost $350,000, and will be breaking ground early May.

Total space for the coffee shop would be 3,000-square-feet, enough for Turiano and Jones to create the coffee experience they've always wanted. A bigger building would also allow them to bring coffee roasting on site. They have been roasting beans at an interim building.

Ben Turiano, Kathy Turiano's son, is one of the roasters.

"There's a lot of science that goes into roasting," said the 19-year-old who switched career paths from graphic artist to hospitality management based on his excitement in his mom's venture.

"What I like about it is that each profile we change brings about a different flavor that can't be learned from a book."

Joe Bean is creating a niche for itself by using organic and exotic coffee beans, most of which comes from Third World countries such as Ethiopia, Guatemala, Sumatra and Brazil.

They're moving their coffee line to coffee beans purchased under fair trade agreements.

"For us it's an ethical thing because when you're giving your heart and soul to something you want to make sure it benefits the famers and growers you purchase from," said Turiano.

I thought this was interesting:
Brownfields cleanup pits Duffy vs. Yonkers mayor
Democrat and Chronicle

The mayors of Rochester and Yonkers find themselves poles apart in the debate over how to clean up contaminated former industrial sites known as "brownfields."

In debate that resumed at the Capitol this week, Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy backs a proposal by Gov. David Paterson to cap the amount of benefits that can be awarded to a developer so that more sites can be cleaned up with existing state funds.

But Yonkers Mayor Philip Amicone wants the program, which has committed hundreds of millions of dollars to only a few developers in the past few years, to be left alone.

The two sides last week called what is essentially a 90-day truce while they try to work out a deal. The Assembly and Senate are expected to unveil their own competing plans this week.

Under a law passed in 2003, developers can recover up to 22 percent of the cost of a project through tax credits if part of that project involves cleaning up some contaminated land.

The problem has been that only a few expensive projects — including the new Ritz Carlton Hotel project in White Plains — have eaten up hundreds of millions of dollars.

In fact, the first 25 to 30 projects approved under the program ate up close to $1 billion in tax credits, said state Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis.

"We never anticipated this," Grannis said. "And there's no way in the world we can keep doing this." The state allocates about $150 million a year to offset the credits.

The state has stopped accepting more projects into the program and is facing lawsuits from developers who claim that since they qualify for the benefits they should get them.

Grannis helped to craft a plan backed by Paterson that would limit the credits to a maximum of $15 million per project, and would set new ground rules to try to direct the savings to depressed areas with high unemployment.

"We're pushing against high-end developers who see the end of the gravy train," he said.

But rather than high-end developers who might be hurt, Amicone sees the redevelopment of his city being put at risk. The existing program is a key to a $1.6 billion proposal that would create a new downtown center. He said it could be killed if the brownfield credits are changed.

"I understand the state is concerned about the fiscal implications of the existing program," he said in testimony before a legislative committee last fall. "Large credits will be provided to developers if the program remains as it is. However, I am here to explain that this program needs to be viewed as an investment program for the state's future."

Amicone has at least an important ally on his side: Senate Environmental Conservation Committee Chairman Carl Marcellino, R-Nassau County.

"You can't do this kind of work on the cheap," he said. Generous subsidies are needed to lure developers into projects where cleanups are required, he added, and the payoff will be more jobs and more tax receipts.

"The governor's office is being shortsighted," he added.

His counterpart in the Assembly, Environmental Conservation Committee Chairman Robert Sweeney, D-Suffolk County, has kinder words to say about the Paterson plan.

"It serves as an excellent starting point for a brownfield reform proposal," he said, adding that the $15 million cap "may be a bit too low. We may want to bump it up a bit."

The two lawmakers said they will release details of their proposals next week.

A change is needed and soon, said Duffy, the Rochester mayor.

"Unlike downstate, we have many properties that will not be redeveloped without some tax credits," he said. "We need to limit how much any one project can get so that the many potential sites in Rochester and other upstate cities can be dealt with."

I never knew this existed:
http://www.smugtownbeacon.com/news.php?NewsSectionId=17

It sounds like another negative hippie rag.

bdaly

April 16th, 2008, 09:27 PM

I never knew this existed:
http://www.smugtownbeacon.com/news.php?NewsSectionId=17

It sounds like another negative hippie rag.
Very interesting. It looks like it has two writers, one of which being Chris Wilmot. He's clearly airing a little dirty laundry due to his lost investment in the Rhinos, but it makes for an interesting read.

Dimension

April 16th, 2008, 09:46 PM

Has anyone ever thought about a Buffalo to Rochester train service?

It would save time, money, and be a good way to bring the cities together.

RochesterAddict

April 16th, 2008, 11:05 PM

Has anyone ever thought about a Buffalo to Rochester train service?

It would save time, money, and be a good way to bring the cities together.

Amtrak?

RochesterAddict

April 17th, 2008, 08:03 PM

http://cmsimg.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A2&Date=20080417&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=804170358&Ref=V1&Profile=1003&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0

Dimarco's Plan:
http://www.dimarcogroup.com/images/Properties%202007/HamptonRidge_Swith-Mask.jpg

Wrecking ball poised over West Ridge Road dumps
Democrat and Chronicle

Wrecking balls and bulldozers will spring to action in the next few weeks to level a line of boarded-up houses and make way for new development on a stretch of West Ridge Road.

The nearly two dozen houses, many of which have been vacant for nearly three years, have fallen into such disrepair that the town officials cracked down on developers late last month, threatening court action if the buildings were not razed or made habitable again.

At issue are more than two dozen rapidly deteriorating houses sandwiched between car dealerships on the south side of West Ridge Road between Manitou and Elmgrove roads. Most are owned by Benderson Development and Farash Corp, which acquired the buildings beginning in 2005 to help pave the way for a 125-acre complex that would include a 185,000 square-foot Wal-Mart, other businesses and 217 units of senior housing.

Developers say they were planning to take down the buildings anyway. They said they didn't need the prodding from the town but did need a break in the weather.

"We were already in the process of looking at the viability of removing the houses and getting that started" when the town notified Benderson and Farash that the structures needed to get fixed or go, said Don Robinson, Benderson's senior vice president. "We ultimately decided the houses had been vacant so long and some vandalism had occurred, so it would be better for us to just clean up the property."

Not a done deal
The Benderson/Farash development is in limbo right now, awaiting a final decision from the Greece Town Board over whether to rezone the land from residential to commercial. Without the zoning change, the project, so far called Southwestern Commons, can't go forward. An environmental impact review of the proposal is under way and will likely be complete within weeks. But even if the board grants the rezoning, Benderson and Farash will still have to gain approval for the project from the Planning Board.

On the north side of West Ridge Road, developers The DiMarco Group built a Kohl's department store in 2004. The company now wants to build an additional 300,000 square feet of retail space on 67 nearby acres. Hampton Ridge Center — envisioned as an upscale retail center — also requires rezoning; The Town Board is considering the request.

Gary Tajkowski, Greece's director of development services, said The DiMarco Group owns a handful of vacant houses on that property, and is already finalizing demolition permits required to raze those buildings.

John DiMarco II, president of The DiMarco Group, said those houses should be leveled within the next 30 days.

"They're really unsightly, quite frankly," he said. "We understand the concerns of the town and when they did make a request to us to do something about them we thought it reasonable to go through the process and clean the area up."

Benderson's Robinson said his company kept their houses intact for so long out of concern that the land won't end up rezoned.

"If the project doesn't go forward, we felt we'd need to make use of the properties as residential," he said. "But if we have to revert to residential use, we'll just be starting from scratch."

Neither developer would say which retailers their projects may attract, other than the planned Wal-mart at Southwestern Commons.

Tajkowski said there's "still a long way to go" before decisions come down about the zoning requests.

Final plans for the projects won't be submitted unless the zoning goes through.

Shabby, not chic
Tajkowski said the town couldn't do anything about the privately owned properties just because they were eyesores and had to wait until there were specific violations of town code before stepping in.

"We don't have the ability to legislate aesthetics so if something simply appears shabby there's not a lot we can do about it," he said. "But when it goes beyond a shabby appearance and there are things wrong with the structure, like a roof starting to fail or windows that aren't secure anymore we do have things on the books we can do to get the property owner to put the structures back in compliance" with town law.

Faded "no trespassing" signs are nailed to the fronts of the homes and warped pieces of particle board cover most of the doors and windows. Paint is peeling and driveways are cracked.

In some of the overgrown yards, piles of broken glass prove vandals have visited.

At one house, the breezeway is open to the elements, with rotting piles of damp gray-green ceiling tiles molding on a linoleum floor.

Tatters of fiberglass insulation and torn plastic bags intertwine in old front hedges.

In one back yard, what was once an inground swimming pool is now a gaping maw in the earth ringed by a shredded blue liner. A puddle of black water sits in the bottom, abuzz with insects.

Robinson said the homes should be demolished within the next 90 days. Crews for his company started working earlier this month in the buildings to check for asbestos and prep for tear-down.

A small professional building at 4231 W. Ridge Road will not be affected by the demolition. Those businesses, Hilbert Realty and Invisible Fence of Western Rochester, will remain open.

Progress
When Dave Stutzman of Parma moved his Stutzman's Guitar Center in 1977 to a converted home at 4405 West Ridge Road, he didn't expect it to take developers nearly 30 years to come calling at his end of the road.

"It's a great place to do business," he said.

His shop abuts the western edge of the Benderson/Farash property and he lives nearby on Manitou Road. He's watched the houses begin to crumble and is glad they're coming down.

"This spring, they're certainly starting to show the deterioration more than they have in the past," he said. "I guess I don't understand why they haven't come down before."

DiMarco said the homes on his properties should be gone by the end of the month, with the exception of an old cobblestone for which the Greece Historical Committee is trying to find a use.

"Our goal is to develop that area and make it look really nice," he said. "Our commitment is to try to get that corridor to really look like a modern retail development."

Stutzman said he's looking forward to both the Shops at Hampton Ridge and Southwestern Commons.

"There will be new shopping, restaurants, banks and all kinds of good things here for the people of Greece," he said. "I think both developments will be a good thing for the town and all the businesses along West Ridge Road."

Webster shop moves to 'upscale' village
Democrat and Chronicle

The owners of a Webster boutique are making a statement not only with their merchandise, but the location of their budding business.

Jennifer Vacchetto and Kim DeBole recently decided to move their clothing store, 2 Lovely, from Ridge Road in the town of Webster to a storefront at 26 E. Main St. in the village.

These two friends, who share a passion for fashion and live next door to each other in Penfield, said they believed they were getting in "on the ground floor" of a new era in the village.

Vacchetto explained that 2 Lovely is in a block of buildings recently purchased by Neil and Eric Bauman of Webster. The father and son owned a popular comedy and entertainment Web site called eBaum's World until they sold it recently to HandHeld Entertainment.

Now they have decided to invest some of their profits in their hometown.

Vacchetto said she and DeBole are excited about the Bauman's plans for renovation of the property they have purchased.

DeBole said that the new plans will transform the village into "something upscale, like Pittsford and Fairport."

At 2 Lovely, Vacchetto and DeBole are doing everything they can to carry out this new upscale image. Their shop's windows and interior are elegantly decorated and the women's clothing, jewelry and accessories are sophisticated and chic.

"We offer something different than the malls," commented DeBole. "We want to help women make a fashion statement."

Karen Donohue of Penfield, who recently discovered 2 Lovely, said these two entrepreneurs have the fashion and business sense to be successful.

"They are friendly and down-to-earth," said Donohue, "and they have created a great shopping experience here."

Clarix doing one thing and doing it well
Democrat and Chronicle

Rising sales have company looking to add workers.
One of the fundamentals of salesmanship is to have a variety of products to offer. If customers don't want your Fuller brushes, maybe they'll take your encyclopedias.

But a Perinton sales firm is finding increasing success moving one product only — software for online training and Web conferencing.

Clarix Technologies Inc. today employs 25, and expects to have 40 by year's end, mostly working to sell Adobe Acrobat Connect, said President Gary Whitaker.

California software giant Adobe Systems Inc., with revenues of $3.2 billion in 2007, sells most of its products through catalogs and retail establishments, said Senior Product Marketing Manager David Slater.

But selling specialized products like Connect takes a particularly knowledgeable sales force and can require complex support — areas outside Adobe's business strengths, Slater said.

Adobe now has a small number of dedicated resellers nationwide, with Clarix the biggest of them, he said.

"Every one of Gary's sales reps is as good as Adobe's sales reps," Slater said.

Whitaker has had a technology-related sales command since the mid 1990s, though it has gone through a number of names and products.

The Adobe work started when Whitaker had contacts in MacroMedia, which had a product, Breeze, for online management. After selling for San Francisco's MacroMedia, the company pitched the idea of Whitaker's firm being a dedicated MacroMedia representative. About that same time, in 2005, Adobe was making a move to buy MacroMedia.

Focusing solely on MacroMedia's Breeze, which became Connect, represented a business niche, Whitaker said.

With the cost of travel increasing, he said, "we thought we were going to catch the wave of this market of corporate training and communications online."

In its first year with Adobe, Clarix did about $7 million in sales — nearly three times what Adobe had expected, Whitaker said. This year, the company expects sales of $10 million to $12 million, said head of operations Paul Watkins.

And when Connect inevitably is replaced by some other, better product on the market, Watkins said, the company will focus that same business model on something else.

"We can take another hot product ... that requires some product knowledge," he said. "With this business model, we can take this to Adobe or another company."

I also found this:
http://www.wherethelocalseat.com/Rochester-Best-Restaurants/

"Did You Know...Rochester is the home of Jolt Cola, Marshmallows, Jell-O, and French's Mustard."

RochesterAddict

April 18th, 2008, 03:53 PM

Record Archive Moves to New Location
RNEWS 9

The Record Archive celebrates National Record Store day with the grand opening of its new store on Rochester’s Rockwood Street Saturday.

The event includes an all day live music extravaganza, free food, and prizes.

The Record Archive recently closed its store on East Avenue and moved to nearby Rockwood Street to make way for the Wegman’s expansion project.

Holy crap! East Ave Wegmans may be moving forward!

bdaly

April 18th, 2008, 04:03 PM

Holy crap! East Ave Wegmans may be moving forward!
Yeah, I heard a rumor that they've come to an agreement with M&T, which was the last major outstanding obstacle. Although, then again, I don't get why they'd need that space, unless it's for parking. So, who knows. I know Wegmans tends to go a project at a time, and the Dome Arena Wegmans is probably their focus right now, but perhaps this is on deck.

ROCguy

April 20th, 2008, 02:31 AM

So my mom got a call from my aunt today going crazy because she had to turn the AC on in April in Rochester because it was almost 90 degrees? I wonder if Al Gore was in town? It wasn't even 80 here today.

I'm also curious to know if anyone who checks the D&C website regularly has the same issue I do...of it taking forever to load, and even longer to be active (can't click on the links to read the stories). It's been like that for me ever sinced they totally changed the layout and look of the page and it is making me mad because I still like to know what's going on in good ole' Rochacha. I'll be there in June btw and psyched about it.

blangjr21

April 20th, 2008, 06:17 AM

No problems for me with the D&C website, probably depends on your browser or computer. Anyways it was officially 86 degrees today, which was a record breaking temp...something like 1868 was the record year and 84 i believe was the record temp.

RochesterAddict

April 21st, 2008, 05:34 PM

I'm also curious to know if anyone who checks the D&C website regularly has the same issue I do...of it taking forever to load, and even longer to be active (can't click on the links to read the stories). It's been like that for me ever sinced they totally changed the layout and look of the page and it is making me mad because I still like to know what's going on in good ole' Rochacha. I'll be there in June btw and psyched about it.

The D and C moved slow for me as well, but then I turned off my phishing filter and now its smooth. You just have to tweak your browser. Do you use IE or FF?

http://my-expressions.com/up_media/4051/pblog/5159/1208694885.jpg
Nice pic of a reflection in the Blue Cross Arena windows.

ALSO,
I recommend all of you picking up the latest Rochester Business Journal. There was a nice article about the Lofts at Capron opening:

http://belmontproperties.com/Capron_Mauro.jpg
http://www.1capron.com/
http://www.rocwiki.org/The_Lofts_at_Capron

ROCguy

April 22nd, 2008, 02:20 AM

nice pics...I use eathernet cable...its either that or the crappy wifi they have in my dumpy old dorm building. Great internet connection isn't much of an option here unfortunatley.

ManAboutTown

April 22nd, 2008, 04:07 AM

Not huge or surprising news but from what I understand, Clear Channel will be staying "downtown" when they're forced out of the Euclid Building at Midtown. They'd be a nice tenant for any building at roughly 30,000 square feet. They are looking at three different locations. My guess is Chase Tower since it's the only Class A space downtown with that much contiguous available room.

blangjr21

April 22nd, 2008, 05:54 AM

Read the article about the lofts at Capron, but it (much like the website) was too vague on the amenities that the Condo's will feature. I was hoping for more details as a soon to be home buyer.

RochesterAddict

April 22nd, 2008, 07:51 PM

Leaders of UR, RIT trumpet economic importance
Democrat and Chronicle

Rather than remain remote ivory towers, the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology increasingly are tying themselves in to the economy and quality of life of the Rochester region.

That was the case the presidents of the two universities made today speaking as part of the Rochester Downtown Development Corp.’s “Repositioning Rochester” series of talks.

Before a crowd of more than 250 business and higher education interests gathered at the Hyatt Regency, UR President Joel Seligman and RIT President William Destler laid out the myriad ways the schools are woven into the surrounding community, with much of their talks focusing on their economic impacts as sizable employers and on the roles their research plays in starting or supporting businesses.

“I don’t think Rochester needs repositioning or rescuing,” Destler said. “The jobs lost (due to the decline of major area manufacturers) has been replaced with jobs in new and emerging enterprises.”

Universities bid to lift local economy
Democrat and Chronicle

What once had been a Big Three town — with tens of thousands of workers churning out camera film, eyeglasses and photocopiers — increasingly is being driven economically by the ideas developed in places such as the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology.

That was the case the presidents of the two universities made Monday as they spoke to more than 250 business and higher education leaders at the Hyatt Regency for the "Repositioning Rochester" series of the Rochester Downtown Development Corp.

UR President Joel Seligman and RIT President William Destler laid out the myriad ways in which the schools are connected to the community, emphasizing their economic impact as the No. 1 and No. 9 employers in the region and the role their research plays in starting or supporting businesses.

"I'm optimistic about the future of Rochester," Seligman declared, adding that he sees the community as being in the midst of "a dramatic turnaround," with new businesses growing out of university-based research, akin to some of the economic development that has occurred in Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

Over the past 11 years, 30 companies have started out of UR discoveries, and that pace is expected to accelerate, Seligman said.

Combined, the two institutions have an economic impact on the community of about $3 billion annually, Destler said.

UR is the region's largest employer, with more than 18,000 people working at the university, the medical center and other health facilities, such as Highland Hospital, that are affiliated with UR.

RIT ranks ninth among regional employers with nearly 3,000 workers.

RIT, which has had close ties to business and industry for many years, is trying to make itself even friendlier to the corporate world by making its facilities available for short-term corporate research and development projects.

This summer the school also is starting construction of Entrepreneur's House — on-campus housing specifically for students who want to start their own businesses.

Big plans for two old Victor homes
Messenger Post Newspapers

One of the village’s oldest homes may be reincarnated as a restaurant and ice cream shop, while, across the street, another old home may be leveled to make way for a new building of stores and apartments.

Plans for the ice cream shop and grill are being proposed for the home at 72 W. Main St. known as the Dryer House. Built in 1838, it is now owned by Karl Kittelberger of Fairport, who has been embroiled with local officials over its inclusion in the village’s Urban Renewal district as well as over the home’s current state of disrepair.

Brothers Chris and Matt Frank of Webster are in negotiations with Kittelberger to buy the property and transform it into the eatery. The Dryer House, formerly home to Kittelberger’s antiques business, has been up for sale for some time. Kittelberger has been cited for state and local code violations, from chipping paint to structural problems with the front porch.

The Franks happened to notice the home while passing through the village recently. They said they were instantly smitten with its aged charm. They’ll need to make some renovations to house their eatery, but they plan to refurbish it, keeping with its period-style appointments.

“We just feel it’s a phenomenal opportunity,” said Matt Frank, who, with his brother, owns three businesses in Webster, including Hank’s Ice Cream & Roast Beef.

The Franks will present their plans informally to the village Planning Board tomorrow. The board will also hear plans for the property across the street, at 49 W. Main.

Developers from Four Clovers Builders want to raze the home and erect a two-story building in its place. The first floor would house retail shops, while the second would contain loft-style apartments, said Kathy Rayburn, head of Victor’s Local Development Corp.

The home, sometimes called the Flora House after its owners, James and Barbara Flora, has been among the biggest hurdles in the village’s ongoing revitalization efforts. The home had been up for sale, with no takers, for a long time, and the village at one time considered using a portion of a state grant for revitalization to buy the home.

Josh Allen, of Four Clovers, could not be reached to elaborate on the plans.

While the Franks’ plans for the Dryer House are among the already permitted uses for the property, Four Clovers needs approvals from various village boards, from Planning to Urban Renewal, to go forward.

Rayburn said Four Clovers “very strongly wants to stick with the revitalization plan” that focused on Mead Square Park and was devised by the firm Saratoga Associates several years ago.

Rayburn said plans for the property are “long overdue.”

“I think it will be great,” she said, adding that the development, coupled with the addition of a grocery store in the old Market Basket site and the rehabilitation of the Dryer House, could spur a transformation in the village. She was especially excited about the plans for apartments.

“Housing is a priority in any village, and we lack that type of housing here,” she said.

Rayburn said she has mixed feelings, though, about plans for the Dryer House. While pleased that the home may get a new life, she is concerned about the proximity to Papa Jack’s Grill and Papa Jack’s Ice Cream, next door to one another and down the street from the Dryer House. Papa Jack’s is a longtime village business, owned by the Cretekos family, and Rayburn worries about the added competition.

“I certainly don’t want to see their business hurt because of it,” Rayburn said. “I would hope there’s enough people who want restaurant and ice-cream food to support both business.”

Greece Walgreens at Buckman's Plaza on second try
Messenger Post Newspapers

It may seem like deja’ vu, but what some call Greece’s downtown is a little closer to getting a Walgreens.

The national drugstore chain wants to build at the site of Buckman’s Plaza at the corner of West Ridge and Long Pond roads. The company got approval to do so in the summer of 2006, but work never started. The approvals expired, so the company has to go through the process all over again. It went before the Greece Planning Board last Wednesday, but the board didn’t vote on it.

The plan is nearly identical to the one from 2006. HDL Property Group wants to build a 14,820-square-foot, one-story pharmacy with a drive-up window at the corner of Long Pond and West Ridge roads. Plans also include a two-story retail building, but that hasn’t been approved, said Gary Tajkowski, the town’s director of development services.

The property houses Buckman's Plaza, which was the site of a dairy and other businesses for decades. It’s mostly vacant now.

“It’s too long to have this corner, one of the busiest corners in the community, look like that,” Ralph DeStephano, Jr., the property manager, told the board. “We don’t do business like that.”

Board Chairman Al Fisher agreed that it’s important to get the project going. “It’s our downtown,” he said.

As part of the state’s West Ridge Road reconstruction project, a traffic signal will be added on West Ridge Road, near the Blockbuster store that’s adjacent to Buckman’s. Because the road is so busy, the signal will be key to the property’s redevelopment, Planning Board member Bill Selke said.

This was to be the first Walgreens in Greece, but another one may earn that title. HDL Property Group got approval in January to build a 10,833-square-foot store at the southwest corner of Maiden Lane and Mount Read Boulevard.

The West Ridge Road store will be about 3 miles from a Walgreens in Gates at Long Pond and Spencerport roads.

Just thought this was cool:
Mercedes Meeting coming to Canandaigua
RNEWS 9

The Mercedes Benz Club of America will hold its spring national board of directors meeting in Canandaigua later this spring.

The club consists of over 20,000 members throughout the United States and Canada. Many will drive their cars and display them on the grounds of the host hotel, The Inn on the Lake. The location for these semi-annual board meetings are determined through bids by one or more of the 86 sections, or clubs, organized into 12 regions. The Finger Lakes Section bid about two years ago, and was awarded the Spring 2008 meeting. The last two National Board Meetings were held in Phoenix, Arizona and Naples, Florida.

The meeting takes place May 14-17.

High Falls Film Fest is coming soon, Ill be there!
http://www.rochestersmoviefest.com/

The video on the left side is great! Including our mayors blue collar accent. Raachster! LOL.

RochesterAddict

April 22nd, 2008, 07:54 PM

Read the article about the lofts at Capron, but it (much like the website) was too vague on the amenities that the Condo's will feature. I was hoping for more details as a soon to be home buyer.

On the site it says contact them if you want more information, so do it!

COMIDA approves tax breaks for UR related projects
Democrat and Chronicle

Two construction projects to accommodate University of Rochester expansion plans were approved for tax breaks today by the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency.

The agency, at its monthly meeting, approved a total of $3.2 million in tax breaks for the developers of two projects — a $36 million building on Brighton’s Sawgrass Drive that will house an ambulatory surgery center for Strong Memorial Hospital and a $4.2 million office building in the Brooks Landing area of the city. UR will be the primary tenant of both buildings.

In exchange for the tax breaks, the two projects are supposed to create more than 60 new jobs.

COMIDA today also approved $82,000 in sales tax breaks for the conglomerate taking over Eastman Kodak Co.’s rapid manufacturing development center in Kodak Park. The group, American Acquisition Investment Co., will remake the center into a stand-alone business, Arnprior Rapid Manufacturing Solutions Inc.
The sales tax breaks are on $1.1 million in new information technology the facility needs to separate from Kodak.

The 161 jobs at the center had been in danger of leaving Rochester with the purchase from Kodak, said COMIDA Executive Director Judy Seil. Instead, Arnprior plans under the terms of the tax break deal to create 35 job positions within the next three years.

And COMIDA approved $3 million in tax breaks for the planned new ESL Federal Credit Union headquarters to be built in downtown Rochester.

RochesterAddict

April 23rd, 2008, 06:58 PM

http://my-expressions.com/up_media/4051/pblog/5159/1208948586.jpg
The trees on the mall of Seneca Parkway are in bloom!

THE SCENE: Magpie Irish Pub
City Magazine

Bird's the word
The new Magpie Irish Pub at 653 Park Avenue opened quietly back on April 4, sans advertising and sans phone. Even so, the pub's been busy every day since, likely because of all the foot traffic the area gets - Jines and Charlie's Frog Pond are across the street, Camille's is next door, and the pub's located in the spot where First Taste used to be - and because of the inviting exterior.

"As soon as we opened the doors, we had people streaming in," says Billy Turcott, the pub's manager. Turcott says the owner, John Diamantopoulos, who also runs Lola and J.D. Oxfords, among other area bars, opened Magpie to fill what he saw as an empty niche.

That niche, explains Turcott, is that of a "real" pub, which he describes as "Somewhere for adults to go to have a beer."

The idea is that you won't find a bunch of frat guys pounding Jager bombs, or even games or a jukebox; instead, Magpie is meant to be "laid back, relaxed, sophisticated," Turcott says.

What you will find at the pub is a tasteful interior, totally transformed indoor and out since its days as First Taste. What used to be First Taste's large kitchen is now a dim lounge area with amber lighting and earth-toned walls. It's tucked away from the rest of the bar, and you can hang out back there to eat or drink. A table at the front of the pub (where two men were sitting, sipping pints of Guinness when I visited on a recent Wednesday) overlooks Park Ave, a prime people-watching perch, while the bar itself is long and handsome, complete with an array of 15 draft beers (Harp, Blue Moon, Smithwicks, and Wood Chuck are just a few), and 60 more kinds (Erie Railbender, Victory Hop Devil, Bear Republic Racer 5, and others you may have actually heard of) in bottles. The bar's glassware is encased in glass-front wooden cabinets, and even the friendly bartender looks polished in his black Guinness polo.

Though the pub prides itself on its whiskeys and beer, there's also a wine list with a selection of 20 or so wines (these include chardonnay, pinot noir, merlot, chianti, zinfandel, shiraz, and cabernet choices, among others). The modest menu is available all day long, and consists of sandwiches of roast beef, turkey, corned beef, or egg and olive salad, on white bread, a Kimmelwick roll, or Guinness rye bread. There's also a soup of the day, and sides like potato and pasta salads.

And soccer fans, listen up: Turcott says the pub will play international sports on the pub's four screens, making this the place to watch the World Cup. Turcott says the pub will also air the Olympics this summer.

Keep an eye out for more from Magpie: a grand opening party is in the works ("Right now we're just trying to keep up with everyone that comes in here," Turcott says), and soon, a website (magpiepub.com), and phone line will be in place.

Magpie follows the Irish tradition of opening early in the day, so pub-goers can swing by as early as 10 or 11 a.m. Its current hours are Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-2 a.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-2 a.m., and Sunday 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Check rochestercitynewspaper.com/nightlife for updates on Magpie and other area bars and clubs.

Has anyone tried Magpie yet?

Creamery stays put
City Magazine

In March we reported that the Corn Hill Creamery (290 Exchange Boulevard) would be leaving Corn Hill Landing and moving to a new location in Fairport. Things have changed: the business is staying downtown, due to an asbestos issue in the new building. Owner Mark Holbrook says, "We love downtown; we are excited to be open this season and will be playing it by ear whether or not we continue to look for another location." Parking is still a concern for Holbrook; however, the owner of Corn Hill Landing has advised that the parking lot underneath the expressway can be used for Landing patrons. Corn Hill Creamery is open now, and we're looking forward to another yummy season.

Corn Hill Creamery is open Tuesday-Friday, noon-9 p.m.; Saturday noon-10 p.m.; and Sunday noon-9 p.m. For more information call 454-5110.

Corn Hill Creamery is staying put, but I heard Cappucino Italiano Cafe on Park Ave is moving to Fairport now, just FYI.

A review of Fig in Bushnells Basin, seems like a cool concept:
http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/dining/articles/CHOW+HOUND%3A+Fig+Cafe/

RochesterAddict

April 24th, 2008, 07:09 PM

Revitalization Expert Tours City
RNEWS 9

An expert on neighborhood revitalization took a stroll Wednesday in one of Rochester's neighborhoods.

Dave Boehlke toured the area of Shepard Street and Monroe Avenue. NeighborWorks Rochester and the Regional Design Center brought him in to help attract new residents to certain parts of the city.

Boehlke said residents should look at the pluses and why they chose to live where they live.

"They have to stop thinking about the problems and start thinking of the positives. Secondly, they've got to remember that small works big. Clean up the front, put in flowers, paint the front door. Things that convince people this is a neighborhood that people want to live in," Boehlke said.

Boehlke has worked with more than 100 cities and towns. When asked about Rochester, he said he loves it and that it is better than residents think.

Fine wining & more set for Pittsford store
Democrat and Chronicle

Oenophile's paradise slated to open Saturday
Three days before the opening of the new Century Pittsford Wines at Pittsford Plaza, workers were busy Wednesday getting the store ready for its debut.

When the store opens at 9 a.m. Saturday in the shopping mall at 3349 Monroe Ave., shoppers will be introduced to a new experience in buying wine and spirits, according to owner Nicole Wegman.

"The store will appeal to the person who collects wine as well as the person who shops for wine every day," Wegman said.

The 45,000-square-foot wine shop is the largest in New York state, Wegman said.

Wegman is owner of Nicole's Wine & Spirits, a company she formed to buy Century Liquor and Wines from founder Sherwood Deutsch in March 2007.

The company is a separate venture from the Wegmans Food Markets grocery chain run by her father, Chief Executive Danny Wegman.

Nicole Wegman received approval from the State Liquor Authority three weeks ago to transfer her liquor license from Century Liquor and Wines' longtime location at 630 W. Ridge Road in Rochester to the Century Pittsford Wines. The Ridge Road location closed April 12 to begin moving inventory to the new store, which has been ready since October 2007.

Deutsch, vice president of fine wines at the Pittsford location, called the new store "my dream come true."

"This is the store I dreamed about creating, but (it) never happened for various reasons," Deutsch said.

Good competitor
Century Pittsford Wines is a nice addition to the area and will probably be a good competitor, according to Mike Palmeri, owner of Marketview Liquor at 1100 Jefferson Road in Henrietta. "It's a new store," Palmeri said. "I've been there. It won't be easy." Century, he added, has the Wegman name and organization behind it, and the influence of Deutsch.

"We'll continue to do what we do best: providing good products, good prices and good customer service," Palmeri said.

Although Century Pittsford Wines is not part of the Wegmans supermarket chain, the Wegmans business philosophy of focusing on local products will be a big boon to New York state wines, according to Jim Trezise, president of the New York Grape & Wine Foundation.

"We welcome that type of support," Trezise said.

At 45,000 square feet, Century Pittsford Wines is more than twice the size of the 17,500-square-foot Ridge Road location.

Nicole Wegman said the store will offer wines starting at $2.99 and go up to about $18,000 for a Lafite Rothschild 1868.

Among the special features of the store:

15 aisles of wines and spirits.

The largest representation of New York state wines.

A 700-square-foot walk-in rare wine room.

A 1,500-square-foot temperature-controlled wine storage cellar.

Hundreds of wines never before available in Rochester.

A room for seminars, wine tastings and wine education classes.

An information center, equipped with a large screen to play videos, and WiFi throughout the store.

About 50 employees from the Ridge Road location, including 17 wine experts, transferred to the new store.

Same values
Wegman said while the wine shop is separate from the Wegmans grocery stores, her goal is to instill the same values and philosophy at Century Pittsford Wines.

"I want the values I was brought up with," Wegman said. "They worked very well. I like to continue that here."

The addition of Century on Monroe Avenue will increase the trade area and drawing power of Pittsford Plaza, according to Dennis Wilmot, vice president of leasing for Wilmorite Management Group.

Wilmorite manages Pittsford Plaza, and Wilmot was responsible for bringing the wine shop to the shopping center.

"The reputation of Century as a powerful brand in the liquor and wine segments reaches beyond the borders of greater Rochester," Wilmot said.

Plan under way for CityGate project on Rochester-Brighton border
Democrat and Chronicle

Planning is under way for CityGate, a $200 million residential, commercial and office park project slated for the Rochester-Brighton border.

The city held a scoping meeting Wednesday to help to assemble a draft Environmental Impact Statement at City Council chambers.

"The project really is a lifestyle center. The time has come for Rochester," said Anthony J. Costello, chairman and CEO of Anthony J. Costello & Son Development LLC, developer of the project. "At this point, we don't have a lifestyle center where you can work, live, play, stay with hotels and shops, residential offices all on one location on the canal. We're very excited about it."

CityGate has taken three years of internal planning, with more needed to gain approvals before construction.

"They've been working on it for a while, but procedurally we're still in the early stages of the project," said Arthur Ientilucci, Rochester's director of zoning.

The 63-acre project will have a large impact on water use, traffic and many other areas.

"There will be lots and lots of opportunities for public review and comment," Ientilucci said.

CityGate is the first project of its type and scale within the city.

"It's an urban development in sort of a quasi-suburban area," Costello said.

The project has several area designations: mixed-use, canal front, commercial and residential.

Plans call for more than 300,000 square feet of retail space, more than 190,000 square feet of office and commercial space, 1,100 residential units and 350 hotel rooms.

The project's boundaries will include Westfall Road, East Henrietta Road and the Erie Canal.

The location places it within close proximity to Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Rochester, Monroe Community Hospital and Monroe Community Hospital.

The estimated cost of construction is $200 million. When completed, the project will "result in $8.6 million a year in new property taxes for Monroe County, the city and town of Brighton," Terry Slaybaugh, senior vice president of Anthony J. Costello and Son LLC, said.

Rochester has been named lead agency in the State Environmental Quality Review process.

Wednesday's meeting allowed members of town, city and county governments and area contributing agencies to shape the scope of the project's draft environmental impact statement.

The project could begin this fall if all of the necessary approvals are received.

http://cmsimg.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A2&Date=20080423&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=80423031&Ref=AR&Profile=1003&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0

City breaks cheap lease of ferry terminal building
Democrat and Chronicle

The city of Rochester has reached a settlement to break the $1-a-year lease at the ferry terminal building.

Mayor Robert Duffy announced the agreement with leaseholder Maplestar Development during a news conference today at City Hall. The pact, to be approved by City Council next month, has the city paying Maplestar $400,000 as compensation for improvements the group made to the ferry terminal building, most notably an elaborate second-floor nightclub that never opened.

Maplestar’s total investment in the terminal is estimated at more than $1 million.

The city arrived at the $400,000 figure after subtracting expenses that Maplestar owed the city such as for utilities, maintenance and depreciation.

The city signed a controversial 40-year terminal lease in 2001 with Canadian American Transportation Systems, the original high-speed ferry operator. CATS ultimately ran out of money and shut down the ferry, but subleased part of the space in the city-owned building to a sister company, Maplestar Development.

When the city officially retakes control of the terminal, officials said all five existing tenant subleases will be continued. The longest, through 2014, is with Cheeburger Cheeburger, a restaurant in which CATS partner Brian Prince is a co-owner. Prince will leave the business, however, because the city agreement mandates canceling all lease agreements with Prince and former CATS partner Dominick Delucia, officials said.

Jaybird

April 27th, 2008, 08:53 PM

R.I.P. Midtown Plaza. So I guess when they raze the place, the Midtown Tower will go along with it as well? I'm not sure. Either way I am dying to see what the PAETEC tower looks like, although I guess a rendering hasn't been finalized yet. Although I wish they could keep the Midtown Tower rising and add the PAETEC tower in there to add to Rochester's small, but great density.

ManAboutTown

April 29th, 2008, 03:04 AM

Funny you should say that Jaybird, I heard a rumor recently that Paetec, or possibly their developer, may be considering saving the existing tower and re-cladding it similar to what Uniland is doing with the Dulski in Buffalo. I stress this is just a rumor for now, I think we'll know for sure what Paetec has planned by mid-Summer.

In other news....

Ferrara Jerum to build on East End lot
Ferrara Jerum International LLC has purchased East End property at East Avenue and Chestnut Street, with plans to turn it into office, retail or residential space. "We believe that the property has excellent development potential," Ferrara Jerum partner Douglas Jerum said.

This is the small surface lot next door to the empty Neisner Building across from the Appellate Court. Whatever is built on this site will be pretty small given that the property is only three-tenths of an acre. Plus, without this adjacent parking, the Neisner is unattractive for redevelopment. This is either a power play to gain control of Neisner from the Farash estate or an attempt to flip the lot to St John Fisher for their law school. Ferrara Jerum has no urban experience though they are hq'ed downtown.

RochesterAddict

April 29th, 2008, 09:02 PM

Former Kodak facility to house film studios
Rochester Business Journal

Entertainment production studios are under development for the Rochester Technology Park in Gates, the park’s Brooklyn-based owners announced Monday.
First conceived in 2006, Rochester Park Studios will be housed in Building 2 and Building 3 of the former Eastman Kodak Co. Elmgrove facility, and developed by a group of investors led by director and producer Alex Miltsch, a native of Rochester.
As producer, Miltsch in 2005 won an Emmy for his syndicated show “Starting Over.” It was the first time the National Television Academy had presented a reality series with the Best Series Daytime Emmy Award. Miltsch earned a second Emmy for the show in 2006.
For Rochester Park Studios, developers also foresee office space to be used as a film industry incubator for local businesses, academic institutions and other organizations.
The production studios would include permanent sound stages, planned back-lot locations and post-production facilities.
Officials did not disclose investment details.
Earlier this year Tryad Group, the park’s owners, moved Pepsi Bottling Group along with more than 100 workers into the former Elmgrove facility.
Tryad purchased the property for $55 million last summer. Since then, occupancy has increased from 800,000 square feet to 1.3 million square feet. Total, the Technology Park covers 5 million square feet of space.
In the company’s statement Monday, Tryad principal Josh Yashar said the park’s planned film studios represent an opportunity for Upstate New York.
“We wholeheartedly support the vision behind (this project) and see it for what it is—an outstanding opportunity to not only raise the profile of the industry within Rochester, but also to raise Rochester’s profile within the international film, television and music business,” he said.
The concept, originally called Productionville, is expected to make upstate a center for creative production professionals.
The news comes on the heels of Empire State Development’s plan to triple the New York State Film Production Credit to 30 percent of qualified costs, Tryad said. The tax credit is anticipated to bring in more feature films, pilots and episodic television to the state.

http://cmsimg.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A2&Date=20080429&Category=BUSINESS&ArtNo=804290309&Ref=AR&Profile=1001&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0
Director eyes TV work in Gates
Democrat and Chronicle

Rochester Park Studios can host film and production tasks.
A television director and producer plans to start an entertainment industry production facility at the former Eastman Kodak Elmgrove facility in Gates.

Rochester Park Studios will take up parts of buildings 2 and 3 at Rochester Tech Park with sound stages and post-production facilities for use in commercial, television and motion picture filming, said founder and President Alex J. Miltsch.

"We have a phenomenal scene here, with a lot of talented people," he said Monday. "It's time to step up and bring everybody together under one roof."

Miltsch, 30, was a producer and director for the syndicated daytime series Starting Over and reality show Tough Enough and is listed as co-producer for the coming-of-age comedy Sophomore, which is in pre-production. He was part of a team that won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2005 for Starting Over.

Originally from Greece and a graduate of Allendale Columbia School, Miltsch said he has relocated back to the area from Los Angeles.

Much of Rochester Park Studios remains, for now, in the planning stages. Miltsch said he expects to start with three sound stages and production facilities. He said he hopes to see the business grow to encompass more of the Tech Park space and offer a variety of services such as access to lighting and sound equipment.

"They're looking to create a one-stop shop for the industry," said Josh Yashar, managing partner of Tryad Group, the New York City-based real estate investment firm that bought the 500-acre facility in 2007.

Yashar could not say what kind of investment Tryad Group will be making to retrofit Tech Park space for sound stages, but he said that work could begin this summer or fall.

Miltsch declined to discuss specifics of the private financing he said he has to start the business.

While Rochester has not been the location of substantial amounts of television and motion picture filming in the past, Miltsch said the area's relatively low costs would make it an attractive draw for producers. Also helping Rochester Park Studios' business niche is the fact New York state's latest budget, signed into law earlier this month, triples the tax credit offered to film and TV production, he said.

There’s no place like home (to invest millions)
Messenger Post Newspapers

It seems as though there is a bit of a shake-up downtown — new development will soon change the look and feel of the village. And living in Webster could be the key to getting things done.

That’s how developer Larry Frumusa sees it.

Frumusa grew up in Webster and graduated from Webster High School. Now he would like to invest in the village and he believes being a native son has its advantages. “I know the area very well,” he said.

Frumusa is developing a portion of the village, off of North Avenue between Railroad Street and Kittelberger Park. He hopes to turn it into a common place where residents will thrive.

The area, called Parkside Village, will include the Scenic View apartments and town homes as well as several businesses and shops.

Right now, the area includes a mix of several aged buildings. Some have broken windows and dated roofs. About 11 of these buildings, including the Maple Tree Inn, will be torn down to make way for what Frumusa hopes will rejuvenate the village.

Kathy Turiano, also from Webster, will open up her coffee shop, Joe Bean, from the old train depot in Frumusa’s development. The train depot, though aged, will be restored, rather than torn down, Frumusa said.

Members of the town’s Historical Society helped Frumusa and Turiano encouraged him to keep some of the building’s original architectural gems intact, Frumusa said. The cost to remodel the building will be about $350,000.

“We’re looking at hopefully fall or spring of next year to start really kicking in here,” he said. “We’ll probably start in the fall demolishing the buildings.”

Also included in this project will be a partial reconstruction of Kittelberger Park. The plans show Kittelberger eventually aligning with May Street, which is just a short distance north on North Avenue.

“That won’t probably take place or actually start happening until the end of the year (or early 2009),” Frumusa said.

When the entire project is done in about two to three years, it will have a price tag of about $20 million, Frumusa said.

Just to the south, the father-and-son team, Neil and Eric Bauman, have taken on a project which will update the village’s Main Street. The Baumans, too, are from Webster.

The Baumans started dreaming up plans for Webster’s downtown about a year ago. Then, Eric Bauman, founder of the popular eBaum’s World Web site, sold the business to a California-based entertainment company for $17.5 million.

Now, the pair are doing business as eBaum’s Ventures.

Last week, the Baumans and Frumusa addressed the Zoning Board for site plan approvals and review. Both men received what they were asking for. Frumusa was simply asking to put up temporary signs outside of the area.

The Baumans, who addressed the village’s Planning Board that same evening, had plans approved for the demolition of the former Mitch Builders site at 40 E. Main St.

“We should see Mitch Builders starting to come down in the next few weeks,” Bauman said.

Several new buildings will go up in its place. The Baumans plan to bring in new businesses, including a steakhouse.

Though the overall process of this venture may be long, Neil Bauman is staying positive.

“This isn’t easy, but it is very doable,” he said.

While the Baumans’ project includes the demolition of one building, they will also update the facade of the strip of Main Street from 26 Main St. to 44 Main St. — about 320 feet facing Main Street and 400 feet in the back, Bauman said.

The Baumans plan to spend about $4 million to update Main Street, he said.

Webster Mayor Jake Swingly said he is glad to see Webster folks investing their time and money into the village.

“They’re great community-minded people that are investing back in their own community,” he said. “You couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Frumusa hopes his businesses at Parkside complement those on Main Street, so he can work with the Baumans to help Webster flourish.

“No area is going to suffer at the benefit of the other area,” Frumusa said. “Everybody’s going to benefit from this. It’s kind of like a rising tide floats all boats.”

And, Frumusa isn’t worried the nation’s slumping economy will hurt his project.

“We’re not having any problem,” he said. “I wish we would talk more about how well we’re doing in the Rochester area, especially in Webster. It’s nothing like what the news is telling.”

More information on the Main Street project is available online at www.thecentersatwebstervillage.com.

ManAboutTown

April 30th, 2008, 01:40 AM

Some relatively big news regarding Medley Centre. Hope Pyramid's plans don't draw interest away from the Midtown redevelopment!

Regal Cinemas Moving to Medley Centre
(Irondequoit, N.Y.) – Medley Centre is about to score a major tenant. Regal Cinemas plans to move from the Culver-Ridge Plaza into the struggling mall down the street, according to a lease agreement filed in the Monroe County Clerk’s office last week and a source familiar with the project.

Regal agreed to occupy a 16-auditorium structure on the main level plus a mezzanine. The lease also hints at more to come at Medley Centre, saying Regal will be part of a “retail, residential, restaurant, entertainment” complex.

Irondequoit Town Supervisor Mary Ellen Heyman said she didn’t know a lot about the plans, and nothing has been submitted to the town for approval.

“We want the mall to be redeveloped. We encourage the new owners to come forward to really try to look at the big picture of what's best for our community and what's best for them,” she said.

Medley Centre appears poised to introduce the first ThEATery concept to Rochester. Medley’s owner, Scott Congel is an executive at The Pyramid Companies, which pioneered the ThEATery concept. As its name implies, the idea is to mix theaters, restaurants, retail, and other entertainment. One of the malls has an ice rink. Another one plans a bowling alley.

“I think it's a good idea,” said Rochester Institute of Technology business professor Bob Barbato of the ThEATery concept. “The combination of theater and dinner is such a classic combination. People sit in the theater in the dark. When they get out, the first thing they want to do is interact with people and dinner is a way to do that.”

The lease agreement did not say when the theater complex would open. Congel and Regal Cinemas did not return a call for comment. Two mall executives inside Medley Centre said they could not comment on the deal.

Medley Centre is mostly vacant, as a walk through the mall confirmed on Tuesday. Several store owners said they were frustrated with the lack of foot traffic, but were hopeful things could be turned around.

Medley Centre opened in 1990 as Irondequoit Mall. By the end of the decade the mall suffered from intense competition at other malls, as well as a perception of safety problems.

In 2005, former Pyramid executive Adam Bersin purchased the property. He brought in a Target and Steve and Barry’s store. He also made infrastructure improvements and acquired nearby and on-site properties, including the Bon-Ton store.

A year ago, Bersin announced he sold the property to Congel, who is still operating the mall under the company name of Bersin Properties, LLC. The Pyramid Companies is not listed as an owner.

Records indicate Congel obtained a $22 million mortgage and a $135 million line of credit for mall improvements and expansion.
http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=10f24e30-5681-431c-99d7-6c81aa91211f&rss=102

bdaly

April 30th, 2008, 03:37 PM

Some relatively big news regarding Medley Centre. Hope Pyramid's plans don't draw interest away from the Midtown redevelopment!
I don't think it will, especially since retail isn't the focus with Midtown now. I had heard this rumor, but it didn't make a ton of sense to me. But, seeing the TheEATery concept that Pyramid has, I guess it makes more sense. With the properties they have around the mall, it certainly seemed like they must have a plan. It'll be interesting to hear what's going to compliment this development. I worry a bit about the nearby Culver-Ridge Plaza with Regal's departure, but if the mall comes back, it should spillover to the nearby properties.

I also heard a rumor that Steve & Barry's was going to move to a nearby location. I'll believe it when I see it, but the Regal rumor (which I heard along with this one) panned out. Maybe they're going to use that space for the theatre and make it the centerpiece of the mall? (The car dealer moved across the street, so assuming demolition occurs, the mall will be visible from East Ridge.) Of course, you still have an empty Bon-Ton, so unless they have something lined up there, it still doesn't make a ton of sense to send them elsewhere (perhaps to Culver-Ridge?).

RochesterAddict

April 30th, 2008, 05:15 PM

South Wedge Welcomes 'Muddy Waters'
RNEWS 9

The slow economy doesn't seem to be slowing down the start of new businesses in Rochester. The city's South Wedge neighborhood welcomed its newest neighbor, "Muddy Waters".

The new coffee house is tucked behind Cinema Theatre on South Goodman Street.

Owner Jacob Kane left his publishing sales job behind to serve up fair trade organic coffee instead.

He has been a resident of the South Wedge/Highland neighborhood for a decade. The father of three says his dream of being his own boss is worth the risk.

"It's something I've been thinking about doing for a long time, but you can never control what's happening with the economy or anything like that. I decided this is what I wanted to do so I went ahead and gave it a try and had a lot of help," Kane said.

Kane makes an effort to support other Rochester businesses. He serves baked goods and pastries made by Georgie's on South Clinton.

Im getting bored of RenSq stories, but this one has some good info:
http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/news/articles/DOWNTOWN%3A+Ren+Square%3A+some+answers%2C+more+questions/

RochesterAddict

May 1st, 2008, 04:55 PM

Big Picture Rochester begins to click
Democrat and Chronicle

Cyclist after cyclist emerged Wednesday evening on a boarded-up East Main Street storefront opposite Chase Tower.

With each 5-by-11-foot panel, a few riders became a race, and an eyesore began to transform into what will be a colorful, 87-foot-long snapshot of the Rochester Criterium.

This is the latest installment in the slowly developing Big Picture Rochester project.

Big Picture is Kenichiro "Ken" Sato's idea. His goal: To create the world's largest outdoor photo gallery, ultimately drawing images from an international photography competition. The plan this year is to install at least 60 images of city events and festivals on Main Street building fronts and empty windows from Midtown Plaza to the Riverside Convention Center.

"I want to see that I can make change, a difference, you know?" said Sato, 29, who came to Rochester in 2005 to study public administration at Monroe Community College. "Many people give up, 'OK, Rochester can't change.' That kind of mindset. ... I just don't like that, and I just want to prove people can make change. I want to be that person, and I want to see difference."

Sato, a museum art director from Sendai, Japan, proposed the outdoor gallery idea two years ago. He got started with a community competition that resulted in the mosaic of local photos on the side of the SUNY Brockport building on St. Paul Street. The plan was to have hundreds of photographs up by now. Money to pay for it all remains a problem.

The current effort is funded with up to $65,000 from a downtown enhancement fund, to which center city property owners contribute. Big Picture Rochester is paying Xerox Corp. to print the photo enlargements locally, though it would be less expensive to go out of state.

All of the pictures were taken by local photographers. Fifteen already have been installed in Midtown's windows. The materials have a lifespan of two or three years.

Bill Pritchard, vice president of City Council, has urged Sato to continue to think big and create an attraction.

"I really would hate to see the entire project become filled with images of our festivals, in other words, promotional vehicles," Pritchard said. "That wasn't really the original idea for this downtown picturescape. And, in the long run, it's not an approach that will sustain the popularity of the project."

Gerry DiMarco, 62, started working with Sato last year. DiMarco's downtown law office now doubles as Big Picture Rochester's office. The goal does remain to go global, he said, but that will take money. DiMarco said there also is a need for more photographs to switch out with the current ones six months or so from now, so the exhibit remains fresh.

"I think once people start to see how nice these things look, and how great they uplift Main Street and downtown, I think we'll get more people on board," DiMarco said.

Once that happens, DiMarco and Sato say, the outdoor gallery of 200 to 300 images can finally be realized.

"In my mind," Sato said, "I already see those pictures — every day."

RochesterAddict

May 2nd, 2008, 05:07 PM

Henrietta market to get two new buildings
Democrat and Chronicle

By the end of the year, all of the original structures of the Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority will be replaced.

The most recent project involves the construction of a new administrative building and the demolition of another structure to clear the way for an expansion of Palmer Foods Service Inc.

The Henrietta market, which is a mixture of wholesale and specialty stores such as Lori's Natural Foods, York Furniture Warehouse and Lee's Oriental Food Grocery, has been improving its site with new construction for the past 20 years or so.

Bill Mulligan Jr., administrator of the market authority, said it was only a matter of time before the market would max out its 122 acres.

"There are lots of businesses who want to come here, but we simply don't have the space," said Mulligan.

The market authority houses 180 companies that employ about 3,200 people. It's far different from when it first opened in 1956.

The market authority was created by the state Legislature and is governed by a board of directors, who have restricted control of the land. They can buy, but they can't sell.

Mulligan's father, Bill Mulligan Sr., worked for the market for 31 years as its manager before handing over the baton to his son, who at that time was a teacher for the City School District.

According to Mulligan Jr., the market faced financial troubles in its first eight years and was in danger of being closed by the state until Mulligan Sr. came up with the idea of promoting land leases.

"We're really fortunate the place is really successful and that we don't have any debt or substantial (loans) from the bank," said Mulligan Jr.

Leases on the market authority's property average about $40,000 a year per acre.

Mulligan said building the new administrative building will not be a financial strain for the market because the authority spends only about 20 percent of its annual $3.5 million in revenue. The rest is held in reserve.

Ground was broken last week for the new administrative building, which will have three stories and 20,000 square feet. It's scheduled to open in September and is expected to cost the authority $2.6 million.

Because of the construction, the market's main entrance on Jefferson Road has been closed. Thus far, Mulligan said, he hasn't heard too many complaints from businesses.

Traffic is being rerouted to side entrances on Clay Road and on East Henrietta Road, which is used by about 45,000 cars daily.

Palmer Foods will add a two-story, 27,000-square-foot expansion at its existing site, which will mainly be used for retail business. Retailing has increased significantly at the market in the past five years.

"We thought it would be appropriate for us, being that we are 150 years old, to go back to our roots and put an investment in a much nicer, much more customer-friendly store," said Dwight "Kip" Palmer, a fifth-generation family member in the business.

The company moved to the market in 1978 and has grown in size from 15,000 square feet to more than 100,000.

The addition is supposed to resemble Palmer's original 1910 Rochester store and will open in early November.

Both structures are being developed by Altamura Architectural Consulting.

Once construction is complete, the town of Henrietta will put a four-way traffic signal at the entrance to the property on Jefferson Road.

Mulligan said he believes a light will give the market more visibility on a densely populated commercial strip.

County gets mixed marks for air
Rochester Business Journal

Monroe County got good marks for smog but average ratings for soot Thursday from the American Lung Association of New York, which released its 2008 State of the Air report. Rochester made the national list of cleanest cities for ozone, the report said.
Eight counties, including Monroe, made the list of cleanest counties in the nation for ozone, receiving As. In last year’s report, no counties received As for ozone pollution.
Statewide, no counties were awarded an A for short-term particle pollution, or soot. Three counties--Chautauqua, Onondaga and St. Lawrence--received Bs, and most counties with monitors received grades of C, D or F. Monroe County got a C.
Still, seven of the 33 counties with air quality monitors received failing grades.
The report grades cities for three types of air pollution: short-term particle pollution, year-round particle pollution and ozone pollution. The report also ranks U.S. cities and counties with the dirtiest air, and provides county-by-county report cards on the two most pervasive air pollutants: particle pollution (soot) and ozone (smog).
“Depending on where you live in New York, the air you breathe ranges from good to bad to down-right ugly,” said Michael Seilback, senior director of public policy and advocacy, in a statement. “The ugliest unhealthy air contains deadly toxins that place those people already in high-risk categories—children, teens and seniors, and people with asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, cardiovascular disease and diabetes—in grave danger.”
The New York City metropolitan area ranked eighth on the top 10 list of cities across the nation most polluted by ozone.

Infotonics to add staff, projects
Rochester Business Journal

The Infotonics Technology Center Inc. plans to add up to 30 workers over the next 12 months, doubling its technical staff. CEO David Smith said the facility is in the process of leveraging more than $40 million of assets to raise private capital to support the positions, which will add a second and third shift to the site. The jobs mainly will be production operators.

Chase Tower renovation reaches $30 million
Rochester Business Journal

The three-year renovation project at Chase Tower has reached $30 million in cost as its owner, JPMorgan Chase & Co., tries to lure additional commercial and retail tenants to the 27-floor building. The cost when the project was announced in 2005 was $21 million.

ManAboutTown

May 3rd, 2008, 03:40 AM

RochesterAddict

May 5th, 2008, 05:54 PM

A modest new residential development in the Neighborhood of the Arts, from Site Plan Review meeting agenda:

SP-052-07-08, 126 Atlantic Avenue, 130-134 Atlantic Avenue, 5 Fairmont Street
Applicant: Shane Bartholf/CJS Architects
Description: Construction of 9 attached single family homes (approx. 1400 sf each) with attached garages integral to each unit.

And a boring new Hilton Garden Inn down by CityGate:

File Number: E-054-07-08
Case Type: Special Permit
Applicant: Brad Wiens, True North Hotel Group
Address: 444 E. Henrietta Road
Zoning District: IPD#12 Iola Complex
Sector #: 6
Section of Code: 115-69C (1975 Zoning Code)
Purpose: To construct a 139-room hotel, a support service requiring special permit approval in IPD#12; an action requiring Planning Commission approval.

Also, the DEIS for the River Park Commons redevelopment, Erie Harbor, is out for review. Not terribly exciting stuff (100 units in Corn Hill Landing-esque building) but certainly better than what is there today. Read it here: http://www.cityofrochester.gov/dcd/docs/ErieHarborDevelopment_DEIS.pdf

Its about time Rochester got a Hilton Garden Inn, now if we could just snag a real Hilton.

That PDF for River Park Commons/Erie Harbor (? why is it Erie Harbor?) was the slowest loading doc Ive ever used, but I dont think the buildings look too bad. Not amazing, but as you said its better than whats there.

Thanks for letting us know about this non publicized stuff, youre a better reporter than the news.

http://rnews.com/images_story/MidtownExt0208.jpg
The Future of Property Near Midtown
RNEWS 9

As PAETEC gets underway with plans for its new headquarters at the Midtown Plaza site, Rochester leaders are already thinking about what to do with the rest of the land around it.

City Economic Development Director Carlos Carballada says there could be as many as five or six acres available for development. He hopes several private investors would be interested. Carballada says a consultant will make recommendations about what to do at the site. Public sessions are planned after that.

"What we're focused on now downtown is we do the work that's necessary to get PAETEC in there on the date they wish to be there,” said Carballada. "We're trying got maintain the momentum. The State has been terrific in their help with us. PAETEC has been great. We're all working hard to keep our schedules. We're on a fast track here."

The other major downtown project is ESL Federal Credit Union’s new headquarters, which plans to break ground in August.

Five Star Bank construction begins
Rochester Business Journal

Five Star Bank is beginning work on its newest branch, in Henrietta.
Ground officially will be broken Tuesday for construction of a Five Star Bank branch on Calkins Road.
The branch is one of two to be built in Monroe County this year by Five Star holding company Financial Institutions Inc. The second one is slated for Greece. Both are expected to be completed by late summer.
FII president and CEO Peter Humphrey, Five Star Bank regional president Martin Birmingham and FII chairman Erland Kailbourne are among those scheduled to attend the groundbreaking.

I just drove by the new Calkins Road Wegmans, the outside is almost done, I bet a late summer opening is in the works. Hopefully then they will begin work on the new East Ave Wegmans, expanded Webster Wegmans, or LONG announced Latta Long Pond (Greece) Wegmans.

I also think an expanded Hylan Drive Wegmans is in the works, since they left that space next to the store in between Ashley and the current Wegmans. The Perinton Wegmans is long overdue for a reno, as well as East Rochester.

RochesterAddict

May 6th, 2008, 07:08 PM

Stolen cars drop in Rochester
WHEC 10

Nearly 1,900 vehicles were stolen in the Rochester area last year and police say that's an improvement. The report was released Monday by the New York Insurance Association. Rochester had the third highest car theft rate in New York with 184 cars stolen per 100,000 people.

Buffalo has the highest rate -- 260 cars stolen out of every 100,000. And New York City had the second highest rate, 197 per 100,000, but the most cars stolen with more than 37,000.

So why is Rochester no longer number one in this category? News 10NBC found out.

Doug Gan is in the stolen car business. At least sort of. His company repairs cars that were stolen and broken.

"Our business hasn't changed all that much, but the thefts per se have come down," Gan said.

He's right. Rochester is third in the state behind Buffalo/Niagara Falls and New York City. And the rate in the Rochester region has dropped. From 2,847 total thefts three years ago to just under 1,896 last year.

"At least in Irondequoit we've got people pretty much trained to give us a call when there's anything suspicious," Police Chief Richard Boyan said. Boyan says the drop has to do with smarter drivers and tougher enforcement.

"People locking their cars for one. (There are more) arrests with the stolen vehicles," Chief Boyan said. "People are more aware that there are people out there stealing cars."

In 2005, News 10NBC combed over three years of data on stolen cars. It showed three hot spots for stolen cars in the city. One on the west side, along Driving Park and Lake Avenues. A second one along Clinton and Central Avenues close to downtown. And a third one, on the east side, along Portland Avenue.
Doug Gan says he's called to repair stolen cars all over the county.

"Do you find that they're stealing them and stripping them or are they stealing them and going on a joy ride?" this reporter asked. "Here in Rochester they're stealing them for a ride home," Gan said. "It's gets too hot and they don't feel like walking. It's gets too cold. They're just in it for the fun."

In fact, Rochester police say 75% of all the stolen cars are used for joy rides.

So why the decline in local thefts? Threre are three main reasons. The city police department's Zero Tolerance policy, the Rochester Auto Theft Task Force which started three years ago and more anti-theft devices in newer cars.

Older cars are still stolen the most. According to the New York Insurance Association, the 1990 Toyota Camry and the 1992 Honda Accord are the most stolen cars in the state.

Newspapers suffer more circ losses
Business First of Buffalo

The continuing decline of daily newspapers in the United States kept up in the latest reporting period conducted by the Audit Bureau of Circulation.

The subscriber losses have been widely felt in both growing metropolitan areas and in those regions, such as Western New York, impacted by population losses.

ABC, based in Schaumburg, Ill., said The Buffalo News suffered losses of 2.2 percent and 1.8 percent in Sunday and weekday circulation, respectively. The News, through the March 31 reporting period, had 260,445 subscribers on Sunday, down from 266,125 a year earlier. For Monday through Friday, the paper had sales of 178,365 this year, down from 181,538 in March 2007.

The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, owned by Gannett Co., had year-over-year losses of 4.7 percent on Sunday, dropping circulation to 199,533 from 209.427. The weekday decline was 5.6 percent to 145,913 from 154,599.

Other Western New York dailies in Niagara Falls and Lockport also slipped by more than 4 percent each.

ABC said two papers with national audiences -- USA Today and The Wall Street Journal -- posted gains of under 1 percent. USA Today has an average daily circulation of 2.2 million while The Wall Street Journal has just over 2 million daily subscribers.

They’re trying to plug up the ‘brain drain’
Messenger Post Papers

Keeping local talent local is a conscious choice of an Irondequoit-based company.
You might say they’re bucking the “brain drain” trend.

Most of the 17-plus employees at Em2, a full-service marketing and advertising firm that was incorporated as Evoke Media and Marketing are graduates of local colleges and many are local natives.

“We try to do programs with Rochester Institute of Technology and St. John Fisher and bring interns in ... give them a taste of what could happen if they do stay (in Rochester),” said David Savine, president of Em2. “We’re focused on how to keep the talented 25s to 29s.”

To date, the company has been producing local and even one national TV commercial, “and no one knows we’re here,” says Joe Kondas, who is co-owner and managing partner of the firm with Savine, an Irondequoit native.

“Here” is a key corner in Irondequoit – at Durand Boulevard and Culver Road.
The two met when Savine owned a series of cellular phone stores here and on the East Coast, and Kondas was working in sales for a local television station.

“I was Dave’s rep (for TV advertising),” said Kondas, “but when we got to talking, we found we just jived together.”

Savine, who had operated an audio and video production studio he called Steel Media Group or Warehouse Studios, based at 4348 Culver Road since 1996, decided it was time to go full-service about five years ago, and Kondas was happy to join in.

Now they operate both Em2 and a company that specializes in what they call WebVertising, which designs, develops, hosts and manages Web sites, in Irondequoit, in a building Savine once used as a warehouse for his cellular phone stores. They have 17 full-time employees and one intern from St. John Fisher College.

Matt Best, originally from Victor and a graduate of SUNY Geneseo, is director of public relations.

“This firm believes in talent out of Rochester; most of us are graduates of Nazareth, Geneseo, SUNY Brockport or Fisher, and just about all of us are originally from Rochester,” Best said.

What separates Em2 from other firms, Best said, is that “hometown” appeal and the fact that “everything from idea generation to production is done in-house ... We don’t outsource work.” The firm does marketing, public relations; graphic design, including logo creation and branding campaigns; promotional videos, commercials for TV and radio, and prepares advertising for print media.

Major clients include Quality Homes of Rochester, Flower City Glass, Clubhouse Fun Center, Mark’s Pizzeria, Fairport Ford, Swain ski resort and Furniture Fair.

Best points out that it was Em2, for instance, that developed the graphics seen on the scoreboard at Rochester Razorsharks basketball games.

“We can handle anything, really,” he said.

John Cortese, owner of Cortese Autoblock, has been working with Em2 for more than two years.

“I like that they’re younger and not so conservative,” he said. “Plus, they’re very creative and easy to work with ... They always come up with good ideas.”

Best said that as a way for Em2 employees to give back, they recently launched GoGreenRochester.com, a Web site devoted to what he calls “the green revolution,” on their own time.

The firm produced its first national commercial, for a CD release for rap artist Bizzy Bone for After Platinum Productions, just recently, Kondas said. They also have helped RMF Productions produce advertising and commercials for clients like WDKX radio station.

While the firm isn’t located in an office park or in downtown Rochester, “you don’t have to be in the midst of hustle and bustle ... we have our own hustle and bustle here,” said Kondas, who is 34 and a Fairport native and resident. “It’s not the most lavish place in the world, but we ‘Wow’ people with our work.”

The firm is based where it is, he added, because Savine “is a diehard Irondequoiter ... born, bred and loyal.”

Sea Breeze, says Savine, is a great place to be. “There’s so much history here ... It was a progressive place even way back when.”

Savine graduated from local schools, as did his children, and still makes his home in Irondequoit, as does his mother and sister.

Most recently, Kondas has joined the Irondequoit Chamber of Commerce and the firm is looking into developing a Web site for the chamber.

“The industry has a tendency to recycle things ... they see what other cities are doing and bring it here,” Kondas said. “We don’t do that ... We aren’t satisfied with what’s going on. We come up with new ideas.”

What he’s hoping the future will bring is “responsible growth,” Savine said. “And, we’d like to stay as local as we can.”

Irondequoit mall getting 16-screen theater?
Messenger Post Newspapers

A recent rumor about Medley Centre getting a movie theater complex seems closer to reality.

A Memorandum of Lease was filed with the Monroe County Clerk’s office April 22. The document says that a lease between Bersin Properties LLC, owners of the mall, and Regal Cinemas Inc., of Knoxville, Tenn., was entered into April 9.

Developer Adam Bersin, who purchased the mall in May 2005, sold the 900,000-square-foot shopping center to Scott R. Congel, a principal with The Pyramid Cos., a Syracuse-based mall development firm.

The agreement on file in the county clerk’s office does say that the mall has leased “a certain 16-auditorium motion picture theater structure” that will occupy about 66,000 square feet on the main level, plus mezzanine (or second floor).

It goes on to say that the theater will be part of a mixed-use project consisting of retail, residential, restaurant, entertainment and other commercial venues.

The document also says what it calls “the center and premises” will be constructed by the landlord in accordance with the lease.

No timetable for the project is listed in the document.

Irondequoit Supervisor Mary Ellen Heyman and Irondequoit Director of Community Development Mitch Rowe could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

A spokesman for the Regal Entertainment Group had not returned calls as of press deadline.

The Post was told that mall managers were in a meeting until about 2 p.m. Wednesday, and that Bersin no longer works there.

Irondequoit Town Councilwoman Debbie Evans said she has not yet seen any paperwork on any plans for the mall and can’t comment.

“There are so many rumors (about the mall), I don’t speculate on anything until I see it in writing in my hands,” Evans said.

A walk through the mall reveals about twice as many vacant as occupied stores.
Bersin paid $5.4 million for the mall when he purchased it, a low price that at the time was said to reflect a lack of demand. He brought in Steve & Barry's University Sportswear and a free-standing Target store adjacent to the mall. He also had a children’s play area built and hired a local security company, Swoop 1.

Congel purchased not only the mall but also land surrounding the mall that Bersin purchased for more than $4.7 million in March 2006. That reportedly includes the former Irondequoit Suzuki property on East Ridge Road, in front of much of the mall.

The mall originally opened in 1990 with more than 100 stores but now has fewer than 40.

BayTowne developers unveil center’s plans
Messenger Post Papers

A Main Street concept — that’s the feeling the developers of BayTowne Plaza are looking to add to the shopping plaza.

Representatives of the DiMarco Group unveiled plans Thursday to demolish part of the former Tops location, which closed last year, to make way for future development.

The Tops site is about 79,000 square feet. Of that, about 20,000 square feet may be torn down and converted into a streetscape look complete with a median, storefront parking and trees.

In the future, DiMarco may consider developing BayTowne to the east, along the area where Tops is now. The front lobby of Tops may also be torn down to make way for sidewalks and storefront parking.

A public hearing on the plans for the demolition of that portion of Tops is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, May 8 at the Planning Board meeting in the Penfield Town Hall, 3100 Atlantic Ave.

DiMarco also plans to build two free-standing restaurants, measuring 6,500 square feet and about 1,900 square feet, in the middle of the parking lot. Local and national restaurant chains have expressed interest in leasing these two locations, but leases have not been signed yet, so their names could not be revealed, said Peter Dohr, vice president of property management for the Baldwin Real Estate Corp., which oversees BayTowne.

And, all storefronts in the plaza will have facade updates. A creamy yellow color will replace the plaza’s current blue and gray color scheme. A sidewalk will connect the west side of the plaza to the east side, making it easier for pedestrians to navigate BayTowne, Dohr said.

Recently, rumors have been flying about Wal-Mart expanding its store there. But, at this time, an expansion of the discount store is not planned, Dohr said.

Wal-Mart’s lease is not up yet, Dohr said. However, at this time, discussions with Wal-Mart are underway to at least keep the retail giant in the plaza.

“We’re hopeful we may be able to craft something with them,” Dohr said, but would not go into detail.

Penfield’s supervisor, George Wiedemer, was in attendance for the unveiling of the new plans.

“Nobody likes to see a dark area,” he said in reference to Tops. “I’m very hopeful things will move along here.”

And though the new development will be just a stone’s throw away from his current property, real estate broker Tom de Manincor does not think the project will hurt the businesses there.

He currently owns the RealtyUSA building at the corner of Empire Boulevard and Terrel Drive. He also owns the current building that houses Lipinski Bros. hardware. That property is up for lease or sale, since Lipinski’s will be closing in the next several weeks.

“Mall or plaza stores (are) kind of a different type of tenant from businesses on the main drag,” de Manincor said.

All week WHAM 13 is doing stories on Midtowns history: http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=18fd5e66-9ebd-48c0-abbb-b76cd0a8abb6

RochesterAddict

May 7th, 2008, 06:51 PM

THE SCENE: New clubs
City Magazine

Club sandwich
New names keep cropping up in the bar scene lately. Here are a few more, in case you're in need of a change of scenery:

Club Network opened a couple months ago at 420 Central Avenue. It's surrounded by tall fences like a playground, and would be nondescript but for the single, glowing "open" sign in the front window. Inside, you'll find top-shelf liquor, a cushioned lounge area, a digital jukebox, and a dance floor. The club hosts live music (think jazz, funk, soul, and DJs) on weekends, and opens at noon daily. It'll soon offer a lunch menu.

When we stopped in for happy hour recently, there was talk of an upcoming pig roast (it happens May 25), and a "dress to impress" contest (cash prizes to male and female winners). There's a regular dress code here, too: no white T's and no sneakers, says the sign. Call 232-1390 for more info.

There's no sign up yet, but you'll recognize Platinum Lounge (699 South Clinton, at the corner of South Clinton and Gregory) by the Guinness and Heineken signs shining like beacons in the window. Tom Taliento runs the place (formerly Kim's Asia) with the help of his sister Lindsay (the bar manager) and his right-hand man, Savoy Burke.

When we stopped in last Friday, the reports I'd heard from friends were quickly proved false: this is no dive. The handiwork and care poured into the lounge is evident from the marble-topped bar and its stone base, to the low lounge couches and floor-to-ceiling front windows. Go through the arched doorway to get to the dance floor; it's separate from the bar, and complete with DJ booth and sound system.

You can stop by Wednesday and Thursday for specials on well drinks and domestic beer, and on Friday for Uncle Theo's Public House. Platinum usually opens at 9 p.m., but on Fridays and during the summer it'll be open at 4 p.m. for happy hour, Taliento says.

Over in the St. Paul Quarter, Studio 155 (155 St. Paul Street) celebrated its grand opening on Friday, May 2. The club occupies the space where the Liquor Room used to be, and has live DJs Thursday through Saturday. Check out myspace.com/155stpaul for the run down: it's trance and techno on Thursdays (when college kids get in free with ID), reggae, reggaeton, R&B, hip hop, and Top 40 on Fridays, and salsa, Bachata, and Merengue on Saturdays.

Beer CEO wants your business
WROC 8

You may have noticed an ad in Tuesday's newspaper. A local CEO is urging you to buy local in these tough economic times as prices for groceries and gas continue to climb.

One Rochester based business says it's more important than ever to buy local.

The man who runs High Falls Brewery is making the point to buy his beer, since it's made right here in Rochester by local workers.

Nine hundred bottles a minute. That's how fast High falls Brewery pumps out its beer.

On Tuesday, JW Dundee's Honey Brown was the on the conveyor belt.

High Falls Brewery makes Genesee or Genny beers right here in Rochester.

"You've got a product that's as good if not better why not give that a shot why not keep things local and the economy going," said CEO Norm Snyder.

While it's a hometown brew tourists visiting the city may not know it. "If you go to other parts of the country you walk into a restaurant or store they proudly display their cheese or beer or other products and they're so forthright with it and it's just so important. It seems we lack that here," said Snyder.

It's frustrating to staff at High Falls that people have adopted Labatt Blue as a local beer, he says, when we have a local beer right in our city.

Years ago, there were hundreds of regional breweries, today's there only six left.

"When regional breweries go away they never come back. I view this brewery as part of the social fabric of this community as well. It's been here for 130 years, my job's to make sure it's here for another 130 years," said Snyder.

Snyder says the beer business is recession proof because people always want to have fun. He says sales are up but there's still a long road ahead.

"All this is just a reminder that every day is a battle and come along on the ride and don't just take us for granted.” "There always going to be there and yes, it's okay beer." "It's great beer."

In the first quarter of 2008, High Falls volume was up nearly 20-percent. Locally, they say Genny Cream Ale sales are up.

Rochester named 2nd 'hottest' real estate market
Democrat and Chronicle

Rochester-area home prices will rise at the second-fastest rate among the nation’s 100 largest markets during the next 12 months, Money magazine said today in a forecast posted on CNNMoney.com.

That doesn’t mean the growth will be eye-popping. Rochester-area prices are expected to appreciate by 2.7 percent between now and May 2009.

Area prices were flat in the most recent 12-month reporting period through March, according to the Greater Rochester Association of Realtors.

McAllen, Texas, was expected to have the largest price growth over the next 12 months, 4 percent.

Seventy-five of the 100 largest markets were seen having declining prices, with Miami expected to have the largest drop, almost 25 percent.

Penfield getting another Starbucks
Democrat and Chronicle

A Starbucks will open at 5 a.m. Thursday in Penfield at Routes 441 and 250.

The coffee shop is located in the former Blockbuster Video store at 2164 Penfield Road, according to store manager Mark Patrick.

Patrick said the coffee shop features an outdoor patio and is a mile from the Starbucks at 1806 Penfield Road.

I just posted that because I think its ridiculous. Just like Brighton and Pittsford that have Starbucks 1 mile or less from each other, now Penfield needs it too? How many do we really need? Even Greece has 2 less than one mile from each other. One per suburb is plenty.

HighFalls

May 8th, 2008, 04:27 AM

I hope Mr. Snyder's appeal to the local market gets some traction. Besides, Honey Brown is simply a delicious beer. No, my moniker "HighFalls" has nothing to do with the brewery or the article. It's a coincidence, I assure you.

Local bars do a pretty decent job carrying local brew, a couple don't.

I believe High Falls Brewery bottles Sam Adams products as well.

First-time poster here.

RochesterAddict

May 8th, 2008, 09:39 PM

http://rnews.com/images_story/citysigns.jpg
City to Replace Old, Faded Signs
RNEWS 9

Decades-old signs that direct visitors to a handful of Rochester landmarks will soon be replaced.

The city will replace the fading, color-coded signs with about 200 new ones.

The signs will direct people to more than two dozen spots in the city.

“With the resurgence of downtown and all that's going on we wanted to certainly set a new image for downtown,” said Jeff Mroczek, a landscape architect with the city. “I think we captured that.”

The project will cost about $800,000.

The new signs will start going up next month and should all be in place by the end of summer.

A new look for Penfield plaza?
Democrat and Chronicle

A major facelift — via bulldozers, not Botox — may soon be under way in the town.

The owners of BayTowne Plaza plan to give the shopping center a "Main Street" makeover, complete with updated facades, widened sidewalks and up to a dozen new shops and restaurants.

Sketches submitted to the Planning Board by The DiMarco Group center on demolishing one-quarter of an 80,000-square-foot building formerly occupied by Tops Markets to make way for a tree-lined corridor with a "Main-Street," "throwback" feel.

"I don't think there's another plaza in western New York that will have something similar," Town Supervisor George Wiedemer said.

Penfield has a half dozen business districts scattered throughout the town but no major retail destination like the shopping plazas that line Ridge Road in Webster. Leaders hope the new BayTowne changes that.

"We're excited about it," Wiedemer said. "We think it will put Penfield on the retailing map."

Plus, Wiedemer said, the larger tax base won't hurt.

BayTowne Plaza, which was built in 1990, is home to three dozen businesses. Redevelopment of the former Tops building would add five to 12 more businesses and not force any tenants to move, said John DiMarco, president of The DiMarco Group.

The plans also include the construction of two free-standing restaurants — 6,500 square feet and 1,900 square feet — that will be built in the middle of the current parking lot.

DiMarco would not name potential tenants but said local and national chains have shown interest in leasing the new spaces.

"The short-term and overall goal is to make it a more-walkable and experienced-based shopping plaza," DiMarco said.

Crews may begin work on the project later this year, pending approval from the town, DiMarco said, with the possibility of new tenants moving in by the beginning of 2009.

The BayTowne Plaza redevelopment plans are available at www.penfield.org.

Layouts:
http://www.penfield.org/media/dpt_planning_BayTowne_Redev_Plan_04.15.08.pdf
http://www.penfield.org/media/dpt_planning_Bay_Towne_Plaza_Facade_Improvements_04.30.08.pdf

Steve & Barry's to open in Gates
Democrat and Chronicle

Steve & Barry's, the apparel retailer, said it will open a store at 2255 Buffalo Road in Gates this summer. Construction has begun on the 105,000-square-foot store, said company spokesman Andrew Gildin.

This will be the third Steve & Barry's in the Rochester area, joining stores at Medley Centre in Irondequoit and on Jefferson Road in Henrietta.

RochesterAddict

May 9th, 2008, 07:23 PM

RBJ reports RIT Achitecture School in works
WHEC 10

The Rochester Institute of Technology is looking at starting the area's first architecture school. The idea is still very much in the works, but so far it has a lot of support.

RIT Provost Stanley McKenzie told the Rochester Business Journal "There's a fair amount of enthusiasm supporting this. I think it makes an awful lot of sense."

The Provost said he has not seen a formal proposal on adding an architecture school yet, but a task force has been discussing the possibility for several months.

Officials from RIT told the Rochester Business Journal they could be recruiting students for the program as early as the 2009-2010 school year.

The whole idea came about when the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects approached RIT.

The chapter president, Richard Pospula said, "From our perspective, having a school of architecture would be a fundamental step forward in terms of how we can better respond to the architectural needs of the community."

The idea is, as the City of Rochester revitalizes and redevelops Downtown RIT could be the school to provide the talent to do this.

Provost McKenzie said, "I would think we'd be working closely with architecture firms, finding ways to get students very much engaged in things that are going on downtown." If plans for the school were to move forward the issues of funding and curriculum would need to be addressed.

The state would also have to approve the proposal. The school is looking at a five-year program and the National Architectural Accrediting Board would accredit the school.

Italian deli, pastry shop opens in Greece
Democrat and Chronicle

John Catalano just may become a hero for the Rochesterian Italian palate. Today he opens his Sicilian-inspired pastry shop and deli, Oriens Cafe and Oriens Tavola Calda, in Greece's Country Village Plaza.

For the past year, Catalano has been building what he refers to as the true testament to Sicilian culture.

"Life is a mosaic; lucky is he who puts all the pieces of the puzzle together," said the 67-year-old Irondequoit entrepreneur.

Catalano's pastry shop and deli, at 1100 Long Pond Road, is a replica of Oriens Pasticceria in the Sicilian town of Lercara Friddi, between Palermo and Argento. Its owner, master pastry chef Salvatore Garofalo, agreed to come to the United States and open what could become a franchise and legacy for the 40-year-old Sicilian.

Garofalo is primarily known for his Torta Sette Veli, a seven-layer chocolate mousse and hazelnut sponge cake that was named Europe's Dessert of the Year in 1998. It will be featured at the Greece pastry shop along with 50 other Garofalo signature dishes. He will sell some pastries in reduced sizes, so, as he says, customers can try many items.

"I want to change the culture of how Americans go to coffee shops and indulge themselves with a different atmosphere of European taste," said Catalano.

Catalano and Garofalo partnered with gelato and chocolate experts to wow the American taste buds. Most of Oriens ingredients will be imported from Italy by way of Gelati Italia and Nat Foods. Sicilian pastries make use of pistachios, almonds and hazelnuts.

While there are a number of pastry shops in the area, Stella Plutino-Calabrese, director of Casa Italiana, the Italian cultural center at Nazareth College, doesn't know of any that imports its ingredients from Italy.

"We welcome them to the community because they're bringing something that's truly unique that speaks to our heritage and tradition," said Plutino-Calabrese, who is to take a group of Rochesterians to visit Garofalo's cafe in Sicily next week.

Garofalo will introduce a number of new sweets to Rochester, such as his almond-filled pantosol; brioche, a sweet bread used for gelato sandwiches; and cartocci, an almond paste and cream dessert.

Oriens worker Lauren Walsh, 22, of Pittsford was sent to study under Garofalo in Sicily.

"I don't think I would have fully understood how unique these pastries are had I not gone to Sicily and seen how it's appreciated by the people there," said Walsh.

For Amanda Miller, working at the shop is an opportunity to expand her knowledge and presentation skills. The 23-year-old Greece resident studied at the Culinary Institute of America but finds this much more of a challenge and a way to set her apart in the industry.

Eight people will work at the pastry shop, which will be managed by Garofalo, who will travel back and forth from Sicily. Oriens cafe will also feature more than 20 types of gelato and more than 30 flavors of coffee, espresso and cappuccino. The deli will have four employees.

Catalano said he invested a little more than $500,000 in equipment. He purchased both the 1,800-square-foot pastry shop and the 1,600-square-foot building next to it for the deli.

Part of providing that real European rosticceria experience was making its menu authentic by including calzones, pizzas and arancine, a favorite Italian dish made of rice.

Catalano wants to start a franchise and possibly a culinary arts school.

"I've overcome a lot to bring my dream to fruition, and it's worth it," he said.

HighFalls

May 9th, 2008, 08:36 PM

Anyone think there's a chance the Arch school could be downtown, like the proposed SJFC Law School? I think it's doubtful given the investment going into the Henrietta campus. Also, RIT has a lot of engineering resources on-site that Arch students could take advantage of.

Lately, RIT has been expanding academically. The Sustainability Institute is new and investments have been made into the Business and Computer Science schools. Those are wonderful, but it's a bummer the developments are all happening in Henrietta.

blangjr21

May 10th, 2008, 06:06 AM

highfalls welcome to the forum...! hopefully we hear from you a lot.

ManAboutTown

May 10th, 2008, 04:54 PM

Welcome to the fray High Falls. Always good to have a new voice. As for your question re: RIT coming downtown, sadly, I highly doubt it. I've long called for a downtown RIT School of Art & Design that would give the talented art, craft, and film students a home of their own away from the techies and engineers that dominate the Henrietta campus but alas, my pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

The irony of such an unsustainable campus being home to an "institute of sustainability" should not be lost on anyone. That being said, Destler is still new to town. Perhaps he'll see the value in having an urban campus for RIT that allows their more creative students to reside in a more imaginative setting. Or perhaps he'll support a light rail connection from RIT through UR to downtown. Maybe then they'd have a truly sustainable image.

Dimension

May 11th, 2008, 02:49 AM

I know this doesn't have anything to do with development, but could someone pm me any info you know about 2260 Lake Avenue?

A member of my family lived there in 1942. But when I searched the address, the following is said to be on the location: School Sisters of Notre Dame, doctors offices, nursing homes, and a school.

Any info will help.

blangjr21

May 11th, 2008, 04:35 PM

2260 Lake Ave is a mix of senior citizen housing and doctors offices. It used to be the St. Bernard's Seminary in the 1920's. It's an incredibly beautiful building.

savetheday

May 12th, 2008, 03:15 PM

RochesterAddict

May 12th, 2008, 05:47 PM

City Plans to Tear Down Apartment Complex
RNEWS 9

The City of Rochester calls it land prime for development. With two high end projects already underway on the west side of the Genesee River, the city appears to be moving ahead with plans for a third development.

The Valley Court Apartments on Genesee Street may be old and a little run down. But for the woman who lives in apartment 19, it's home.

"This is a perfect place for me to live," said Cathy Eick. "It's very close to the park. You can't hear the street noises. The people were really friendly."

Last fall, the tenants who lived in the apartments were told they had to find a new place to live. Eick has to leave by the end of the month.

"I was worried that I couldn't find a place that was going to take the cats and that I could afford," said Eick.

The city plans to demolish the front two buildings. The three older buildings will be gutted and marketed with 4.5 acres of land to a potential developer.

"They wanted to make some apartments or condos that would draw a wealthier crowd maybe," Eick added.

Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy is not ready to make any official announcement. He hopes any future development could piggy back off the Brooks Landing project and the future plans of the University of Rochester.

"Both the east and west sides of the river are important to the U of R. I think you're seeing that on both sides of the river really and it's exciting."

Those who live next door are worried new development will mean more traffic.

"I hate to see the neighborhood change, but obviously it's going to. And you just have to go with it," said Sarah Dragt.

Eick has found a new place to live in Gates. Her rent is going up 150 dollars a month. She wishes a plan for the future of the Valley Court site would have included her.

"I know that when they finish this it will be way more than I could ever afford. So yes, I was very disappointed in that."

The Rochester City Council could vote next week to spend $257,000 to complete the demolition. If the measure is approved, the work could be completed by this summer.

Corn Hill Creamery reopening; wholesale biz moving to Perinton
Democrat and Chronicle

Mark Holbrook is not going ahead with plans to close the Corn Hill Creamery and move his business to Fairport this year.

Instead, Holbrook will still be dishing up ice cream at the shop at Corn Hill Landing, 290 Exchange Blvd., and will move his wholesale business, which is growing rapidly, to the old Spaghetti Warehouse adjacent to the Ravioli Shop’s production facility in Perinton.

Corn Hill Creamery’s products can also be found at the Ravioli Shop’s Perinton location, Pittsford Dairy and Skip's Meat Market in Fairport.

Oak Hill Country Club, Geva Theatre and Schutt’s Apple Farm and Cider Mill also use Corn Hill Creamery for their ice cream, Holbrook says.

Rochester Third for Family Relocation
RNEWS 9

Relocation services industry trade group Worldwide ERC named Rochester the third best mid-sized U.S. Metro market to relocate a family.

This year's study put an emphasis on the housing market and economy. It also looked at job growth, educational opportunities, and the environment.

Syracuse came in number two, Buffalo number five. Omaha, Nebraska topped the mid-sized list.

The top city in the large metro area was Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Record-Breaking Weekend for Lilac Fest
RNEWS 9

It was a record-breaking opening weekend for the Lilac Festival.

Organizers say 125,000 people attended the festival Saturday, that's a record for an opening Saturday.

225,000 people attended the festival all weekend. That already puts the festival halfway to last year's total of 400,000.

Mother Nature certainly did her part. So far the weather has cooperated. In years past, rain forced the festival to close on some days.

Organizers say free admission and free entertainment makes the festival popular with budget-minded tourists, but the park's 1,200 lilac bushes are still the biggest attraction. The Lilac Festival runs through Sunday May 18.

Some U.S. retailers and tobacco part ways
Plain Vanilla Shell

U.S. retailers are dropping out of the cigarette business and finding a supportive reaction from customers, retailers say.

A spokesman for Wegmans, a chain of 70 supermarkets, said there was far more support than complaints when the retailer pulled tobacco products from their shelves, USA Today reported Friday.

Some city and state governments are considering a ban of tobacco sales at pharmacies. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said he is confident a ban of pharmacy sales of tobacco products will win Board of Supervisors approval early this summer and become law on Oct. 1.

New Hampshire, Illinois and Tennessee are considering similar bans for pharmacies with walk-in clinics, while New York is considering a tobacco-sales ban for all pharmacies, the report said.

"Pharmacies are places we go to get healthy," New York Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, D-Buffalo, said. "It just seems inappropriate that on the other hand, they sell something that kills."

Philip Morris USA spokesman Bill Phelps disagreed. "We think retailers should be able to decide," Phelps told the USA Today.

Look what Wegmans started! Good stuff.

ManAboutTown

May 13th, 2008, 02:48 AM

Corn Hill Creamery reopening; wholesale biz moving to Perinton
Democrat and Chronicle

Mark Holbrook is not going ahead with plans to close the Corn Hill Creamery and move his business to Fairport this year.

Instead, Holbrook will still be dishing up ice cream at the shop at Corn Hill Landing, 290 Exchange Blvd., and will move his wholesale business, which is growing rapidly, to the old Spaghetti Warehouse adjacent to the Ravioli Shop’s production facility in Perinton.

Corn Hill Creamery’s products can also be found at the Ravioli Shop’s Perinton location, Pittsford Dairy and Skip's Meat Market in Fairport.

Oak Hill Country Club, Geva Theatre and Schutt’s Apple Farm and Cider Mill also use Corn Hill Creamery for their ice cream, Holbrook says.

Just thought I'd point out that the D&C really screwed up here. If they are moving their production to the former Spaghetti Warehouse, then they're obviously not moving it to Perinton. The facility is on Central Avenue, just outside of downtown. Ravioli Shop moved their production there last year. Sometimes I wonder if their "journalists" ever got a degree in journalism.

RochesterAddict

May 13th, 2008, 07:21 PM

Two businesses lose their lease on Park Avenue
WHEC 10

A popular pub and pizzeria are being forced out of Park Avenue after more than 20 years in business. We found out why.

Pontillo's Pizzeria the Park Bench Back Alley Bar will be out by the end of the month. That's because the owner of the property has decided not to renew the leases.

"I come here all the time," said Rick Parrotta as he sat at an outside table along Park Avenue. "I do my puzzle then I go off to work. It's just nice. It's like being in New York City."

Charlie's Frog Pond, Jine's, Nathan's - some businesses have been on Park for decades. Pontillo's Pizzeria is one of them, but not any more.

"Park Ave has been great to us," said owner Jerry Fricano. "We had no choice. Our lease was up and she (landlord) didn't want to renew."

Both Pontillo's and the Park Bench have been forced out by a landlord who wants to bring in something new.

"She decided she wanted to get someone in there that's going to put a restaurant in," said Fricano. "Pretty big high class restaurant, I guess."

"Change is always good," said owner of Charlie's Frog Pond Betsy Wilson. "That's how I feel." Wilson has seen businesses come and go on Park Ave throughout the years.

"It's hard to see the people leave," said Wilson. "It really is, you know? You're so used to them being there." Many businesses on the Avenue lease their buildings, leaving their fate to a landlord. "You don't know. You have your lease and that's it," said Wilson. "You have to hope that they'll renew it, but I feel that sometimes landlords do get a little greedy."

Pontillo's is moving to the East End on Alexander Street. "Change is good," Fricano said. "Where we're going - it's really exciting." Park Bench hopes to move to Monroe Avenue next to the Pittsford Seafood Market, but it will take some time.

The owner Bill Pyrczak has to wait for the State Liquor Authority to finalize the move. Even with the change Wilson says, "It will always be the same."

"It's the only street in Rochester that is like this," added Parrotta. "There's not other Park Avenue."

We spoke with the owner of the property Anne Sutton. She says a bar and restaurant will move into the location. We confirmed the owners of the Bug Jar will be running the new establishment.

Major renovations are planned for the property. No word yet on an opening date.

Skyway Severed in Midtown Project
WHAM 13

Xerox workers Michelle Defendis and Kristina Batt walk the Skyway every day.

"You want to be able to get to your car and stay dry and not take an umbrella. The Skyway is definitely helpful for that," said Batt.

"We're going to be sad. We use it walk during the afternoons," said Defendis.

The Skyway is a series of indoor overpasses and tunnels on the east side of downtown.

When Midtown Plaza is torn down next year, the Skyway system will be severed in half. Xerox, Bausch and Lomb, Frontier, and the library will be disconnected from Main St., Chase Tower, Sibley Centre, the Riverside Convention Center, the Hyatt, and the Clarion.

"With the Midtown demolition, the Skyway system is going to lose its heart," said Heidi Zimmer-Meyer of the Rochester Downtown Development Corporation.

PAETEC will build its headquarters on the Midtown site, and the city hopes other companies will follow. It remains to be seen if any of them will want to connect to the Skyway. A PAETEC spokesman said it was too early to tell.

"How we rethink the Skyway system is going to be interesting. We're going to have to rethink it," said Zimmer-Meyer. "There are buildings that are very keen to have it restored in some way."

Taxpayers have footed the bill for a big portion of the Skyway. Most recently, City Council approved $4 million in 1993 to pay for a tunnel connecting Bausch and Lomb to Xerox and Midtown. It's not clear if the Midtown garage will be preserved. Bausch and Lomb pays to maintain that portion of the Skyway.

"That's now a tunnel to nowhere and that cost millions of dollars to erect that," said former Mayor William Johnson, who was not in office when that extension was approved. "That’s money that was flushed down the drain if we have to end up shutting down the Skyway system."

Johnson said public money may have to pay for Skyway reconstruction. He’s not sure it’s worth it, as the Skyway has not lead to major downtown redevelopment.

The Urban Land Institute recommended tearing down portions of the Skyway in a 2005 report, saying pedestrians should be encouraged to patronage shops on the street.

Business leaders love the Skyway.

"The fact you can link the major downtown venues to a skyway system is definitely an advantage particularly during Rochester winters," said Rochester Business Alliance CEO Sandy Parker. "If there is any way to make sure it is preserved, it will be helpful in the long run."

"I think the Skyway system on balance has been a huge asset for attracting tenants to downtown towers," said Zimmer-Meyer.

Until there’s a plan for the Midtown site, it’s impossible to say if the system will be reconnected. The city is currently studying the future of the system.

"Hopefully, whatever they do bring in has the same sort of convenience for us," said Batt.

Kistler moving to bigger site in Gates after 40 years
Democrat and Chronicle

How's this for a 40th birthday present? A 20,490-square-foot building.

That's how Kistler will celebrate its anniversary. At the end of June, the locally grown company will move into a new building at Elmgrove Crossings in Gates. Gallina Development Corp. is developing the $1.1 million building and will lease it to Kistler for at least 10 years.

Kistler represents a number of makers of industrial heating and air conditioning equipment.

Branches of the company provide service for that equipment and for emergency generator systems.

The company has been in a two-story building at 300 Buell Road, just north of the Greater Rochester International Airport, for years and had been searching for a new location for some time.

Gallina project manager Kurt Sertl said being able to relocate within Gates and the economics of the project appealed to Kistler.

"When you give somebody the ability to lay out a building exactly how they want to lay it out so it works for their organization, it becomes very efficient and the economics tend to follow," Sertl said. The building at 300 Mile Crossing Blvd. will be 20,490 square feet.

Sertl said the building will provide larger and more up-to-date office and warehouse space for the company and the site will allow for future expansion.

Monroe County's industrial development agency provided a partial tax exemption to Kistler for the move, as it will help add two jobs to the company's work force of 20.

Formed in Rochester in 1968, Kistler has grown to include branches across upstate New York, in Albany, Syracuse, Buffalo and Binghamton.

The new Kistler building is one of about 15 built in the last few years in Gallina's Elmgrove Crossings.

"That's been a very successful location for us," Sertl said. The site has six lots still available, he said.

Capture Rochester has been published: A book with pictures from around the Greater Rochester area. Check it out: http://capturerochester.com/chapters

New life in an old vacant building in Webster
Messenger Post Newspapers

An old building in town has begun servicing the people of Webster again.

The former West Webster Fire Hall at the southeast corner of Gravel and Ridge roads opened Monday as an eye doctor’s office.

The doctors with Visionary Eye Associates are no strangers to Webster, though. They once operated from the building across the street after George Bisnett retired in 2001, said Jane Beeman, the practice director.

They bought their new building last August. Then, they closed the old office across the street and consolidated it with their operation in Brighton until the new office was ready.

Their new office dates back to the 1870s when it opened as one of Webster’s first grocery stores, Beeman said. It also once served as the post office for West Webster.
According to Webster Historian Lynn Barton, the grocery and post office closed in 1925.

“The West Webster Fire Department took it over in 1933,” Beeman said.

The interior of the 5,500-square-foot building has been completely remodeled. Though now modern, the employees of Visionary wanted to maintain what history they could.
Upstairs, the floors are solid hardwood. The kitchen is outfitted with the original tin ceiling and the cupboards are circa the early 1900s.

Beeman said she hopes to display old photos of the old grocery and fire hall. She is also going to ask the fire department for a firefighter’s hat so she can display that as well.

“I wanted to pay some homage to the fire department,” Beeman said.

The firefighters moved to a location across the street in 1966, Beeman said. Since then, the old building has sat empty, though the firefighters continued to take care of it. “They’ve got a lot of vested interest in this,” Beeman said.

I was in Webster last night. I lived there for 2 years and didnt like it much. My friends all live in the city and always complained Webster was too far away. The town is nice, but the people for the most part are very hickish or very new money, they werent my style. The whole town feels very midwestern, like Columbus, Chicago, or Indianapolis' suburbs. Im glad I rented an apartment there to try it out and didnt buy a home there. Webster does have the best apts in the suburbs in our entire area. (The city has better apts though.)

bdaly

May 14th, 2008, 03:56 PM

It looks like real movement on the Medley Centre is around the corner. Steve and Barry's is officially closing (as has been rumored, hopefully the rumored relocation down the street will also occur), and a mall employee said the few remaining stores are being forced out by the end of the month outside of Sears and Macy's (they own their space). I'd assume construction will soon follow. Of course, it would be nice if they'd actually make an announcement so everyone's not in the dark...

ManAboutTown

May 15th, 2008, 01:01 AM

It appears that Paetec has all but ruled out tearing down the Midtown Tower at this point. As has been mentioned on this forum, this paves the way for a re-skinning of the Tower and its conversion for a mix of uses. Perhaps someone has a way to politely nudge Uniland to take this one on...

Speaking of re-skinning, another story about the "Richford Building" conversion:

New Plans for Vacant Office Building

http://www.rnews.com/images_story/ChestnutApart51308.jpg

After sitting vacant for 16 years, the old, vacant office building at 65-67 Chestnut Street has a new future. In the past, some saw risk; Matthew Wood sees potential.

"The potential for growth here is absolutely amazing," says developer Matthew Wood.

Wood purchased the building for about $400,000 at auction. The timing could not have been more perfect. He made the deal about the same time PAETEC announced it would move to the Midtown Plaza site, adjacent to the Chestnut Street building.

"I think we got in before we started seeing big people bidding against us," says Wood.

Wood is working with his uncle, realtor Ted Wood to build high-end condos in the building. They envision retail and commercial space on the ground floor, possibly a restaurant and coffee shop.

"This is going to be the flagship for the Midtown Plaza footprint," says Ted Wood.

The building needs a lot of work. Wood is expected to spend up to $12 million renovating the building. The entire interior will be gutted. He says the exterior will look different when the project is done. Work could start by next year.

For downtown, city leaders say this deal will have a huge impact. It's making other developers take a look at investing downtown.

"It was the beginning of the shift of perceived value of property since the Midtown announcement," says Heidi Zimmer-Meyer, Rochester Downtown Development Corporation.

Zimmer-Meyer says housing is still in high demand downtown. Her office is now working with Wood to help the project along.

At 27 years old, Wood is considered a part of what is being called a new generation of developers. Young people with an interest downtown. Role-models perhaps for other young people who haven't opened their eyes yet to what Wood sees.

"I'm pretty excited about it, I think it is going to work out really, really well," says Wood.

http://www.rnews.com/Story_2004.cfm?ID=61178&rnews_story_type=18&category=10

RochesterAddict

May 15th, 2008, 04:10 PM

http://cmsimg.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A2&Date=20080514&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=80514010&Ref=AR&Profile=1003&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0
Totem pole to be moved from Midtown to Seneca Park Zoo
Democrat and Chronicle

The Pacific Northwest totem pole won’t be history when Midtown Plaza closes this summer.

Instead, the 26-foot-tall totem pole will be moved to the Seneca Park Zoo, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks announced last night. Late yesterday, the Monroe County Legislature voted to accept the donation from Midtown Rochester Properties LLC.

The pole is expected to be removed from Midtown Plaza by the end the month, and placed at the zoo sometime this summer, said Monroe County Parks Director Larry Staub.

Midtown Plaza is slated to close Aug. 1. The 46-year-old downtown complex is expected to be demolished. In its place, PAETEC Holding Corp. plans to build its new headquarters.

“It will be a bit of a challenge to move it, considering it weighs eight tons, but it’ll be a fantastic addition to the zoo,” Staub said.

The hand carved pole was installed in the plaza in April 1977. It was originally commissioned in the late 1970s to mark the 15th anniversary of Midtown Plaza’s opening.

Walter Harris and Art Sterrit, two Native American craftsmen from the Gitksan tribe in British Columbia, Canada, carved the pole, according to county officials.

Staub said county officials want to place the pole in the Rocky Coast area, preferably near the cougar exhibit, since the animals venture into the region where the Gitksan tribe is located. Staub noted that county crews plan to waterproof the pole before installing it at the zoo, to ensure the pole “retains its original look.”

In a printed statement, Brooks said she and the county are grateful for the donation. “By permanently displaying the artwork at the Seneca Park Zoo, Monroe County residents and visitors to our area will be able to enjoy the totem pole and learn from it for years to come,” she said.

The Clock of Nations, another Midtown Plaza landmark, was donated to the Monroe County Airport Authority last month. After being restored, the clock will be displayed at the Greater Rochester International Airport until 2012, when it will be donated to the Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong.

The clock is expected to be installed at the airport by July 1.

Roadhouses shut their doors in WNY
Business First of Buffalo

Four Roadhouse Grill restaurants in Buffalo area closed their doors late Tuesday night.

The closings follow the shuttering of Roadhouse Grill's operations in Rochester (Henrietta and Penfield), on Monday, and in Jackson, Miss.

Roadhouse Grill, which has operated in the Buffalo market since the late 1990s, had restaurants in Amherst, the Town of Tonawanda, Depew and Hamburg. Calls to the restaurants, as well as to the company's corporate headquarters in Florida, went unanswered.

Roadhouse Grill's menu featured everything from steaks, ribs and hamburgers to chicken dishes.

Venture forum comes to town
Democrat and Chronicle

Twenty-nine young companies from around the state are at the Riverside Convention Center today — along with numerous potential investors — for the eighth annual SmartStart UNYTECH Venture Forum.

The event, which began Tuesday, is put on by the Albany-based Center for Economic Growth and showcases both university-developed technology that is potentially ripe for licensing and starting-out companies looking for investment.

This marks the first year the event has been held outside the Albany area.

http://cmsimg.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A2&Date=20080515&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=805150360&Ref=AR&Profile=1003&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0
Web millions remake Webster's Main Street
Democrat and Chronicle

Over the past decade, Neil Bauman has helped his son Eric make millions of dollars posting videos of frat-house pranks and photographs of scantily clothed women on his popular Web site, eBaum's World.

Now 28-year-old Eric is returning the favor by investing in his father's venture: revitalizing a village.

"This is a dream of mine, and my son is good enough to sponsor Dad's folly — but so far, it's a pretty good folly," Neil Bauman said Monday as he cheered on the mechanical excavator demolishing a two-story house on the family's latest land acquisition.

It's the first physical step in a project the father-son duo hopes will Pittsford-ize and Fairport-ize the village of Webster.

Last year, the Baumans bought up a football field's length of properties on Main Street, just east of the central intersection with Route 250. They paid $1 million for the properties and have proposed spending up to $4 million more in making over the current businesses on the parcel and attracting new ones.

"This is the biggest thing that's ever happened to the village," said Neil Bauman, 57, who has lived in the town of Webster with his wife, Barbara, for more than 30 years.

That has community leaders energized.

Webster business owners and developers will meet with officials from the village and town governments Friday to begin to steer major projects like the Baumans' onto a compatible course.

"I think it's wonderful," Mayor Jake Swingly said of the Main Street facelift. "I think (Monday) they lit the fuse for an explosion of revitalization we are going to have in the village."

Main Street makeover

Neil Bauman insists that the village of Webster and its 5,200 residents have not developed an inferiority complex watching the other villages in eastern Monroe County flourish. But, he admitted, there's no shame in imitating some of the ambience that attracts so many visitors to the canal-side neighbors to the south.

"This is hopefully going to be a catalyst for everyone to step up a little bit to get the village on par with Fairport and Pittsford, and frankly, we're overdue," Bauman said.

In 1997, Eric, then a senior at Webster High School, started eBaum's World in his bedroom as an electronic bulletin board. Last year, he sold the Web site for $17.5 million to a San Francisco-based technology company, HandHeld Entertainment — with the prospect of making an additional $35 million in supplementary payments over the next three years.

Now the Baumans are working under the title eBaum's Ventures, the latest of which they're calling The Centers at Webster Village.

Last month, the village Planning Board approved the first phase of the project, which includes the demolition of 40 E. Main St. and facade upgrades for the existing tenants: No. 1 Chinese Restaurant, 2 Lovely Boutique, An's Dry Cleaners, JB Management Co., M&M Great Cakes, The Scarlet Thread quilt shop and Streppa's Bistro.

If approved, phase two will likely include a new, 5,000-square-foot drive-through bank on the east end of the property, adjacent to the historic Harmony House.

But the crown jewel will be a new two-story, 28,000-square-foot building behind the Main Street shops. The first floor will be professional offices, while the second will include, among other shops, a steakhouse and an upscale coin laundry furnished with widescreen televisions. Bauman said he might petition to add a third story for residential lofts.

The project also will create about 120 new parking spaces, which will be accessible from Main Street, Route 250 and Kircher Park.

Bauman said crews should complete phase one by the fall and start on phase two soon after.

While fewer than 8,000 vehicles drive down Main Street each day, the Baumans hope to draw some of the 25,000-plus that use Route 250 to cut through the heart of the village.

"This just might be the spark to draw some more attention and create newness in the village to bring it the attention it deserves," said Ann Kowal, president of the Webster Chamber of Commerce.

Local investment

Like Neil Bauman, developer Larry Frumusa plans to invest millions in his hometown.

Up the road on North Avenue, the lifelong Webster resident is building an upscale community that puts apartments atop open-air shops. If approved, Frumusa's Parkside Village would include about 60,000 square feet of retail space, enough for 15 to 20 boutiques and restaurants and 110 to 120 apartments that would be built on the second and third floors.

The $20 million project is expected to take two to three years to complete.

Frumusa and Bauman believe their visions for the village complement each other nicely.

"We are both from Webster," Frumusa said, "and we really do agree the whole village will benefit from all of our developments."

Frumusa said his project and the Baumans' project would help affirm Webster's motto: "Where life is worth living."

New Wilmot Cancer Center opens
Democrat and Chronicle

After years of planning and construction, the University of Rochester Medical Center unveiled the new $61 million, 164,000-square-foot James P. Wilmot Cancer Center today at the corner of East Drive and Crittenden Boulevard.

The building, which opens to patients on Monday, brings together cancer programs that are now spread through the UR Medical Center campus, nearly doubles the spaces for chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and features building-wide wireless Internet access, meeting spaces for support groups and cancer organizations, large windows and a three-story glass atrium, and a Comprehensive Breast Care Center that can immediately assess biopsies and determine whether tumors are cancerous.

Officials said the new center will cut down on the number different visits that cancer patients have to make, offer more privacy and aesthetics during treatments, encourage collaboration between researchers, and eventually position Wilmot as one of the nation’s top cancer institutions.

“Patients will feel different here,” said Wilmot director Dr. Richard Fisher.

RochesterAddict

May 16th, 2008, 05:14 PM

Honeoye Falls' Custom Brewcrafters enlarges its operation
Democrat and Chronicle

Microbrewery Custom Brewcrafters has moved into a spacious new home with sizable new business plans.

The Honeoye Falls company that supplies custom beers for restaurants and bars across western New York plans to start bottling next month and is rolling out a line of consumer products made with its beer, from shampoo to cheese and mustards

Making that work possible is its new, 10,000-square-foot facility on the village's west side. Custom Brewcrafters held a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Thursday for its new digs, which are more than three times the size of Custom Brewcrafters' previous location in an industrial building on Paper Mill Street.

Custom Brewcrafters is the first industrial tenant of Village Square, a mixed-use light industrial development off the village's West Main Street.

"I needed to get to the next (business) level, and I could not do that" at the old location, said President Mike Alcorn.

The additional space gives Custom Brewcrafters brewing capacity of up to 10,000 barrels a year, Alcorn said. Its previous location had limited the company to at best 4,000 barrels, he said. Custom Brewcrafters makes 52 types of beer.

The new site also includes a 2,600-square-foot tasting and retail area and 5,000 square feet of production space.

The total investment for the new building and equipment was more than $1 million, Alcorn said.

Construction of the building started in November and wrapped up earlier this month.

With the expansion and growing business lines, Custom Brewcrafters has gone from employing 17 full- and part-time workers last year to 23 today, he said. It also is in the process of hiring people in sales and for its retail space, Alcorn said.

Mayor Richard Milne said the village expects to hear about an empty retail building sitting along West Main at the entrance to Village Square that will be leased soon.

Both Monroe Village Associates LLC, the group behind Village Square, and Custom Brewcrafters received county tax breaks from the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency for the brewery project.

I love Custom Brewcrafters beer! http://www.custombrewcrafters.com/

wny

May 16th, 2008, 10:43 PM

Friday, May 16, 2008 - 8:02 AM EDT
employment gains lead Upstate
The state Department of Labor reported the Buffalo metropolitan area gained a total of 4,200 jobs in the past year, including 1,700 in the private sector.

The overall employment upswing for this area topped all other Upstate metros. The report showed nonfarm employment in Buffalo-Niagara Falls was up 0.8 percent while private industry posted an increase of 0.4 percent.

The unemployment rate for April was 5.4 percent, however, up from 4.7 percent in the same month last year. The jobless rate in March was 6.2 percent.

Employment increases in the public sector were led by local government, up 2,400. In the private sector, service-providing jobs were up 7,700, or 1.7 percent. Goods-producing jobs fell by 3,500, or 4.4 percent, the report said.

In Rochester, the number of nonfarm jobs increased by 600, or 0.1 percent. The number of private-sector jobs, however, decreased by the same 600, or 0.1 percent. The unemployment rate was 5 percent in April, compared 4.2 last year and 5.7 percent in March.

The state lost private-sector jobs for the third straight month, decreasing by 9,100, or 0.1 percent, to 7.25 million.

New York state's unemployment rate, after seasonal adjustment, was 4.7 percent in April 2008, down from 4.8 percent in March.

http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2008/05/12/daily37.html?t=printable

andrew585

May 18th, 2008, 04:16 PM

Dimension

May 18th, 2008, 05:03 PM

All he was just doing is posting and article and bolding the part about Rochester.

wny

May 18th, 2008, 11:57 PM

WNY - is Rochester in some sort of competition with Buffalo? Wow, what an inferiority complex you have over in BFLO! No wonder Buffalo is filled with full-size Hummers.

I'm more of a solutions kind of person, you know, finding ways to solve the problems we are having Upstate. United we stand, divided we fall.

Actually over the months I have seen articles mentioning Rochester from Business First repeatedly posted on this thread. I have also seen articles about employment posted on this thread, but this month was missed for some reason so I posted it. Actually a 600 job gain seems to be rather good for Rochester of late, compared to all of the losses in the past few years. There is no competition in my mind we are ALL Western NY from Rochester to Buffalo, Niagara Falls to Bath and Jamestown, 3 million strong and tough souls that know and appreciate living in the best corner of he USA.

You need to get the chip off of your shoulder and embrace being a WNY'er just as those in SoCal embrace being a part of that region

andrew585

May 19th, 2008, 12:28 AM

WNY -maybe I interpreted your posting the wrong way - if so, than my apologies. I definitely don't have a chip on my shoulder - I agree that we need to consider this one contiguous region and we need to work together to solve the problems we face. I love Buffalo, lived there for a few years, and think it's an amazing city. Now only if we could get some sort of mass (and high speed) transit, other than Amtrak or the thruway, to connect these two cities and create an even more seamless connection between them. I had to turn down an amazing job opportunity in BFLO due to the commute (wasn't ready to drive 3 hrs a day and not ready to sell the house either).

Dimension

May 19th, 2008, 12:58 AM

Why don't the cities set up a mass transit fund?

Or have a regional mass transit fund. Each community contributes some money, and then build the link between Buffalo and Rochester, and then build connections from each city to its surrounding metro area.

Each train would have 2-3 passenger cars and 4-5 cars to transport goods.

wny

May 19th, 2008, 04:25 AM

WNY -maybe I interpreted your posting the wrong way - if so, than my apologies. .
Accepted. I lived out West before I moved here and had no problem viewing my turf as anywhere I could get to in 90 minutes. I thought nothing of going an hour to get to a concert or show. I have that same attitude here. Toronto for dinner? Why not? Rochester shopping on a Saturday? Sure. We live in one of the most heavily populated regions in North America, but too many of our neighbors suffer from myopia. They view anything outside their immediate neighborhood with a fear that it might offer something better than their own little turf, they feel threatened and respond by attacking anyone that finds something nice outside their City's limits. We are blessed to live in a REGION that offers it all.It's all there for us to enjoy, if we don't take advantage of the opportunities then shame on us. I have noticed this fear in both the Buffalo and Rochester threads and it is a sad Balkanization that is both silly and counterproductive. I laugh when the Buffalo Paper has an article on the front pge like today that claims Buffalo is the third smallest market n the NFL when they are only counting metro Buffalo. The Bills market is really WNY and Southern Ontario which is the third or fourth largest on the continent. Just as my friends in LA go to San Diego and support the Chargers, there is no reason for our neighbors in Rochester and Toronto to not go to Ralph Wilson Stadium and support the Bills. We as a region need to act as one, perhaps we should start by calling ourselves WNY'ers instead of Rochesterians or Buffalonians.

RochesterAddict

May 19th, 2008, 08:04 PM

Rochester events scramble to handle influx of tourists
Democrat and Chronicle

Already this spring, the community has staged a small festival and the Lilac Festival, the area's largest, without any major issues.

Now comes the Senior PGA at Oak Hill Country Club this week, the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge next week, then in June two major events converge — Wegmans LPGA and the Rochester International Jazz Festival.

Event organizers say the city is ready to handle the dizzying schedule, which also includes the Nationwide Xerox Classic professional golf tournament in August, several local music festivals and various other cultural and athletic events.

But some logistical problems have popped up because of a court ruling that limits how many of these events can count on the Regional Transit Service for transportation. A change in regulations at the Federal Transit Administration now requires the bus service to provide transportation to events as a community service free of charge. The change also limited RTS' ability to provide busing for Rochester School District students this year.

The new rules restrict the number of community events RTS can afford to serve, said Jacqueline Halldow, the agency's vice president of communications.

For several years, RTS has had charter contracts for events such as the Lilac Festival and Corporate Challenge, but the FTA says agencies such as RTS have an unfair advantage when bidding for charter services outside their normal routes because they receive federal funding.

So far, the change has affected the Corporate Challenge the most, but other festivals also are negotiating with school bus and charter bus companies to provide a ride from satellite parking lots.

"There are options," says Ed Hall, president and chief executive of the Greater Rochester Visitors Association. "It's not like we won't have service in the future. The promoters will have to broaden their net a little bit, look a little further."

The Lilac Festival had record-breaking crowds of 225,000 people the first weekend, organizers said. The bulk of those attendees parked at Monroe Community College's Brighton campus, relying on shuttles to get to Highland Park and back to their cars.

With RTS out of the picture this year, the contract went to First Student Inc. The company, formerly Laidlaw, is no stranger to the festival, said Brian Habkirk, region operations director. The company used to have the Lilac Festival contract and also provided shuttle services for other major events such as the Ryder Cup and past PGA events.

"We're pleased we can do this," Habkirk said. The company has more than 800 drivers in the area and was able to use them to cover the festival. He would not say how much revenue the contracts bring in or confirm any future events it will be working besides the Corporate Challenge.

Jill Morgan, corporate partnerships manager for LeBeau Productions, which runs the Lilac Festival, said the shuttles ran smoothly last week. Organizers received only a handful of complaints from the tens of thousands of riders. The cost was $1 instead of 50 cents, still reasonable because the festival is free.

This coming week is one of the events for which RTS chose to provide public service transportation, Halldow said.

"The reality is that there are so many events that we had to choose the events that would service more numbers in the community, so we chose the PGA," she said.

The other major event the RTS will work is the Wegmans LPGA.

For the Senior PGA Championship, the RTS is providing shuttle buses from the same MCC lots that the Lilac Festival used, said championship director Todd Alfred.

"We're glad to have (RTS) involved," Alfred said. "It's been a good relationship."

With 2,000 volunteers, Alfred does not anticipate any logistical problems. However, just as the lack of side street parking causes headaches for the Lilac, Corn Hill and Park Avenue festivals, people wanting to slip along Kilbourn Road near Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford will be out of luck. Parking is prohibited there.

For the LPGA at Locust Hill Country Club along the Henrietta-Pittsford border, RTS buses will run back and forth from MCC each day. Many homeowners also offer parking on their lawns.

On May 29, the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge race — the largest race and largest corporate event in the region — faces the challenge of moving thousands of people within a couple of hours to the 3.5-mile course at Rochester Institute of Technology in time for the 7 p.m. start of the race.

"The gun goes off," said race coordinator Jane Iaculli. "We've got to get them there."

Last year, organizers transported about 6,500 people in 26 RTS double-sized, articulating buses that each seated 70. The shuttles ran from parking lots at The Marketplace mall, the University of Rochester and Monroe Community College. For this year's event, Iaculli is lining up 52 school buses, each of which seats 55 people, from three private companies (First Student, Monroe and Bus Bank).

"Quite honestly, we have been scrambling," said Iaculli. "We're still working on it."

And it will be a record-breaking year, she said. A record 11,058 runners and walkers from 467 companies are signed up, so Iaculli estimated the number of bus riders could rise to 7,000.

The Rochester International Jazz Festival, slated to overlap with the LPGA in June and with MusicFest starting a day later, will not be affected by RTS limitations, since the festival has never used shuttle services. Jean Dalmath, a festival spokeswoman, said she believes that there is plentiful parking downtown and that festival-goers resolve to carpool. Jazz Festival had an attendance of 121,000 in 2007.

"You can park once and walk everywhere," she said, adding that the walking-distance venues are a signature element of the event. "You don't have to get in your car and drive from one place to the next."

The festival does, however, transport artists while they're in town, from the airport to the hotel and performance venues. For the second year, Toyota will be providing hybrid vehicles that volunteers will drive.

With so many events this summer, it would seem that tourism numbers would experience a rise. The visitors association, though, worried that rising gas prices might deter visitors.

"We were concerned with all the talk of recession and high gas prices, but luckily people feel the need to travel with their families and friends and do things," Hall said.

The tourism industry's economic impact was $900 million in 2006, and Hall thinks the area saw about a 6 percent increase in that number last year. The visitors association estimated the jazz festival's economic impact at more than $10 million for last year. The LPGA also had a $10 million impact on the community. The estimate for the Senior PGA this year is $20 million to $25 million.

So far, Rochester's tourism has been following historic patterns, Hall said, which show that visitors prefer shorter trips but take them more frequently when gas prices are on the rise.

"This is the biggest gas spike we've ever seen," he said. "Because we have a good product and have millions of people living within a reasonable driving distance, we are cautiously optimistic."

I just thought there was some interesting facts and numbers in there, the story really isnt much for development.

Rochester marketing agency ranked 34th in nation
Democrat and Chronicle

Marketing communications agency Martino Flynn of Rochester ranks 34th among the nation's public relations firms according to PR Week's 2008 business report rankings in the April 28 issue, making the rankings for the fourth consecutive year.

The rankings include data from 195 U.S. public relations firms.

Raymond Martino called public relations "a practice that is in high demand," representative of "one of the fastest growing segments of our business."

A story on recession proof cities features Buf and Roch: http://promo.realestate.yahoo.com/americas-recession-proof-cities.html

RochesterAddict

May 20th, 2008, 07:19 PM

National magazine tags Fairport as a top place to live
Messenger Post Newspapers

Fairport is among the Top 100 places in America to live according to RelocateAmerica, which has released its 2008 list.

"The village of Fairport has family owned businesses, waterfront restaurants and specialty stores," says the publication's Web site: www.relocateamerica.com. "The community is known for its canal boat tours, low electric rates because of its local public power company and the Canal Days Festival which attracts about 200,000 people a year."

Also mentioned are Lollypop Farm and the historic Bushnell's Basin nearby in the town of Perinton.

Town Supervisor Jim Smith points out that the designation follows CNN/Money Magazine's similar recognition of Perinton/Fairport in 2005.

"We're ecstatic," he said. "Once again, what our residents have known for some time has been appropriately recognized at the national level.”

The only other New York community included is Saratoga Springs, near Albany.

Smith said Relocate America accepts nominations from residents and takes key data regarding education, employment, economy, crime, parks, recreation and housing into consideration in reviewing, rating and judging the final designees.

COMIDA OKs exemptions for Zeller
Rochester Business Journal

The County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency on Tuesday approved $66,000 in sales-tax exemptions for the Zeller Corp., which plans to spend $1.4 million on building improvements and equipment as part of a move from Emerson Street to the Gleason Works complex on University Avenue.
The incentives will bring projected benefits of $1.5 million to the community, COMIDA representatives said.
Zeller, a maker of industrial automation and controls and wholesale distributor of electrical components, has outgrown its location, company officials said. The tax breaks will allow the company to keep 63 employees in the area and add 51 jobs over three years, officials said.
COMIDA also approved property tax abatements totaling $47,000 for Gallina Development Corp., which plans to spend $500,000 to add 10,000 square feet of space to Transcat Inc. offices on Vantage Point Drive in Ogden.
A distributor of test, measurement and calibration instruments, Transcat employs 110 and plans to add 11 jobs over three years. The projected community benefit of the exemptions is $454,000, COMIDA officials said.
Among five entities approved for exemptions was Pathfinder Holdings LLC, a woman-owned provider of engineering and architectural services that will spend nearly $1.2 million to renovate offices on South Fitzhugh Street adjacent to the Corn Hill historical district.
Pathfinder will get $104,000 in property tax breaks—with projected community benefits of $249,000—through the Green JobsPlus program to qualify for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The building will be the second—the new downtown headquarters for ESL Federal Credit Union is the first—to qualify for LEED certification, officials said.

ManAboutTown

May 21st, 2008, 12:29 AM

The three design concepts for the preferred layout of Renaissance Square:

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i227/swedishczech/option1.jpgOPTION 1

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i227/swedishczech/option2.jpgOPTION 2

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i227/swedishczech/option3.jpgOPTION 3

Although I'm disappointed that they chose this particular layout, and I think these are all very blah architecturally, I'm going to have to throw my support to Option 1. It has the most unique features and this really should be a unique facility.

blangjr21

May 21st, 2008, 05:17 AM

Went to the public comment session, and I found that I liked option #3 the most, although I wasn't overly impressed with any of the options. We'll see what happens with it as they will decide within the next month on which design they will choose. It was nice however to see so many people there at the comment session.

RochesterAddict

May 21st, 2008, 10:14 PM

I thought this was an interesting story about how the motion picture film industry is developing in the Rochester area: http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/news/articles/ENTERTAINMENT%3A+Rochester+s+local+filmmaking+scene/

savetheday

May 22nd, 2008, 06:24 PM

We need your help!

AIA Rochester in collaboration with the Landmark Society is currently updating Carl Schmidt’s book Architecture and Architects of Rochester, N. Y., otherwise know as the ‘Red Book’. This little gem of a book is a compilation of the who’s who in Rochester’s architectural history from the 1800’s to the 1950’s. The desire for this update came when realizing the numerous Rochester area architects that have practiced since 1959, the major commissions that have followed, and that no documentation existed of either.

Previous surveys have focused on the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It is now time to begin to expand our knowledge and our definition of "historic" to encompass buildings of the mid-twentieth century. Since Rochester was a fairly early adopter of modern architectural ideas, the area retains several buildings from this period which illustrate characteristics of the early modern International Style, as well as other prominent architectural movements. Modernism represents a new frontier for preservationists. Since each generation seems less appreciative of the styles immediately preceding its own, modern buildings are often under appreciated regardless of quality, and thus threatened by our own time.

At a joint meeting between AIA Rochester and the Landmark Society, it was quickly realized that the two projects have similar goals. An exciting collaboration between the two organizations has resulted in a new web site being launched where individuals can enter information on architects and buildings from these eras. As information is collected from the database it will then be turned into the long awaited update of the ‘Red Book’. The goal of having a new publication available in 2009 for the book's having a website dedicated to viewing this information on line similar to ‘Wikipedia’, except that it will not be editable by the general public. For the time being this initiative will be known as Rochester Archipedia, an enhancement of the 1959 'Red Book'. It will remain on line and continue to be updated for future generations as a living document of Rochester’s rich architectural history.

Our Goals are to:
• Inventory buildings, structures and sites not previously surveyed
• Draw attention to overlooked or misunderstood resources
• Educate the public about the value of these resources
• Recommend and initiate local and/or State and National Register landmark nominations
• Create the next generation publication of Carl Schmidt's book Architecture and Architect's of Rochester, N.Y. (commonly known as the "Red Book") published by the Rochester Society of Architects in 1959.

Please take a few minutes and let us know about that important building in your neighborhood! http://www.aiaroch.org/archipedia/ (http://www.aiaroch.org/archipedia/)

Dimension

May 22nd, 2008, 09:38 PM

I went to a practice round for the PGA, and honestly, it was a mess.

The buses took the LONGEST route to the golf course. They tried to fit to much into the little roads to the golf course. There was maybe a couple inches of room on each side.

Plus, even though I had a clubhouse pass, I wasn't allowed in.

Besides the other things that weren't that great, the course was excellent and the staff there was very kind, friendly, and talked back to you. Overall, this was a good experience.

blangjr21

May 23rd, 2008, 08:28 PM

Thats funny, b/c I went today for a regular round of golf, and had no problems parking, and no problems accessing the clubhouse with my clubhouse pass.

It is tough with how small the roads at the course are to fit those large busses, but they do the best they can with what they have to work with.

I had a good time, and there were some decent golf to be watched, a huge crowd was following Sluman and Norman this afternoon.

ManAboutTown

May 23rd, 2008, 11:15 PM

If you thumb through the proposed City budget for the coming fiscal year, you'll notice that there is a housing or mixed-use development planned for the large municipal parking lot at the northwest corner of Main & Plymouth. The City is going out for RFP on this land and, from what I understand, it is being fast-tracked due to significant interest from one or more developers. Nearby, the Monroe County Crime Lab is getting ready for final design at the southeast corner of Broad & Plymouth (or so I've been told) with construction set for next year. As I think I've mentioned, this may be combined with a reno of the Terminal Building next door. Finally, some attention being given to the barren wasteland that is Plymouth Avenue!

RochesterAddict

May 27th, 2008, 08:36 PM

Sweet, thanks MAT.

City turns focus to commercial boost for Mt. Hope Ave.

UR, Starbucks factoring into plans to revitalize college area
With a protracted effort to relocate Monroe County's first Starbucks resolved, city, neighborhood and other project officials are turning their focus to Mt. Hope Avenue — which remains under a city building moratorium.

The city placed a six-month freeze on further development in March to map a course for the future.

"That's why we are in a time crunch," said Melanie Warren, president of the Mt. Hope Business Association, of the flurry of planning and design meetings over the next few months. "We're still trying to decide where we want to go with the vision. We're still trying to come together as a group."

One of the biggest players is the University of Rochester, which plans to redevelop the Towne House and the adjacent former Wegmans Food Markets site near Mt. Hope and Elmwood avenues. UR is working on a master plan for the adjoining 600-acre campus.

Developing plans for the $200 million CityGate residential, commercial and office park at Westfall and East Henrietta roads will impact Mt. Hope Avenue.

Starbucks, meanwhile, will move a short distance from its 1380 Mt. Hope Ave. store to a new and larger coffee shop with a drive-through to be built in roughly the same place as the former Record Archive. The city signed off on Starbucks keeping its drive-through open until 11 p.m., a final hurdle for the project to move ahead.

The city also is discussing a boulevard approach to Mt. Hope Avenue between Elmwood Avenue and Crittenden Boulevard, possibly another traffic signal and on-street parking. UR's draft master plan shows the university's desire to, one day, have a new Interstate 390 interchange at Kendrick Road.

Denise Lippa moved into the neighborhood five years ago, the same year Wegmans closed its smallest and oldest store. Lippa, now president of the Upper Mt. Hope Neighborhood Association, said the area underwent "a huge transition" with the loss. That is about the same time UR expansion got rolling. What is yet to come for Mt. Hope Avenue is "a big cosmetic and, hopefully, commercial boom," she said.

"I think we look at it as a university district that should have lots of walking-distance interests: coffee houses, music, a small grocery," Lippa said. "The hope is that it would be a place that would be enjoyable for the people who would be on campus, and the residents and visitors."

Merchants, city and project officials meet this week to talk about transportation issues. UR officials met earlier this month with the neighbors and reviewed key points of the draft campus plan and Mt. Hope Avenue development. The plan is to put out a request for proposals by the end of this year.

"Right now, we're at the concept stage," said Ronald J. Paprocki, UR's chief financial officer. "We're striving for mixed use: retail, office and perhaps housing as well. That would depend on a number of things."

Buffalo stays high for home affordability
Business First of Buffalo

Buffalo-Niagara Falls maintained its standing as one of the most affordable housing markets in the nation in the first quarter, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index.

Buffalo placed in the top 10, joining other major metropolitan areas in the Midwest, lead by Indianapolis. The report said 90.1 percent of homes sold in that market in the first quarter were affordable to families earning the area's median household income of $65,100 and the median price of $106,000.

In Buffalo, 84 percent of homes sold from January through March were deemed affordable, based on the median family income of $60,900 and the median sales price of $90,000.

Syracuse and Rochester were just behind Buffalo in the HOI. The report showed 83.1 percent of homes in the Central New York market were affordable on median household income of $61,000 and prices of $102,000. In Rochester, just under 82 percent of homes could be budgeted based on median income of $63,500 and the median cost of $108,000.

The NAHB/Wells Fargo HOI is a measure of the percentage of homes sold in a given area that are affordable to families earning that area's median income during a specific quarter.

On a national note, thought this was interesting:

Consumers View Economy in Worst Condition
Chain Store Age

About 3 in 5 Americans (62.3%) believe the economy is in the worst shape they have experienced in their lifetime, according to the May American Pulse Survey.

About 77.1% of Democrats and people between 18-34 years old (65.8%) are most likely to echo this sentiment, the report said.

With the economy weighing on Americans’ minds it may not only affect their vote in November, but also their campaign contributions in the interim; 36.5% say they will contribute less to political candidates this year.

Regarding gas prices, 52.9% think the U.S. government should open the Alaskan Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for drilling; 71.6% of Republicans and 46.4% of Democrats agree.

blangjr21

May 28th, 2008, 05:06 PM

Wegmans to expand Chili headquarters

Wegmans Food Markets Inc. is proposing to build a 400,000-square-foot office building in Chili in the final phase of a plan to consolidate 1,600 corporate headquarters employees in a single location.

The privately owned grocery chain already has an office building on the Fisher Road site, built in two phases over the last several years, said company spokeswoman Jo Natale.

The third-phase structure would enable Wegmans to relocate 600 corporate workers from a company facility on Brooks Avenue in Gates.

Natale said the new building would be large enough to accommodate future growth at the company, although she declined to be specific about how many jobs that could involve.

Chili Supervisor David Dunning said it was his understanding that Wegmans planned to add 200 to 300 jobs at the site "in the coming years." He described Wegmans as a good neighbor and said the company's "commitment to our community is clearly demonstrated by their desire to keep it local."

The site, just west of Greater Rochester International Airport, is near the location where Wegmans is building a $30 million culinary innovation center. The 35,000-square-foot center is expected to be completed by July and will be used for research and development and production of items not readily available from outside suppliers.

The culinary center will not be open to the public.

Wegmans officials are scheduled to present a conceptual review plan of the proposed office building at a Chili Planning Board meeting on June 10.

Planning Board Chairman Jim Martin called the proposal "good news for more than just Chili. When Wegmans makes this kind of commitment to the area, it's wonderful for the whole region."

The 92-year-old company is a Rochester institution, but many of its new stores in recent years have been built in states such as New Jersey, Virginia and Maryland. Wegmans currently is seeking to build its first New England store, near Boston.

Company representatives began talking to Chili officials about possible expansion plans a little more than a month ago. Martin said the conceptual review plan looks "relatively straightforward" but didn't offer a possible timetable.

"It could go quickly, where it might be a matter of dotting the i's, and we're hoping to move the process as quick and fairly as possible," he said.

In addition to the 600 employees coming from Gates, the new building would take in staff from leased space in other locations, Natale said. She said the project is in the preliminary stages of planning, with no firm timeline for construction.

After the June 10 presentation, the Planning Board will likely become lead agency to head an environmental review. A public hearing must also take place before the board votes.

RochesterAddict

May 28th, 2008, 09:17 PM

Update on Alexander Park:

Bank planned for Alexander Street and Monroe Avenue
Democrat and Chronicle

A new Canandaigua National Bank branch is undergoing preliminary review by city officials in the next step of redeveloping the former Genesee Hospital and its surroundings.

The 3,116-square-foot bank would be located on Alexander Street, between the corner of Monroe and Alexander and the existing medical office building on Alexander. Larry Glazer, CEO of developer Buckingham Properties, said the building is being designed so it will blend in with the neighborhood's materials and architectural styles, using a combination of brick and stucco-like material. The appearance hasn't been given final approval yet, he noted.

Glazer said if final approvals are granted in the next two months, construction will start late summer or early fall, with hopes of having the building open around the end of this year.

These steps are under way in the redevelopment of the hospital complex into Alexander Park:

Tenants of 220 Alexander, the concrete medical office building, have been relocated to a building attached to the parking garage. Interior demolition in that office building has started in anticipation of Preferred Care moving to 220Alexander, which will happen in stages.

Buckingham is preparing building plans for a medical office building at Alexander and along Monroe Avenue. The structure would have three-story, four-story and one-story sections "that would tie in with the neighborhood, with the facades that the neighbor associations would like to see and what is needed to have good functional space," Glazer said.

Asbestos removal has been completed in the north part of the hospital property, readying the building for demolition in three or four weeks. The building will be replaced by a 110,000-square-foot, mixed-use building that would incorporate offices, retail space and housing. Preliminary plans for the building have not been drawn up yet, Glazer said.

Here is a story on Rochester culinary traditions: http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/entertainment/guides/DISH%3A+A+taste+of+Rochester/

I think the author is a little off. I have NEVER been to a place in Rochester that serves Beef on Weck. Never. Are any of you aware of any? What about Abbotts frozen custard or Bill Grays/Tom Wahls/Vic and Irvs/Dons Original hamburgers? Those are more Rochester. And pizza rolls? Ive never heard those labeled Rochester, have you? A Rochester culinary example is Chicken French, that is really Rochester.

Weggies made national news:

Wegmans to Expand Headquarters
Chain Store Age

Wegmans Food Markets is expanding its corporate headquarters in Chili, N.Y. The company has made an application to be heard at the town’s upcoming planning-board meeting.

The plan calls for creating a 400,000-sq.-ft. office building at their Fisher Road location. If approved, 600 to 800 current employees could relocate to the new facility, with plans to expand by 200 to 300 new positions in the coming years.

ManAboutTown

June 1st, 2008, 04:38 PM

It was recently reported that Clear Channel's downtown offices, currently located at the soon-to-be-demolished Midtown Plaza, will move to HSBC Plaza. If my math is correct, this means that HSBC is now 100% occupied. Furthermore, it means that downtown Class A space not located at Chase Tower is virtually fully leased. Once the South Ave garage renovation is complete, I expect significant leasing activity at Chase.

As for seeing Toronto from the top of the new Paetec Tower, I sincerely doubt it. I mean, you really can't "see" Rochester from the CN Tower, except maybe on the clearest of days. Unless Paetec is planning a 2,000 footer... ha. Still, it's good to know that Chesonis has his sights on building our new tallest. I just wish they'd get their architect under contract so they can start working on renderings. They're now about two or three months behind schedule while the state and city are right on schedule. For once, government is working at a faster pace than private enterprise!

ManAboutTown

June 1st, 2008, 04:46 PM

One more thing, this week's RBJ notes that the 250 East renovation, between Arena's and the Little Theater, will consist of two condos and a first floor artist studio. There will be a very nice facade redo and a small addition on the roof for terraces. The new wealthy owner will live there as will the new mega-millionaire owner of 230 East just down the block. The gist of the article is that there are not enough high-end condos available downtown, let alone a complete lack of condos at other price points. Of course, we'll likely have literally hundreds of condos under construction in the next few years between the Block F, Midtown, South Ave garage, and other developments.

Oh, did any of you happen to attend Thursday's RDDC luncheon? The Mayor ripped into a local employer that apparently is choosing to remain in the suburbs rather than move to a downtown location. He didn't mention them by name, but I know who it is, and they should be ashamed of themselves. The City has put many months of effort into finding the ideal location for them and now they're backing out. The Mayor hinted at not doing business with them anymore as a result. Extortion, it's a beautiful thing.

ECoastTransplant

June 1st, 2008, 04:52 PM

blangjr21

June 2nd, 2008, 03:14 PM

Care to share what employer that was MAT...?

btw I tend to like option #1, but I'm not really sold on any of them to be completely honest.

RochesterAddict

June 3rd, 2008, 10:47 PM

I was on vacay in DC and Baltimore this weekend, so many stories while I was gone!

I must say that even though DC is my favorite city in the world, I saw some neighborhoods this weekend that make Ave D in Rochester look like it is Beverly Hills. Personally, I HATE Baltimore, its just awful.

I drove because I went to both cities to visit friends and didnt want to make them play cab. After the traffic I sat in this weekend I am VERY happy to live in Rochester and I dont know how people who live there can tolerate it? How do you live life if it has to planned around traffic? Even if you paid me $100,000+ I dont think I could enjoy living in DC for an extended period of time.

RochesterAddict

June 3rd, 2008, 10:49 PM

retarded SSC

RochesterAddict

June 3rd, 2008, 11:10 PM

High-End Condo Boom? Try Super High End.
13 WHAM

When you think of a half-million dollar home in the Rochester area, a condominium or townhouse on a side street in the city might not come to mind.

Believe it or not, there’s a mini-boom of such super-luxury housing in the East End and Park Avenue neighborhoods in the city of Rochester.

The units tend to be smaller in scale, with big asking prices.

A developer plans six condos on Park Avenue that would go on the market for upwards of $700,000. Called "Barrington on the Park," the complex would replace a vacant office office building.

“Most of the clients we've spoken to so far are downsizing, empty nesters, coming in from the suburbs, moving into the city,” said real estate agent Terri Granger.

Tucked behind the Oliver Culver house on East Boulevard sits a lot where construction is well under way on several townhouses that will sell for about $500,000.

The developer decided to start construction, even though a single unit hasn’t been sold.

“Everything's a risk, but I think we're pretty confident this is where the market is,” said real estate agent Gar Lowenguth.

Lowenguth is also handling the Union Lafayette project on North Union Street. The four units there will go for upwards of $300,000. They feature crown molding, elevators, and state-of-the-art kitchens and baths.

The first unit just sold to doctors moving here from out of town.

A city incentive program for downtown housing didn’t hurt the market, Lowenguth said.

People who buy homes downtown get a 10-year property tax abatement.

Real estate agents and developers describe a market for this type of housing that is in short supply.

"The problem is, there's not enough space to do these types of projects in the city," Granger said.

"This is just the beginning," said Lowenguth.

A sample of other high-end condo and townhouse projects on tap:

• Windsor Place townhouses are going up in the Grove Place neighborhood. The first is on the market for $359,900.

• Charlotte Square townhouses are planned for a former brownfield on Charlotte Street.

• On East Avenue, developer John Nolan just bought the building next to Arena’s Florist that he plans to convert into several luxury units.

• The Tudors, at 1475 East Avenue, includes a condo conversion of a mansion and new houses on the property.

Good video shows you what they are building: http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=e3407dab-286c-40ed-98b0-c68de87b7a34

Slew of projects to revitalize downtown Rochester
Democrat and Chronicle

Two days after Arunas Chesonis stunned the Rochester area last October with a plan to build his company's world headquarters at Midtown, this newspaper ran a headline on Page 1A that read: "PAETEC can't do it alone."

At a "Repositioning Rochester" luncheon Thursday at the Hyatt Regency, it was apparent that PAETEC isn't doing it alone.

Speaker after speaker described the downtown mega-projects in various stages of development, some still on the drawing boards, others already under way.

PAETEC and Midtown. ESL Federal Credit Union's headquarters. Renaissance Square. A St. John Fisher College law school (probably).

And Heidi Zimmer-Meyer, the head of the Rochester Downtown Development Corp., who is understandably brimming with optimism these days, distributed a map showing many additional projects that are taking shape, most notably Larry Glazer's $83 million conversion of the former Genesee Hospital property into Alexander Park, a mix of offices, retail and residences.

If all these projects become reality — and there is reason to be hopeful because many involve private investment, not just public money — downtown can once again be an exciting hub for the region.

The key is getting more people downtown, for working, playing and living.

We noted in our "PAETEC can't do it alone" story that about 50,000 people work downtown now and 3,600 live there. The latter figure has probably risen slightly.

But neither number is high enough to ensure that downtown bustles seven days a week or that more retailers feel compelled to open stores downtown.

That's what Rochester needs to recapture the alive, energetic feeling that comes when large numbers of diverse people are scurrying about, enjoying themselves in a way found too infrequently now, at events such as the upcoming Rochester International Jazz Festival.

"We've gone through suburbanization," Mayor Robert Duffy told the downtown luncheon crowd. "It's time to reverse that process."

Duffy invites companies downtown
Rochester Business Journal

Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy rolled out the city welcome mat to any local firms mulling a move, during the latest event in the Repositioning Rochester Series today at the Hyatt Regency Rochester.
The luncheon was the 24th in the series presented by Rochester Downtown Development Corp.
Duffy said City Hall is eager to work with companies that want to establish a presence downtown. He equated the process of rejuvenating the center city to planting a garden.
“It does not happen overnight; it happens over time,” he said. “And you can see those seeds coming to fruition already.”
Leaders of two organizations that plan to move downtown and a third that is considering it spoke about their experiences.
In a videotaped talk, Paetec Holding Corp. chairman and CEO Arunas Chesonis told how the firm’s plans to move downtown unfolded. Paetec plans to build a world headquarters on the Midtown Plaza site after the complex is demolished.
Chesonis said within 12 hours of telling Duffy of the firm’s interest in consolidating its operations downtown, the city had organized an economic development team from around the state to facilitate the move.
Paetec is in the process of selecting a lead developer and architect for the project and is reviewing final candidates, Chesonis said. The company plans to have roughly 1,500 employees downtown when its headquarters is completed.
The new headquarters for ESL Federal Credit Union, announced in February, will be a LEED-certified “green” building, ESL president and CEO David Fiedler said.
The Chestnut Street parcel ESL bought from the city has been off the tax rolls for 30 years, he said. When the credit union moves into the new facility in 2010, it will bring 300 suburban jobs downtown.
St. John Fisher College’s possible downtown law school is still in the concept development phase,college president Donald Bain said .
A consultant found sufficient demand for the school, Bain said, as long as the school follows guidelines set up by the American Bar Association. Bain is creating a commission made up of representatives of the college, legal field and local community to study the proposal further.
Bain also said St. John Fisher’s Wegmans School of Pharmacy received 1,400 applications for 73 seats in its next class. The school opened in 2006 with 55 students.

Taste of Rochester returns in June
Democrat and Chronicle

Taste of Rochester returns for its second year on June 27-29, with more than double the number of restaurants, organizers announced today.

Free concerts by The Outlaws and Lou Gramm, former lead singer of Foreigner front man and Rochester native, will provide the Friday and Saturday night entertainment.

Vendors — from ethnic food restaurants to staples like Nick Tahou Hots — will set up on the Main Street bridge and, new this year, along the riverwalk between Main and Andrews streets. There also will be wineries, local businesses and more.

“This year it’s going to be bigger, it’s going to be better,” Mayor Robert Duffy said. “It’s something I hope becomes a staple every single summer.”

Duffy’s 2008-09 budget proposal eliminates the city’s $3,000 financial support for the event. Charles Reaves, city commissioner for recreation and youth services, said the city would offer in-kind support.

Tom Terry, event promoter, said the Taste of Rochester will cost more than $100,000 to put on this year, and he anticipates continued growth will more than make up the difference. He said the city funding largely paid for police services.
An estimated 50,000 people turned out last year, and organizers expect to double attendance this year. Vendors will offer $1 food samples or $4 platters.

Lack of progress on La Marketa frustrates city officials
Democrat and Chronicle

More than a year after officials announced their intention to retool plans for La Marketa, the evaluation process remains in progress — to the frustration of City Council President Gladys Santiago.

The subject of La Marketa, a Hispanic-themed shopping center envisioned for North Clinton Avenue, arose during budget hearings today at City Hall.

Santiago said that, on a recent walk down Clinton Avenue, she visited three business owners and every one said they planned to move. She said the frustration was evident, about the city’s commitment to the neighborhood and the growing Hispanic community.

“After 30 years .... then, all of a sudden, poof. Nada,” Santiago said of promises and planning made for the avenue. “It’s just very difficult to visualize what in the dickens it is that we’re doing.”

Carlos Carballada, the city’s economic development commissioner, said discussions are ongoing to come up with a plan that works financially for La Marketa. He said the city and developer Larry Glazer have not been able to find a solution.

City Councilman Adam McFadden said that “we’ve dropped the ball” on La Marketa, adding that the community must commit to the investment because “it’s the right thing to do.”

“We are committed to La Marketa,” Carballada said. “We are looking at all options. It may not be quite as anticipated, but it will be a beginning.”

RochesterAddict

June 3rd, 2008, 11:21 PM

Park Ave. transitions
Democrat and Chronicle

Two businesses at 725 Park Ave. are in transition. Pontillo's Pizzeria is moving the first week of June to 315 Alexander St., according to daytime manager Matt Tanksley. Park Bench Back Alley Bar has closed. Owner Bill Pyrczak of Rochester said he plans to move to Monroe Avenue as soon as the liquor license is transferred, which could take up to six months.

This is a new restaurant opening up in the old Burger King on West Ridge road. Pretty interesting a 17 year old is opening it. Watch the video, it sure doesnt look like a Burger King anymore: http://democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080531/BUSINESS/805310322/-1/ARCHIVES

The new explore Rochester book came out from the RBJ: http://www.rbj.net/exploregreaterrochester.htm

I thought this was interesting, it is a map of how natural disasters affects the US: http://www.harborinsurance.com/guides/disasterprofile.htm
The finger lakes region fares pretty well.

http://democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080529/NEWS01/805290354&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL A story on Rochester's carbon footprint. I dont really know if I believe in all this.

I just thought this story was interesting about the national economy and luxury retailers. Even the upper class is searching for deals in 2008: http://plainvanillashell.com/article.asp?ID=9856

bdaly

June 4th, 2008, 04:01 PM

This is a new restaurant opening up in the old Burger King on West Ridge road. Pretty interesting a 17 year old is opening it. Watch the video, it sure doesnt look like a Burger King anymore: http://democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080531/BUSINESS/805310322/-1/ARCHIVES

It'll be interesting to see how they do. It looks like a nice place, although that strip has struggled a bit with Kodak's restructuring. With things stabilizing a bit over there, hopefully people will be in a mood to go out and eat and grab coffee again. I'll have to give it a try. Another coffee shop opened up on Merchants Street and Wyand. They've done a ton of work to that building and there's more planned. He's also planning on adding a lunch menu. With it being a walk from my house, I'm hoping they'll have success.

RochesterAddict

June 4th, 2008, 07:34 PM

http://my-expressions.com/up_media/4051/pblog/5159/1212533309.jpg
The Powers building reflecting into the Crossroads building.

'The Daily Record' moving in Rochester
Democrat and Chronicle

A century-old legal and real estate publication is about to move to one of downtown Rochester's prime locations.

The Daily Record plans to relocate to 3,400 square feet on the ground floor of the Powers Building at Main and State streets by late June, said Publisher Kevin M. Momot.

"The visibility is going to be a huge difference from where we are now," Momot said.

Currently The Daily Record operates out of 11 Centre Park in the city's Cascade District off West Main Street. Rochester real estate development company Buckingham Properties bought the building in 2007 from owner Jack Hay. Hay also had been owner of The Daily Record until selling it in 1998 to Minneapolis-based Dolan Media Co., which specializes in publications and business services for the legal, financial and real estate industries.

The paper, which publishes five days a week and has a daily circulation of about 1,000, is primarily read by the local legal and real estate community. Each issue is filled with listings of federal tax liens, real estate transactions, legal notices, court dockets and local court rulings of note.

Moving a few blocks east to a main crossroads of downtown will put The Daily Record a bit closer to its readership, Momot said.

"A lot of them are right here at the Four Corners."

The Daily Record spent the past 30 years in the Cascade District building. When it started 100 years ago, it was in the Powers Building. So it is returning to its original location, a building named for banker Daniel W. Powers, whose Powers Banking House first appeared at Main and State shortly after the Civil War.

The move comes as The Daily Record is going through a sizable revamping, including a redesign of its newspaper product with full color.

The publication is moving into what had been an M&T Bank branch. Renovations of the space began in March, Momot said, and included removal of teller stations and a large bank vault.

Another local Dolan Media operation, its Rochester office of Counsel Press, also is relocating from the Cascade District building.

The Counsel Press operation, which prints appellate court filings and decisions, will be next door to The Daily Record in what had been a card and gift store.

The Daily Record employs 10 and plans to add three positions in the next few months, while Counsel Press employs three, Momot said.

Both The Daily Record and Counsel Press are leaving Centre Park as their leases are expiring. The Daily Record quit printing its paper in house in 2007 and no longer needs the 12,000 square feet it has in the Cascade District. The printing now is done by Adnet Printing of Canandaigua.

Including The Daily Record and Counsel Press, the Powers Building will be about 90 percent occupied, said Mark D. Stevens, president of the Ashley Group, which owns the building.

DEVELOPMENT: Correcting a riverfront albatross
City Magazine

The Genesee Commons has always looked foreboding. The nearly solid wall of 70's-era low-income apartments on Mt. Hope Avenue contrasts sharply with the Victorian-era mansions to the south. And there's almost no indication from the street that it's riverfront property on the Genesee Riverway Trail. When the property was purchased by Conifer Realty a few years ago, it was known to residents and business owners as a crime-ridden eyesore.
About a third of the property, which consists of 202 units in the tower to the north and 100 in the five adjoining lower buildingsto the south, is vacant today.

Conifer is planning to invest more than $30 million into the complex, now called River Park Commons. The investment will make the project one of the city's most significant new housing developments.

But the preliminary designs, while a vast improvement over what is there now, are not what many nearby residents say the area needs. The South Wedge Planning Committee has received a grant to renovate Mt. Hope Avenue, and some residents see the redevelopment of both Mt. Hope and River Park Commons as a one-time opportunity to join the riverfront and the apartments with the neighborhood.

"We know how important this site is to everyone," says Allen Handelman, Conifer's project director. "Ever since it was built, people have been trying to figure out ways to correct what is there."

The plans call for leaving the tower intact, but renovating all of its units with updated kitchens and baths. The building is mostly occupied, but tenants would need to move to different units for a short time while their units are remodeled.

The five lower buildings would be demolished, and 12 new structures would be built in their places, with a total of 100 two-bedroom units. Each building would have three floors and a brick and wood-style exterior. Green space and walkways are planned between the buildings so there is visual and physical access to the river and trail.

Parking is limited for the size of the complex. Tenants with multiple cars would likely have to use street parking. That's just one of several things irking Robert Boyd, executive director of the South Wedge Planning Committee.

"If someone is paying $1,200 a month, they're going to have cars," he says. "If it's a professional couple, they will have more than one. So that means you will need side-street parking in the neighborhood."

The design of the new buildings is not impressive, Boyd says. There is access to the river, but no sidewalks leading directly to it. And there is no aesthetictransition, he says, from the tall 70's-style concrete tower to the new buildings.

"It just stops and the new construction starts up again," he says.

The design doesn't reflect the area, Boyd says.

"All the buildings look the same," he says. "They look more like apartments you would find in Henrietta, not a historical neighborhood like South Wedge."

Boyd has created a video explaining all of these concerns to residents, with instructions on how to contact the city's building and zoning department. He has learned from past experiences with the city and developers, he says, how to build alliances to encourage design changes. His most recent battle was over the Highland Hospital parking garage plans, which were eventually modified to include some of Boyd's recommendations.

Addressing those concerns, however, would not be easy or inexpensive for Conifer. River Park has some physical constraints. The new buildings would be constructed on the existing foundations because digging would disturb the site, and require cleanup of whatever containments are unearthed. It's unknown if any problems exist, but it is a constant concern for developers and the city, particularly along the river.

"There was a lot of fill used on the site, and we don't know exactly what that contains," says Dorraine Laudisi, a senior planner with the city. "Using the existing foundations is kind of a given."

And the city has a 30-foot sewer easement running through the middle of the parking lot. The new buildings can't be arranged differently on the parcel to increase the view of the water because of the foundations and the sewer line.

Increasing the parking may not be an option, either. Conifer needs all of the proposed units, particularly the higher-end units, says Handelman, because much of the project'sfunding is coming from government sources. The city, for instance, is contributing more than $3 million. Some of that government funding is contingent upon building an 80/20 ratio of market-rate housing to income-based housing. Increasing parking would reduce space available for units.

Excess parking is not typical, Laudisi says. The property is close to downtown, she says, and on a major bus line.

Another big concern is the 30-or-so tenants still scattered throughout the five buildings. Conifer will give the tenants the option to stay, but out of the proposed 100 new units, only 20 are planned as affordable housing. It's possible, says Handelman, that tenants will be displaced.

"We have a displacement plan in place to help people relocate nearby, if that's the case," Handelman says.

But even if all of the other issues are addressed, there is still the question of why such an important riverfront site is being used for affordable housing at all. Most cities have been using their waterfront sites for luxury housing - development that invigorates downtowns and rebuilds tax bases.

Boyd says that the inclusive mix is what makes the South Wedge work.

Comment on River Park plans
The city is accepting public comments on the River Park plans, which can be found at the South Wedge Planning Committee's website: www.southwedge.org

National play center company considers Greece, East Rochester
Democrat and Chronicle

A company that has 170 play centers around the country is looking at two locations in the Rochester area for its newest franchise. Pump It Up officials say they have their eyes on East Rochester and Greece for their inflatable-filled playlands.

The two suburbs have the right demographics and logistics for Pump It Up arenas: "a certain level of income, lots of young kids," said Gordon Keil, CEO of Pump It Up. He spoke by phone from company headquarters in the Chicago area.

Keil said Pump It Up frequently chooses sites in light industry parks because of the availability of appropriately sized buildings — 6,000 to 10,000 square feet in area with 20-foot ceilings.

The larger arenas include six inflatable structures, Keil said, and a climbing wall. The company debuts new features every six months, he said.

"We're fairly well saturated on the West Coast, throughout California," Keil said, and so the company has started moving into the Northeast. Its only other franchises in New York are on Long Island.

Keil said Pump It Up hadn't talked with real estate brokers yet about specific properties but had done market research in the area. The marketing data revealed that the Rochester area also would be a good place to find prospective franchise owners, he said.

"The number one way we find owners is people who have attended parties at Pump it Ups," Keil said.

East Rochester's light industrial park already features a baseball-themed indoor recreation center, a skateboard and roller skating arena and a gymnastics training center, all of which offer birthday parties.

The more the merrier, suggested Debra Ross, operator of the Kids Out and About's Web site, which lists activities for families with children, including indoor arenas and birthday party locations.

"There is no question that here in Rochester, the market is ripe for just these kinds of venues," Ross said. "As wonderful as our children's museums are and as enticing as Chuck E Cheese is for kids, families crave variety. And competition begets innovation, so everyone benefits."

Keil said uncomfortable weather is a boon to Pump It Up locations.

"In the snow belt, you can feel safe and secure that when you plan a birthday party at Pump It Up, it doesn't matter if it rains, it doesn't matter if it snows, it doesn't matter if it's cold," Keil said.

Bella Carta Studio plans open house
Rochester Business Journal

Bella Carta Studio LLC, a Rochester business that designs hand-crafted invitations and announcements, has moved to a new location.
The design firm has relocated from its Monroe Avenue location to 11 North Goodman, Suite 15.
“We’re thrilled to be opening our new space in this historic mansion-turned professional office in the Neighborhood of the Arts,” said Lisa Frey, Bella Carta’s president and principal designer. “In just three years of business, we’ve grown to be a nationally recognized design studio specializing in distinctive invitations. It’s such an exciting time for us and we are proud to announce our new location to the Rochester public.”
The public is invited to an open house 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

RochesterAddict

June 5th, 2008, 05:06 PM

Plans Released for Genesee Hospital Site
WHAM 13

Plans are taking shape on the site of the former Genesee Hospital.

“We're going to do a combination of housing, offices, and maybe small retail with a very strong bias toward neighborhood orientation,” said developer Larry Glazer.

Glazer’s company, Buckingham Properties, is spending $83 million to make it happen.

The garage has been shored up, and renovations are under way to an existing office building where Preferred Care will soon move. Construction on a branch of Canandaigua National Bank will begin soon.

The major piece will be a new medical office complex right on the corner of Monroe Avenue and Alexander Street.

“We have seen the market studies and demographic analysis that there is potentially a very good opportunity to repopulate this with medical services for this end of the city,” Glazer said. “And don't forget, you've got 50,000 people who also work downtown every day.”

The north side of the campus will be a mix of housing, offices, and retail. That will be the final component, and architectural drawings have not been drawn up yet.

“It looks like it will be rental, perhaps for sale units. It will not be what I consider very high end,” Glazer said.

The project, called Alexander Park, is expected to take four years.

New Greek restaurant on Monroe Ave, Astoria: http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/dining/articles/CHOW+HOUND%3A+Astoria/

Paetec, state and city to spend millions on move
Rochester Business Journal

Paetec Holding Corp. plans to spend $100 million to $150 million to build its new headquarters at the Midtown Plaza site, officials said Thursday. The demolition of Midtown and city support for business relocation will cost an additional $68.5 million.
Meanwhile, Paetec chairman and CEO Arunas Chesonis said Providence, R.I.-based Gilbane Inc. has been selected as project developer. Founded in 1873, Gilbane is among the nation’s oldest builders.
Fourth-generation members of the Gilbane family today lead the company, which has annual revenues topping $2.5 billion and more than 25 offices nationwide.
Most of the funding for the demolition will come from the Empire State Development Corp., which is contributing $55 million for asbestos abatement and demolition.
The city of Rochester will invest $12.67 million, including $5.9 million to purchase the property, $5.5 million to help Midtown businesses relocate, $900,000 to manage, operate and maintain Midtown properties, and $300,000 for professional services and consulting, officials said.
The city closed on the purchase of the Midtown site May 28.
Midtown businesses are scheduled to leave the complex by July 31, when the plaza will close to the public. The underground parking garage will close Sept. 30.
The demolition is scheduled to begin in June 2009 and be completed by October 2009. Construction of Paetec headquarters is slated to begin in September 2010.
Paetec, a Perinton-based telecommunications firm, plans to build a 50,000-square-foot structure on the property and move some 600 employees downtown. The company expects to add 400 workers.
In addition to housing Paetec, the Midtown property will also include “mixed use urban space,” officials said.
Information on the development will be available online at www.MidtownRochesterRising.com.

The site above has some nice pictures:
http://www.midtownrochesterrising.com/mayor/midtownrising/images/aerialFootprint.jpg
The footprint of the Midtown complex.

http://www.midtownrochesterrising.com/mayor/midtownrising/images/skyline.jpg
Downtown Rochester

http://www.midtownrochesterrising.com/mayor/midtownrising/images/cityhall.jpg
The doors to City Hall.

RochesterAddict

June 6th, 2008, 05:16 PM

Smithsonian museum builder hired for Rochester's PAETEC tower
Democrat and Chronicle

A Rhode Island construction company known for a Smithsonian museum will oversee development of PAETEC Holding Corp.'s new headquarters skyscraper at the site of Midtown Plaza.

PAETEC Chief Executive Arunas Chesonis announced the hiring of Gilbane Inc. of Providence, R.I., to manage construction of the tower, which might rise as high as 37 stories. Xerox Square, currently the city's tallest building, is 30 stories.

City and state officials gathered with Chesonis for Thursday's announcement at City Hall and unveiled a Web site — MidtownRochesterRising.com — that will track the 8.5-acre redevelopment project.

The PAETEC building, estimated to cost between $150 million and $200 million, will occupy part of the site. Its height and cost could vary because PAETEC is getting requests for additional floors from high-end office users and condominium developers, Chesonis said.

He said PAETEC chose Gilbane because the 135-year-old New England company was open to working with Rochester-area contractors and architects. Gilbane has $2.5 billion in annual revenue and managed construction of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Among those joining the telecommunications company's CEO were Gov. David Paterson and Mayor Robert Duffy. The state is providing $55 million to demolish Midtown Plaza and the city almost $13 million for the project.

Group seeks more tourists
Democrat and Chronicle

VisitRochester, the local tourism agency, will send a delegation to Toronto next week to try to attract Canadians to the region this summer.

The event at the Toronto Hilton on Tuesday will include a lunch for Canadian travel industry members and media co-hosted by VisitRochester and the New York state Division of Tourism.

"Capturing an increased share of the Canadian market is a significant component of VisitRochester's 2008 business plan," said Ed Hall, president and chief executive of VisitRochester.

Representatives from George Eastman House, Strong National Museum of Play and Wilmorite's malls are among those making the trip.

Its a miracle! VisitRochester is finally marketing our malls to Canadians! Buffalo has been making $ hand over fist from Canadians at its malls. What did it take, 3 years? I think the value of the dollar has been in the toilet that long. Wow, we are fast on the uptake!

Although I dont consider Farmington to be Rochester, we see how more and more Monroe County residents keep moving to nearby Ontario County. 800 new homes planned in Farmington alone!

Growth may lead Farmington to lose DiPacific's Restaurant to Walgreens
Democrat and Chronicle

In a town that does not have a Main Street, DiPacific's Restaurant and Party House has become the closest thing to a town square, a place for Chamber of Commerce meetings, wedding receptions and school reunions.

But the family-owned restaurant, a mainstay at the intersection of Routes 332 and 96, probably will be torn down to make way for a Walgreens drugstore, another step from farming town to suburban community. Some residents are concerned that the town is losing its rural roots.

If Walgreens gets final approval July 2 from the Farmington Planning Board, DiPacific's probably would close by the end of August.

Helen DiPacific, 73, is torn by the decision to sell her land for a chain drugstore. She says she really doesn't want to go out of business, but the pending sale will allow her to do other things to help the community. She notes that she will still have a presence at the intersection with her Dari-An snack bar.

"Some of the townspeople are not too happy," said Town Historian Margaret Hartsough, who like many other Farmington residents has gone to DiPacific's for years.

Their disapproval is not directed at DiPacific, whose restaurant has been in her family for almost six decades. She is treasured by the community and says she often is approached by local residents who regret the closure of her restaurant.

But tensions increasingly are bubbling up as this growing town of about 11,000 goes through an identity crisis. The latest example has been the ongoing debate over Farmington's recreational activities.

Newcomers such as Chris Brinza, 36, who moved to Farmington with his family less than six years ago, are demanding more recreational services from the town and do not object to the surge in development and arrival of chain stores.

"I think it's inevitable. Victor has expanded. It is working its way to Farmington," said Brinza, who is a regional credit manager for United Agri Products.

Walgreens move

Some residents already were upset about the traffic at routes 332 and 96 — the area in northwest Ontario County called the "growth corridor" — but that is what helped draw Walgreens to the intersection. "It is a combination of a strong, growing population, a steady, growing traffic count and market studies showing that it is underserved," said Guy Hart Jr., managing partner for Syracuse-based HDL Property Group.

HDL will buy the land from DiPacific and build the 14,550-square-foot structure, which will be leased to Walgreens. Hart would not disclose what his company is paying for the land, but typically, he added, such purchases exceed $1.5 million. He hopes to have the Walgreens open by next summer.

Currently about a dozen Walgreens operate or are planned in the Rochester area, but this is the first for Farmington.

Some question the need for a Walgreens, since there is a CVS at this intersection. And they hope DiPacific's remains open.

"I don't think it has to close. The area needs a restaurant," said Whitey Hettlinger, 63, a jockey agent and longtime regular at DiPacific's.

Others worry that Farmington is losing its character.

"It has grown way too much. I liked it back when it was country," said Larry Potter, 68, who served on the Town Board for 28 years until retiring last year. While a building contractor, Potter said, he stayed away from the big housing developments that are now popping up in Farmington.

Development also is transforming the "four corners" at routes 332 and 96.

In addition to Walgreens at the northwest corner of the intersection, an ALDI grocery store near the southwest corner is slated for approval by the Planning Board this month. A Comfort Inn recently opened next to DiPacific's, a Dunkin' Donuts is being built near the southeast corner, and a McDonald's stands at the northeast corner.

Dave Goehring, regional traffic engineer for the state Department of Transportation, said the expansion of Route 332 — completed in 2002 — from two lanes to four, with turn lanes at key intersections, should be sufficient to handle the increase in traffic.

In 2006, the traffic near this intersection averaged 21,368 vehicles a day on Route 332 and 16,805 on Route 96.

In addition, more vehicles will use Route 332 from about 800 homes planned on former farmland west of Route 332 and from the proposed Glacier Lakes Resort and Indoor Waterworld, which would feature a water park, on the east side of Route 332.

Ron Brand, director of planning and development, said that while the roads can handle the additional traffic, the 332/96 intersection needs attention. "You have to slow down the traffic," he said.

Rural roots

Farmington was established as a farming community 220 years ago. Some of the descendants of early settlers still make their living off the land in a town that had a population of only 1,399 in 1950.

But with the opening of the Thruway exit at Farmington in 1948, the town experienced a growth spurt. Its population grew by half during the 1950s and, boosted by the opening of Finger Lakes Gaming and Race Track in 1962, rose 69 percent in the next decade.

The population then more than doubled during the 1970s, from 3,565 to 8,922.

DiPacific's was built in 1950 by Helen's father, James "Jimmy" DiPacific, who was a successful grocer in East Rochester. The farmland had been owned by the Weigert family.

"I can remember driving up to the Thruway on a tractor and seeing (Gov.) Thomas E. Dewey waving in a car with a top down on the Thruway," said Ken Weigert, whose father, Herman, sold a slice of farmland to DiPacific.

James DiPacific was killed in a traffic accident in 1953. Anna, his wife, continued to run the restaurant and was soon joined by Helen, who took over as sole owner after her mother's death in 2000.

Dari-An, with limited seating inside, opened about 1960 as a separate business next to the restaurant. DiPacific's draw increased in the mid-1980s when a party house with seating for 300 was added.

DiPacific's, just a couple of blocks from the racetrack, became a regular stop not only for workers there but also for area residents drawn by the food, which ranges from Italian cuisine to steak to Friday night fish fries.

"There was always good food and good atmosphere," said longtime customer Audrey Everdyke, 71, of Farmington.

Helen DiPacific is known to arrive at the restaurant in the morning and, splitting her time between the restaurant and Dari-An, work until 1 a.m.

She has built up a devoted clientele and staff.

"Once you work for Dari-An and DiPacific's, you are always an employee," said Janice Shannon, 49, who — like her two children — worked for DiPacific and now considers her former boss a friend.

DiPacific, meanwhile, says she has no plans to sell the property on which Dari-An sits. She will continue running her snack bar and is looking into developing land she owns just north of the restaurant.

"I'm not leaving," she said.

HighFalls

June 6th, 2008, 07:14 PM

In today's D&C article about the PAETEC project and the selection of Gilbane, Inc. as developer:

"It's height and cost could vary because PAETEC is getting requests for additional floors from high-end office users and condominium developers, Chesonis said."

Are we looking at a mixed-use tower here? I'm not sure if that's odd or not, but I haven't encountered a lot of mixing in the bigger towers, mostly because the space is so expensive for residences. This is Rochester, though, so prices may be within reach.

RochesterAddict

June 10th, 2008, 07:18 PM

http://rnews.com/images_story/academybuilding6908.jpg
Academy Bldg. Renovation Planned
RNEWS 9

It hasn't happened in decades, but Rochester is now racing to keep up with downtown development. One example is the Academy Building on South Fitzhugh Street.

Florida developer George Traikos is working to renovate the site. He also bought the old Carriage Factory near the Susan B. Anthony neighborhood.

Traikos says retailers catering to the needs of downtown workers will fill the Academy Building's first floor.

"We've done a study based on some information from the International Council of shopping Centers and we've come to the conclusion that about $112 million a year are spent by the daytime population on retail purchases," Traikos said.

Fourteen luxury apartments are also planned for the Academy Building's third and fourth floors. Office space is planned for the second floor.

Traikos Website: http://www.traikos.us/proj_details.php?project_ID=25
Check out the site and floor plans, good stuff. I LOVE this building.

On page 6 of the Leasing brochure is a picture of the old Rochester Savings Bank, it makes me cry that that building was torn down, what a shame.

http://www.traikos.us/proj_details.php?project_ID=33
Im not sure if this guy knows what he is doing, since he just owns a bunch of dumpy apt buildings in FL, but Im hoping.

http://my-expressions.com/up_media/4051/pblog/5159/1213064215.jpg
Really nice pic of the city.

RenSquare gets support from small-business owners
Democrat and Chronicle

A group of small-business owners came out in the rain on Tuesday to support Renaissance Square, the $230 million project which would combine a bus terminal, college and arts center along East Main Street in downtown Rochester.

A press conference was assembled by county leaders this Tuesday morning at 150 E. Main St., a RenSquare building which is empty — for now.

John Julian, the retired owner of Julian’s Dry Cleaners, said his family would be interested in establishing its second Rochester store if RenSquare is built.

James Rodgers of Rochester said he even moved back from Tallahassee, Fla., to start a second concession near the site.

“It kind of gave me hope,” said Rodgers, who owns and operates two units of Muncheez Concessions in Florida and downtown Rochester.
Rodgers said he hears some negativity about the project, but explains to people it will revitalize downtown.

“I’m telling people to support it,” said Rodgers.

Maggie Brooks, Monroe County executive, said her staff is working around the clock to keep the project within budget.

Im against posting any Ren Square articles until I see demo happen, but I thought it was nice to see a positive outlook by the D and C.

RochesterAddict

June 10th, 2008, 07:23 PM

http://www.mpnnow.com/archive/x142951244/g258258a5b39d2e94776917f0291420a1fc54a563f93cde.jpg

http://www.mpnnow.com/archive/x1763541265/g258258f2c842eab3f116070c035e55b5488332d41c65c7.jpg

Where it stands: Historic High Point
Messenger Post Newspapers

With the first building of the High Point Business Park nearly complete on the hilltop overlooking Easview Mall on Route 96 in Victor, a much smaller proposal by the same developer is coming to a crucial point.

The Victor Town Board will soon decide whether to rezone a nearly two-acre lot where the Rainaldi family of Rochester wants to create a historic-looking plaza of three buildings. The land would have to be rezoned from residential to planned development.

About the project
The Historic High Point retail project calls for the renovation of an 1800s cobblestone schoolhouse and the construction of two structures of 7,000 and 5,400 square feet.

The triangle-shaped lot is on the corner of High Street, High Street Extension and Route 96, next to the 100-plus acre property where the High Point Business Park is going up.

The two new buildings and cobblestone would be designed to look like an old village, complete with antique-looking lampposts, said Fred Rainaldi Jr. There is no word on who the tenants would be, though Rainaldi’s father, Fred Sr., has said he would like to rent to a bakery like Cheesy Eddie’s, which has a store on South Avenue in Rochester, and a wine-tasting and education center to complement the Constellation Brands headquarters, which moving from Perinton to High Point.

What’s at stake
Rezoning is a hot-button issue in burgeoning Victor. Town officials seem to agree that Victor’s zoning is out of date. In some areas, residential neighborhoods straddle high-intensity commercial lots with little or no buffer. The town also has a seeming overabundance of industrial-zoned land. The Town Board has begun work to revise the comprehensive plan, essentially a series of zoning recommendations. Until that plan is complete, though, some have argued that the town should hold off rezoning parcels here and there, a practice referred to as spot zoning. On the other side are landowners who believe they should not be prevented from selling their property or developing it due to the lack of an updated plan.

At a May 27 public hearing, Douglas Fisher, a critic of the board’s vote to rezone for the High Point Business Park, opposed the latest rezoning proposal. He asked the board to “consider the larger neighborhood and its character” — surely referring to Valentown Museum, formerly owned by his father, the late J. Sheldon Fisher. Property owner and Cork Road resident Jerry Colyer told the board, “People that own things have rights. ... If you have a project that makes sense for the community, the town should have an opportunity to change things.”

What’s next
The town’s Planning Board in April recommended that the Town Board approve the rezoning. The Town Board is expected to cast its vote June 9.

Meanwhile, the town’s Architectural Review Board has given a thumbs up to the project. Town Historian Babette Huber, said at the public hearing: “We’ve come a long way with the architecture. ... I have nothing but positive remarks to give you about this project.”

Rainaldi said he would spare several old maple trees on the site, and the Rochester Museum and Science Center has conducted archeological studies to ensure the site was not laden with artifacts. He added that three traffic consultants have reviewed the plans, including the town’s own former consultants from SRF Associates.

Homearama is coming soon:
http://rochesterbusinessjournal.com/fullarticle.cfm?sdid=73568
http://www.rochesterhomebuilders.com/Homearama/homearama2008/home.htm

RIT Dubai is a done deal:
http://www.rbj.net/fullarticle.cfm?sdid=73566

The Fed says crime has gone down in all of NYS:
http://democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080610/NEWS01/806100328/1003/NEWS01

Retailers endorse Renaissance Square
Rochester Business Journal

Rochester-area retailers, along with M&T Bank Corp. Rochester Division President Daniel Burns, on Tuesday endorsed the proposed $230 million Renaissance Square development.
The project would include a bus station, a performing-arts center and a downtown campus for Monroe Community College on the northwest corner of East Main Street and Clinton Avenue.
Supporters gathered near the site Tuesday morning to promote the project. A similar news conference last week featured two local labor unions in support of the development.
“Renaissance Square will provide substantial foot traffic every day from the people who ride the bus or go to MCC,” Burns said in a statement released Tuesday by project administrator Main and Clinton Local Development Corp. “Its location is also solid because of the number of people who work within a block of here.”
New retail space and staffing for Renaissance Square and MCC would result in 300 jobs, Main and Clinton officials said in the release. The retail component would be as large as 15,000 square feet.
A public workshop for inspection and comment is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center. Main and Clinton representatives are expected to select a preferred concept June 17.

The new GRE business newsletter came out:
http://files.e2ma.net/6659/assets/docs/aprilmay2008newsletter.pdf

RochesterAddict

June 11th, 2008, 06:58 PM

http://rnews.com/images_story/chiliWegmansProposal.jpg
Wegmans Expansion Adds Local Jobs
RNEWS 9

A home grown company is making the attempt to keep jobs in Rochester. Wegmans presented an expansion proposal to the Chili Town Planning Board that could create a few hundred jobs in coming years.

Wegmans headquarters on Brooks Ave. will be a little less crowded if the Chili Town Planning Board approves the expansion.

The proposal looks to the Wegmans Industrial Park on Market Street off Chili Avenue.

Wegmans reps say the 400,000 sq. ft., four story project hopes to relieve crowded offices in other locations.

It could also bring hundreds of job opportunities in years to come. Tuesday night's conceptual review was an initial introduction to the building project.

"We're dedicated, loyal to the community in appreciation for what the community has provided to Wegmans. As well as we want to continue to grow our market here," Wegmans Project Manager Arthur Pires said.

"I see it as, certainly, a significant economic gain for the town. In the future, even some of the employees working there may want to relocate to the town to be closer to where they work," Town of Chili Planning Board Chair, James Martin said.

The planning board will hold a public hearing July 10. The board is expected to make a decision by August. If Wegmans gets the approval, builders will break ground as early as Spring of 2010.

Wegmans may move Tastings to former drug store
Democrat and Chronicle

Wegmans Food Markets Inc. wants to move its Tastings restaurant across Monroe Avenue to the building formerly occupied by a Rite Aid drugstore.

The Pittsford Planning Board approved a special use permit for the project at its meeting Monday. Wegmans is expected to go before the town's Architectural Review Board on June 23 for final approval.

Wegmans' plans to remodel the former drug store at 3220 Monroe Ave. — a 10,700 square-foot, one-level structure — to allow for outdoor seating and additional parking.

The current Tastings restaurant is a 10,000-square-foot, two-level building with the bar and restaurant downstairs; and banquet, private dining and meeting rooms upstairs. After the move, the Tastings space would be incorporated into the adjacent grocery store, said Wegmans spokeswoman Jo Natale.

"We are in the preliminary stages of design," she said. "No timeframe has been set."

Tastings opened in 2002 as Wegmans' first full-service, sit-down restaurant.

It offers a basic American food menu with influences from around the globe.

The 114-seat restaurant also features chef's tables where diners can watch the kitchen staff at work.

Canadian firm becomes RTP tenant
Rochester Business Journal

A Canadian company is making Rochester Technology Park home for one of its manufacturing hubs, RTP’s owners said Wednesday.
RTP’s owners, based in Brooklyn, have recruited a handful of new tenants to Eastman Kodak Co.’s former Elmgrove facility. Since last year when the Tryad Group purchased RTP, occupancy has increased from 800,000 square feet to over 1.3 million square feet.
The Canadian company, Weldrite Closures Inc. in Building 8, will add 50,000 square feet. Total, the Technology Park covers 5 million square feet of space.
Weldrite manufactures doors and hatches for ships and ocean-drilling platforms, as well as closures that provide airtight seals in bio-hazard laboratories. The firm expects to add 40 jobs here over the next three years.
Dick Knapp, Weldrite general manager said the company already created 20 of those new jobs within the past two months.
Knapp said Weldrite chose the Tech Park over a location in Connecticut in part for the amenities there that are critical to the company’s operations.
Weldrite joins Pepsi Bottling Group, Hammer Packaging and Citigroup Inc. as the latest tenant to lease space at RTP.
Beyond RTP, Tryad Group owns millions of square feet of industrial properties, as well as multifamily and mixed-use properties in New York and nationwide.

Another Abbott’s to open in Fla.
Rochester Business Journal

Abbott’s Frozen Custard is opening its second store location in the Naples-Ft. Myers, Fla. market Friday. Joseph Francher, president of the Francher Group, owns the new location, in addition to another Naples store. The Francher Group plans to open several more Abbott’s locations in the region in the next two to four years. Abbott’s Frozen Custard, established in 1902, is based in Rochester and has more than 40 locations.

Im just posting this because I like Jazz, I think its a nice compilation of places to check out, it has nothing to do with dev, sorry: http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/nightlife/articles/THE+SCENE%3A+Jazz+hangouts/

blangjr21

June 12th, 2008, 05:15 PM

Funny how in such a short period of time the occupancy has risen that dramatically at the Tech Park eh?

RochesterAddict

June 12th, 2008, 07:58 PM

Funny how in such a short period of time the occupancy has risen that dramatically at the Tech Park eh?

I know, right? It just took getting the right owner who knows what they are doing to get the ball rolling. That Cohen guy from Cali (previous owner)didnt have the right contacts.

Its good someone else is posting on here with me, all I hear is crickets when Im on SSC. Rocguy must have a great summer internship, I havent seen him on here in a long time. MAT and Bdaly give a sporadic shout out, which is cool. I guess this site just doesnt have a Rochester following. What type of other dev websites do people post on? Citydata? Are there Roc peeps on SSP?

bdaly

June 12th, 2008, 08:21 PM

Its good someone else is posting on here with me, all I hear is crickets when Im on SSC. Rocguy must have a great summer internship, I havent seen him on here in a long time. MAT and Bdaly give a sporadic shout out, which is cool. I guess this site just doesnt have a Rochester following. What type of other dev websites do people post on? Citydata? Are there Roc peeps on SSP?
It's funny. When there were "debates," this was active as can be. Now that it's essentially being used as it's intended, it's pretty quiet as there's less of a discussion. I do check this daily, I just haven't had too much to comment on. (And, I recently got married and was in Ireland for a while.)

It seems like some good projects are underway or are on the drawing board. I'm happy to see the High Falls apartments coming together so quickly--that should really help inject 24/7 life into the district and make the vacant restaurants viable again.

It should be a busy weekend in the city center once again--Jazz Fest, Maplewood Rose Weekend, Red Wings, Rhinos Friday, Rattlers Saturday. You can tell it's the Spring/Summer festival season.

RochesterAddict

June 12th, 2008, 10:38 PM

It's funny. When there were "debates," this was active as can be. Now that it's essentially being used as it's intended, it's pretty quiet as there's less of a discussion. I do check this daily, I just haven't had too much to comment on. (And, I recently got married and was in Ireland for a while.)

It seems like some good projects are underway or are on the drawing board. I'm happy to see the High Falls apartments coming together so quickly--that should really help inject 24/7 life into the district and make the vacant restaurants viable again.

It should be a busy weekend in the city center once again--Jazz Fest, Maplewood Rose Weekend, Red Wings, Rhinos Friday, Rattlers Saturday. You can tell it's the Spring/Summer festival season.

Yeah Ive got major plans for the weekend starting with a tour of the High Falls brewery tonight. Free taste testing!

American Packaging breaks ground on new facility
Rochester Business Journal

Ground was broken Thursday on American Packaging Corp.’s $9.3 million, 14,000-square-foot facility.
Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy and other officials joined Peter Schottland, the firm’s president and CEO, at the morning event.
American Packaging, with a 100-year history in Rochester, employs 500 — with some 150 in Rochester — and has sites in Iowa and Wisconsin. It moved its headquarters to Rochester in 2001. Company officials said the expansion would add 25 new jobs locally over the next three years.
The company, located on Driving Park Avenue, specializes in making flexible packaging laminations for specialty markets.
The Rochester plant's products have included lids for Pringles chips, ready-to-go cereal bowls for customers including Kellogg Co. and General Mills Inc., and paper lids for instant lunches.

$50k to help city’s real estate market
Rochester Business Journal

A $50,000, two-year initiative was launched Thursday to reinvigorate stagnant real estate markets in Rochester city middle-neighborhoods.
Such communities are described as neighborhoods that do not grab headlines for high crime rates or get significant investment. The Realtors Charitable Foundation and NeighborWorks, a non-profit run in Rochester, focuses on areas it calls economically stagnant with its program, Rochester’s Healthy Blocks.
Developed to rehabilitate an area of the South Wedge in 2005, the Healthy Blocks strategy is based on a national model called Healthy Neighborhoods. It was deployed in cities similar in size to Rochester, such as Battlecreek, Mich. and Hartford, Conn.
Three years ago in the Swillburg neighborhood, the organization met with residents to find out what would improve the attractiveness of their neighborhood.
“There was a chain-link fence there that was an eye sore. It had been crushed by snow removal equipment,” said Amy DeSouza, spokeswoman at Greater Rochester Association of Realtors Inc. Through Healthy Blocks, she said, the area was restored and afterwards, residents worked together to garden and maintain the area.
In addition to Swillburg, Healthy Blocks has supported work in targeted areas of the 19th Ward and Brooks Landing.
GRAR, with approximately 3,000 members in the region, funds the Realtors Charitable Foundation.
The foundation Thursday announced it would provide the two-year grant to launch Healthy Blocks in the areas between East Main Street, Atlantic Avenue, Woodstock Street and Akron Street, including Newcroft Park.
The partnership will enable real estate agents to get involved and make a strategic impact on the community, said Kimberly Russell, chairwoman of the foundation.

ManAboutTown

June 13th, 2008, 12:06 AM

What up y'all? Sorry addict, I figure you have the news covered so I pretty much only post when I learn of something new or have an opinion to share. I sometimes take a look at other cities' forums and so many are full of incessant inane ramblings. I'm proud that ours has become somewhat laid back and focused. Speaking of which, below are the renderings of the preferred design for Renaissance Square, as presented at this evening's public meeting. I'm once again disappointed that they didn't get the memo to do what I want, but alas, jagged glass IS all the rage these days.

http://www.13wham.com/media/news/6/b/9/6b9b8026-33aa-440c-9560-c2309187c098/Original.jpg
http://www.13wham.com/media/news/2/0/3/203de566-7700-42ce-99d2-61aea36c9d00/Original.jpg
http://www.13wham.com/media/news/2/e/8/2e8249c5-9767-4264-b846-7a472611c2c2/Original.jpg
http://www.13wham.com/media/news/2/9/e/29e34e84-c353-47b0-9522-c347708effdb/Original.jpg
http://www.13wham.com/media/news/3/5/f/35fde7fb-bccc-45c1-8377-ac6d22d5ef38/Original.jpg

ROCguy

June 13th, 2008, 01:13 AM

I know, right? It just took getting the right owner who knows what they are doing to get the ball rolling. That Cohen guy from Cali (previous owner)didnt have the right contacts.

Its good someone else is posting on here with me, all I hear is crickets when Im on SSC. Rocguy must have a great summer internship, I havent seen him on here in a long time. MAT and Bdaly give a sporadic shout out, which is cool. I guess this site just doesnt have a Rochester following. What type of other dev websites do people post on? Citydata? Are there Roc peeps on SSP?

I'm working as a counselor at a summer camp...I have about 1 hour a day of free time where I don't have to be with the kids, and its a toss up whether or not I get to use one of the few computers they have here durring free time. I have 2 weeks off in the end of June, and then come back for the second session July 2. So I'll be in Rochester June 27th-July 1st.

btw I think its great Wegmans is expanding its headquarters and adding jobs; but it seems kind of dissapointing that it will be in Chili...they should follow Paetec's lead and invest in downtown.

downtownhobo

June 13th, 2008, 02:58 AM

cool! while I am not the biggest fan of Ren Square, those new pics show a lot more detail than any others i have seen. The new bus station section is interesting with the tiered roof. It looks like they were smart enough for some street level retail also, overall the design is nicer than i had expected. Although I still think the city should avoid these mega projects, especially after the fast ferry...:ohno:

While i have checked this site often, i decided to register after RochesterAddict mentioned how quiet this tread was:)

RochesterAddict

June 13th, 2008, 07:23 AM

Hey, I got everyone to comment back with my comment. Nice!

I think the design for Ren Square looks great. Its 2008 trendy, which Rochester needs a little bit of.

While its not a progressive design, I think it will add to the city.

BTW, I took one of the 1st ever tours of the High Falls Brewery tonight.

It was pretty sweet, I really enjoyed myself and it was cool to see all that they are doing. High Falls Brewing has a lot of marketing planned in the near future. High Falls has always been like the Willy Wonka Factory in Rochester, never really opening up the brewery to the public. A lot of sweet taste testing tonight as well!

On my way home I took a scenic tour from the brewery on St Paul to get back to Penfield.

On Franklin St I noticed that someone took the old 90's club that burned down and gutted it. (Im not old enough to know the club, I think it was called City Lights?) The building has beautiful architecture and is very old. It looks like they turned it into 2 condos. Its still in the area of the sketchy Salvation Army, but perhaps the neighborhood will continue to turn around? Progress is good.

Urbanica

June 13th, 2008, 12:27 PM

savetheday

June 13th, 2008, 02:57 PM

Generally speaking the design is nice, but I am left a little underwhelmed since this project has been talked about for so many years and I am left with a slight feeling "this is it?" It will definitely be a nice addition to the street, especially if they really take advantage of ground floor retail and tenants are found that will truly add foot traffic to the street.

While I do like the contrasting elements that make it look like multiple structures, I don't like the plain silver cladding on top of the corner bulding. It looks like an office park somewhere.

I think that the "this is it" feeling is based on the fact that we were first working with a “star architect” who put together a design that was WAY more then this project needed or could afford. He painted a pretty picture… and those images became what people expected. Now the local architects are faced with the task of making this project real. Although this project may not look the way we all envisioned… I commend the architects for what they have done. I think that this project will be great for the City of Rochester.

RochesterAddict… there are many of us out here reading this blog. Keep posting!!

RochesterAddict

June 13th, 2008, 11:44 PM

Riedman Corp. buys Neisner Building
Rochester Business Journal

Riedman Corp., owner of the Riedman Tower at 45 East Ave. and the Rochester office of the state Supreme Court Fourth Department Appellate Division at 50 East Ave., is buying the vacant Neisner Building at 49 East Ave with tentative plans to add commercial, residential, and office space.

Kodak to repair, restore tower exterior
Rochester Business Journal

Eastman Kodak Co. plans to repair and restore the exterior of its headquarters on State Street over the next three years.
“The Kodak Tower has long been an important symbol to Kodak people and it has been (a) landmark in the Rochester skyline for generations,” said Chairman and CEO Antonio Perez, in a statement. “Rochester is our home, and this announcement is another sign of our continuing commitment to this community and our role as a global leader in the imaging business.”
The work is slated to begin mid-summer and continue through 2010. It will require installation of scaffolding for the duration of the project, Kodak said. The primary focus of the work will be repairs to the masonry of the building, which dates back to 1916.
A Kodak spokesman declined to provide the estimated cost for the work, which remains in the project engineering stage. The company also has not “fully identified” who will do the work,” said Christopher Veranda, Kodak manager of communications initiatives.
Deterioration and cracks in the masonry at numerous locations were found in a study completed last year by an architectural engineering firm, Kodak said. The building was found to be structurally sound, but the masonry repairs were identified as required to maintain the structure’s safety and integrity.
The first 16 floors of the Kodak Tower were completed in 1916, while the three top floors were added in 1935. The top floors contain architectural features such as intricate terra cotta masonry and a promenade roof. It will be the first comprehensive repair project in the building’s history, Kodak said.
The extensive exterior work requires the company to relocate the peregrine falcon nesting box in the rooftop cupola. Kodak said it is working with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on a plan to relocate the nesting box after the fledging of the current brood of five baby falcons.
Kodak already has been doing some renovation work inside Kodak Tower.
“We’re doing some sprucing up on the inside, too, that was neglected for some time, as well. Painting (in Kodak colors), patching up some walls and putting up new images are the major part of it,” said Christopher Veranda, Kodak manager of communications initiatives.

Port officials reject ferry proposals
Rochester Business Journal

Port officials in Rochester and Toronto have rejected two proposals for ferry service between the cities, Rochester city officials announced Friday.
Representatives of both cities reviewed proposals from Hover Transit Services, based northwest of Toronto, and from Sevstars, a previously undisclosed respondent based in Perinton, to a request for qualifications issued in late March.
Neither proposal exhibited the organizational or fiscal capability to succeed, officials said.
“We needed to determine whether there was sufficient interest on the part of potential investors to pursue the idea further,” Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy said in a statement. “We continue to explore the many possibilities that exist in order to fully showcase and capitalize on our port. It’s a tremendous asset.”
The Hover Transit proposal included two hovercrafts, which fly on a cushion of air and are pushed by propellers.
The Sevstars proposal involved a vehicle that is a cross between a hovercraft and an aircraft, officials said. It moves with a cushion of air created by aerodynamic interaction between its wings and the water surface.
Port officials will not actively pursue a ferry service across Lake Ontario, but will consider any proposal with adequate financial and organizational resources, they said.
Rochester is studying the market and locations for a possible marina basin at the Charlotte port, and is exploring a Lake Ontario natural resource center with SUNY College at Brockport, officials said.
It also is pursuing uses for the ferry terminal, of which the city took possession last month in a buyout agreement with former owner Maplestar Development Co. LLC, a subsidiary of failed fast ferry operator Canadian American Transportation Systems LLC.

Another story on Ren Square, yawn. BUT, the video on the left side is a great way to see the new design!
http://democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080613/NEWS01/806130361&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

blangjr21

June 14th, 2008, 04:53 PM

I think finally seeing all the elements put together at Ren Square helps to really lay out what they are trying to do to joe public. Instead of 2d drawings it is nice to see a 3d drawing with all the elements put on paper.

The 3d flyover is pretty neat too. I guess if they are going to go ahead with the project, just put a shovel in the ground already. The longer they wait the more money it will continue to cost with rising construction costs across the board.

Also with the increase in gasoline prices, I'm thinking a new and fairly standard major bus hub is what RTS needs to appeal to more people to actually ride the system. The route seem to be more confusing than they need to be.

On top of that with a huge and unprecedented increase in Amtrak funding, could we see train travel in this country actually expand? Instead of just limping along like it always has? Hopefully that means they finally rebuild the Amtrak terminal downtown as well!

bdaly

June 15th, 2008, 03:43 AM

Also with the increase in gasoline prices, I'm thinking a new and fairly standard major bus hub is what RTS needs to appeal to more people to actually ride the system. The route seem to be more confusing than they need to be.

This is a good point. My co-workers and I have discussed this, and the concept of having to travel downtown and then head to Henrietta isn't real appealing. But, if the layover was in a more appealing hub (over standing outside on Main), I'd probably consider it a little more seriously.

HighFalls

June 16th, 2008, 05:20 AM

I missed the article about renovation at Kodak Tower....I don't think Rochester has seen this much simultaneous high-profile construction efforts in a long, long time. Ren Square, PAETEC, ESL, Kodak....not to mention all the smaller residential/commercial rehab work. Wow!

Sorry to see the hovercraft plan was rejected though - could have restored some momentum to the development of Charlotte.

Ren Square - I think it'll be great. The design looks pedestrian-friendly.

savetheday

June 16th, 2008, 03:36 PM

The bridge between the original building and the modern addition will be demolished as a part of the renovation. I’ve always loved that little piece of the building… So sad.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/475261813_bd674351e4_b.jpg

HighFalls

June 16th, 2008, 04:09 PM

City Council to vote on ferry terminal nightclub
Sealed away for the past four years behind covered windows and locked doors, a posh, never-opened nightclub at the ferry terminal will finally come alive.

The upstairs space — with its leather furniture, small tables, hanging lamps and large, curved bar — opens onto an expansive, second-floor veranda with sweeping views of the Genesee River and Lake Ontario.

City Council's Parks and Public Works Committee last week discussed a proposed agreement with the Riverside Convention Center to open the restaurant-lounge and manage special events at the terminal. City Council probably will vote on the agreement Tuesday.

If all goes as planned, the club — tentatively named Turning Pointe — will open in early August, said Joe Floreano, executive director of the convention center.

The space originally was completed by owners of the failed private ferry venture. They named it Boca and received an initial go-ahead for a liquor license in 2004 but never followed through. When the ferry failed, the nightclub space remained tied up in a controversial $1-a-year, 40-year lease of the ferry terminal granted by the city to the former ferry owners. A settlement to return the lease to the city was announced in April.

"It's a beautiful, beautiful spot, to sit up there and see the boats come in and out," Floreano said, anticipating that the business will be seasonal and could shut down for the winter in late December or after New Year's. "It's a very unique spot for Rochester — something, again, on the water, which we don't have much of."

He plans to put in a kitchen, although he likely will start with a portable grill on the veranda. He is developing a menu of hors d'oeuvres and tapas.

Floreano still must reach an agreement to buy the furniture and fixtures from Brian Prince, former ferry co-operator, whose Maplestar Development Co. held the lease.

Maplestar is a sister company of Canadian American Transportation Systems, the private company that brought the high-speed ferry to Rochester. CATS leased the terminal's retail and office space from the city in 2001, then subleased the space to Maplestar. A nondisturbance clause allowed Maplestar to retain control even after CATS shut down, having operated the ferry for only a few months in 2004.

In April, the city announced that it had agreed to pay Maplestar $400,000 as compensation for its investment. City Council approved that agreement last month.

The agreement with Floreano and the convention center would take effect July 1 and run two years, with the option of one-year renewals. The convention center would market the terminal as a place for receptions and other events, rent out the departure hall, provide catering and open the upstairs lounge. The city would retain rental fees and pay for utilities. The convention center would keep all food and beverage money and pay no rent.

"I think it will be excellent for business," said Tom Beaman of California Rollin II, one of a handful of businesses remaining at the terminal since the ferry permanently shut down in 2005. "I hope I can get my menu up there (in the lounge) and run some food up."

Beaman described the upstairs space as "the highest-quality bar in Rochester." Now it's up to Floreano and his colleagues to put some life into it.

"We're looking for a mature type of lounge, not a dance club," Floreano said, estimating that the hours would be 4 p.m. to midnight daily.

"We want to do it right. The city wants us to do it because I believe they want to see what the potential is."

BDSHARP@DemocratandChronicle.com

RochesterAddict

June 16th, 2008, 05:48 PM

http://my-expressions.com/up_media/4051/pblog/5159/1213532057.jpg
High Falls

http://my-expressions.com/up_media/4051/pblog/5159/1213590634.jpg
Maplewood Park
Was the Rose festival recently? Ive never been.

Plans for La Marketa Still Uncertain
RNEWS 9

Frustration is building in a neighborhood on Rochester's north side. After years of planning, the future of a Hispanic-themed shopping center is up in the air. Those who live there say they're tired of what they call empty promises.

"Every time I go by it aggravates us," said Albert Algarin. "Why is it taking so long? Why isn't it happening?" he asked.

For those trying to cleanup Rochester's North Clinton Avenue, patience is wearing thin.

"The community is just tired of empty promises," Algarin said.

Algarin is the president of the North Clinton Avenue Business Association. He says the site was supposed to become home to La Marketa, an open market with foods and goods that reflect the area's Latino heritage

"We’re the fastest growing community and here we are waiting, 30 years later, and we have nada,” said City Council President Gladys Santiago. “The city finds money for other things," she added.

The only money committed to La Marketa is a $225,000 New York State grant. Not enough to fund a project this size.

"There are some monies that have to be put into play and we're working on that,” said Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy. “And I don't know if the original plans will translate into today's dollars," Duffy said.

Algarin says if this project is completed it could house up to 50 businesses and could be the key to redeveloping the neighborhood.

"It will give people from Pittsford and Brighton a reason to come down here. Because there will be unique things here that they can not find in their neighborhood," said Algarin.

Algarin says what La Marketa needs right now is strong leadership.

"I have to become a tough guy and I will," Algarin said.

Algarin will sit down with Rochester city development leaders this week to make sure the lot on North Clinton Avenue doesn't stay empty forever.

"I'm going to say to them we need to make this happen that's it. No more talks. Let's build it," said Algarin.

bdaly

June 16th, 2008, 06:39 PM

http://my-expressions.com/up_media/4051/pblog/5159/1213590634.jpg
Maplewood Park
Was the Rose festival recently? Ive never been.

It was this past weekend:

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008806160324

It missed it this year, but I made it last year. They had a few food vendors, a handful of crafts vendors, and tours of the gorge. It's a good event, although attendance seemed a bit light last year in good weather. The picture above shows a decent crowd in the garden, which is good to see.

RochesterAddict

June 16th, 2008, 10:42 PM

Greece Bon-Ton store to be demolished
WHEC 10

According to documents obtained today by News 10NBC, the Bon-Ton store at the Mall at Greece Ridge will be demolished. The project plans that will change the largest mall in our area call for a similar set-up like the Eastview Mall expansion.

By this time next year, the Bon-Ton anchor store will be gone. In it's place, a series of smaller stores and restaurants with a similar look to Eastview Mall.

“I guess if they feel that it can get them more tenants and better tenants and better serve the customers then it's a good idea,” Mark Dulaney said.

The mall company's application to the County's Industrial Development Agency, COMIDA, says the demolition of the Bon-Ton store will start January 15, 2009. The construction of the new wing will finish 11 months later.

The mall owners, Wilmorite, said the plans are incomplete. They have designs of the new expansion but wouldn't show them. They also declined to talk on camera. There is a public hearing coming up.

What would interest mall shopper Michelle McGurk is, “If there was a nice restaurant other than Friday’s and the food court, if there was something nicer in there.”

Bob Casella is hoping there will be work for him in the future at the Mall at Greece Ridge. “I work for the Painters and Glazers Union so I’m always looking for new construction.”

Darla Ferera said, “I think that would be good. It's going to be a lot of little stores? Then I think that would be good for the community.”

We were tipped off to this story by a tiny legal notice in the Greece Post. It was a notice of a public hearing with COMIDA on the Bon-Ton building's demolition.

The hearing is July 14 at the Greece Town Hall.

The Bon-Ton said they have no idea the paper work was filed and say this is the mall's idea and not theirs. We asked if they’ll be moving to another location and they said no comment.

Plan to raze Bon-Ton at Greece Ridge is disputed
Democrat and Chronicle

A fight may be brewing over an apparent plan by Wilmorite Management Group to demolish the Bon-Ton department store at The Mall at Greece Ridge.

A legal notice placed by the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency states that Wilmorite is seeking to raze the Bon-Ton and replace it with smaller stores and restaurants totaling 70,000 square feet.

But Bon-Ton officials said today that the company owns the building, that Wilmorite hasn’t said anything about its plan and that it wants Wilmorite’s application to COMIDA withdrawn.

Mary Kerr, vice president of investor and public relations for Bon-Ton, said the company has no knowledge of the plan.

“We were not aware of this unilateral action by mall management there,” Kerr said from corporate headquarters in York, Pa. “We have asked mall management to withdraw this plan.”

Dennis A. Wilmot, vice president of leasing for Wilmorite, said the company would not comment regarding the application, project or Bon-Ton’s request.

Kerr said Bon-Ton owns the 104,000-square-foot store, which became a Bon-Ton in 1995 after it was acquired from McCurdy’s.

Wilmorite’s application to COMIDA said the demolition of the Bon-Ton store would begin Jan. 15, 2009. The new wing would be completed 11 months later.

COMIDA is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the application July 14 at Greece Town Hall.

RochesterAddict

June 17th, 2008, 08:26 PM

http://www.mpnnow.com/archive/x19917449/g258258f5fd5c076c4d3840e4344943cb8d867c186be2aa.jpg
Proposed patio homes.

New high-end housing to come to Brighton?
Messenger Post Newspapers

David and Andrea DiLiberto of Penfield have been looking to build a new house in Brighton for the past year and a half without any success.

Andrea said Brighton is her ideal destination as it’s centrally located and she hopes to have her 1-year-old son Sam eventually attend Brighton Central Schools.

The problem is there is no space in the Brighton to build new properties and the only locations they can find are too far out of the way.

The Reserve, a proposed gated residential community in Brighton, is the ideal location for the DiLiberto family, according to Andrea. The development would provide 350 units of high-end housing, along with easy access to the Erie Canal.

Anthony J. Costello & Son Development is proposing the project that would sit on a 63-acre parcel on South Clinton Avenue. The lot is bordered by I-590, the Erie Canal and Meridian Centre Park.

The breakdown of housing units in the plan are 68 single family residences, 102 town houses and 180 loft condominiums inside six six-story buildings.

The community also would include a clubhouse, including a kitchen for catering, meeting rooms, a gathering hall, exercise and massage rooms, locker rooms and a pool.

The DiLiberto’s were one of several Rochester residents who showed excitement after the latest plan was presented at the Brighton Town Board meeting June 11. The issue of finding space for a new home in Brighton is a common one.

A draft of The Reserve’s Environmental Impact Statement report cites U.S. census data that shows 78 percent of housing in the 14618 zip code is more than 39 years old.
Brighton Town Supervisor Sandra Frankel said that there hasn’t been a new housing project of this magnitude in Brighton in the last 20 years.

“Brighton is a nearly fully developed town,” Frankel said. “There is limited remaining available space for residential development.

“The Reserve offers an opportunity to meet a continuing demand for new single family homes, as well as the interesting concepts that the lots offer.”

The proposed project also includes amenities for the town and other people who don’t live in The Reserve, including canal access.

“There are over three miles of the canal going through Brighton and it’s not easily accessible,” CEO Anthony J. Costello said. “What we hope to do through amenities, is make it more accessible for residents of all of Brighton, in addition to people living at the 350 homes of The Reserve.”

The amenities would include a boat launch, canal access parking lot, safety access improvements, lighting and seating alongside the canal, restriping of South Clinton Avenue for traffic calming, a picnic pavilion in Meridian Centre Park along with a trailhead in the park.

One issue that needs to be addressed by the town is the zoning.

Currently, the parcel is zoned as residential and the developer is requesting rezoning to waterfront development district.

The Town Board and Planning Board are holding a joint workshop on June 18 to review the project’s Environmental Impact Statement.

Costello said he hopes to have final approval to get started in the fall.

Jimmie’s Meat Packing eyes 74 jobs
Democrat and Chronicle

A meat-packing company will create 74 new jobs in Henrietta, county officials were told today.

Jimmie’s Meat Packing Co. Inc. will purchase the former Conti Packaging Co. Inc. plant at 2299 Brighton-Henrietta Town Line Road in Henrietta, members of the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency were told.

Owners will renovate the 28,000-square-foot facility and install new equipment.
Board members of COMIDA approved a tax-exempt industrial revenue bond for the plant, and also property-tax abatement.

The incentives totaled $76,000 but will produce $1.5 million in benefits to Monroe County taxpayers, according to Judy Seil, COMIDA executive director.

Site reveals how state spends tax money
Rochester Business Journal

A new Web site was unveiled Tuesday to allow public access to how state government spends its tax dollars.
The site, www.openbooknewyork.com, contains searchable databases of spending by 113 state agencies and public authorities, and more than 60,000 state contracts, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said.
“Open Book New York gives the public a roadmap to follow their tax dollars and brings more accountability to state spending,” DiNapoli said in a statement. “This is the closest to real-time financial tracking the state has ever seen. When everyone can see where the money goes, nothing can be hidden.”
The Web site contains active state contracts and contract amendments state agencies and authorities have with businesses, non-profits and other governmental entities, DiNapoli said.
he site is updated nightly and contains active contracts going back 10 years, he said. The database can be searched by agency, company, time frame and dollar amount.

HighFalls

June 18th, 2008, 01:27 AM

Duffy's support conditional on RenSquare preliminary design
Mayor Robert Duffy expressed concerns about the Renaissance Square project this morning but ultimately voted in favor of a preliminary design.

Duffy moved to put City Attorney Tom Richards on the Main and Clinton slate of officers which were approved during a board meeting for the Main and Clinton Local Development Corp. today, and asked for a “Plan B” in case a $55 million funding gap is not bridged.

However there are no plans to create a new design, because it would cost money the Main and Clinton board does not have.

County Executive Maggie Brooks said a decision on whether the theater will be dropped won’t be made until December, after private fundraising efforts have been exhausted.

The project, which would include a Monroe Community College campus, a bus terminal and a theater is estimated to cost $230 million. So far $175 million has been secured.
JTERRERI@DemocratandChronicle.com

I think Mayor Duffy is right - if a concrete plan to raise the money doesn't materialize, they project should go ahead without the theatre. The RBTL may not like it, but it may help them in the long run to have more flexibility in upgrading their performance space. Compared to the bus terminal and MCC campus, the performing arts center is most likely to be built and run by the private sector. Also, county tax dollars wouldn't need to subsidize ongoing operating expenses.

downtownhobo

June 18th, 2008, 02:46 AM

yea, i always thought the theater was a little iffy. We already have Kodak and Auditorium theaters, which are quite large. The space that the new theater would take up may be better utilized as private development.

blangjr21

June 18th, 2008, 03:25 AM

I think that the Brighton home/mixed space project or "The Reserve" is a fantastic opportunity to bring suburbanization much much closer to the city, and cut down on the sprawl of the area.

On top of which I would much rather live in that area than as far away as the HomeARama homes are. Which by the way there are some nice homes on display (went today to see). There are also some very very strange ones as well. I highly recommend going however just to see all the newest home decoration and outdoor living ideas.

RochesterAddict

June 19th, 2008, 06:05 PM

Boom in Downtown Investments
WHAM 13

Over the last year, investments in downtown development projects have tripled.

In a typical year, Rochester Downtown Development tracks between $200 and 300 million in public and private investments.

This year that number is $763 million, including $411 million in private money.

A chunk of that is going to projects making headlines such as Midtown Plaza, ESL, and Renaissance Square.

But, plenty of other projects and buildings have caught investors' eyes too, particularly because real estate values are affordable and big projects offer excitement and possibilities.

Heidi Zimmer-Meyer of Rochester Downtown Development said, "What it costs you to buy an entire 15-story building here is less than it will cost you to buy a condo in Manhattan. So, from an investor point of view, the value that you get, what you pay for a property is relatively small."

Behind the scenes, dozens of locations are being bought by developers or soon will be.

Carlos Carballada of Rochester Economic Development said, "As soon as they believe the market is changing to a positive position for them, we won't have to ask them to come in, they'll be knocking on the doors."

“One guy said to me, 'I want to get any building, even the dog nobody else wants, give me a call,'” Zimmer-Meyer said.

Carballada said future projects will involve the city selling off a half-dozen properties for redevelopment in the coming years.

Rochester Downtown Development also said $13 million is being invested in upgrades at three hotels, and developers looking to build new hotels are on the phone with city leaders.

Rascal Site Proposals
This summer, the public will also learn more about plans to develop the downtown site referred to as "Block F" or the "Rascal Site."

The city and cultural commission is now accepting another round of bids to put a new building on this parking lot at Main and Gibbs streets across from the Eastman Theatre.

The commission received four requests last year ranging from a five-story hotel to a 16-floor skyscraper with condos, apartments, and retail space.

Due to various concerns, those requests were rejected, but they may be resubmitted by the August deadline.

http://rochesterhomepage.net/media/jpg/P-FERRYNIGHTCLUB.transfer2008-06-18-1213804965.jpg

Pier 45 At Ferry
WROC 8

The City of Rochester owns the ferry terminal and plans are in the works for the Riverside Convention Center to run the nightclub. The space is furnished, but has been vacant for four years. In 2004, former ferry owners, Maplestar, built the night club, but never opened it. We took an look inside Tuesday.

Joe Floreano runs the Riverside Convention Center in downtown Rochester. He has big plans involving vacant space at the ferry terminal. Joe wants to turn the old departure hall into an event hall. "It's a great event space with a beautiful walkway right alongside the river," said Joe Floreano.

Head upstairs and you find the terminal's hidden treasure, a furnished lounge that opens up into a spacious veranda. It's hard to believe this bar has sat empty and unused for four years now. Joe Floreano plans to lighten it up with a Caribbean theme. "Use the same color scheme as inside but brighten it and lighten it up so it becomes more of a vacation destination in Rochester," said Joe Floreano.

Joe wants to name the operation: Pier 45. The kitchen space is not yet developed, so they'd serve appetizers to start. On Tuesday afternoon, his marketing team got to tour the space to visualize his plans.

Business owners who decided to stay at the terminal after the ferry left are anxious for more development. "We've seen it all. From the busiest time to the slowest time," said Mike Manioci.

Mike makes fresh roasted nuts daily at Harbor View Cafe. He says the club opening could be the boost the terminal needs. "It's a great idea. It will bring people to the terminal which is all we want. To let them see what's in here," said Mike Manioci.

The lounge is expected to open for business in August. The Riverside Convention Center would run the business for two years with an option to renew annually.

http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/images/uploads/articles-pic-6670-3221.jpg
DEVELOPMENT: City moves to acquire Culver Road Armory
City Magazine

Developers continuously scour the southeast section of the city for housing growth opportunities, but many of the best spots are gone, said Kathy Sheets, the city's director of real estate. That's why, she said, the city is working hard to obtain the Culver Road Armory and adjoining land.

Sheets spoke to about 60 people at a meeting last Thursday about the city's plans for the site.

The state contacted the city in early April, offering the 12-acre site for $1. But the offer came with a set of restrictions on how the site could be used, limiting it to mostly government offices or recreational use. City officials didn't want to accept the restrictive terms because it would hamper future development, Sheets said. But if they didn't respond within 30 days, the property would have been sold at auction.

"We asked for a six-month extension," Sheets said. "But we are very committed to getting control of this site. We see it as a jewel in the rough."

There have been rumblings about the availability of the site for years. It was built as a cavalry training facility in 1916. The main building is 70,000 square feet, and it sits on three parcels across from the Culver Road entrance to Cobbs Hill Park.

In 2000, the state considered closing the Armory, but changed its plans. That fueled speculation that the site might become available sometime in the near future. The Upper Monroe Neighborhood Association held a community design charette in October 2004, and included the Armory site in its plans as a way to begin a public dialogue about the site's future use.

"We have learned that all development is not always good development," said Helen Hogan, executive director of the Southeast Area Coalition. "We want to be sure that the community has input into how this site is developed."

The charette recommended restoration of the Armory for a mix of retail and office use. A combination of one- and two-story housing would be added to the western parcel.

The next step is for the city and the state to negotiate a purchase. The city could pay the state the market value for the property so the restrictions are no longer an issue. But there is concern that route could make the property too expensive to re-sell to developers, Sheets said.

There may be what Sheets called a "hybrid" option, which would mean working with an agency like the Empire State Development Corporation. Having an agency manage the site would ease the development restrictions, Sheets said.

While the city works on obtaining the property, the Third Rochester Enterprise Corporation, led by Don Boyd, is forming a task force with community leaders and representatives from business groups and neighborhood associations. The purpose, Boyd says, is to make sure that all concerned parties have input into whatever project is planned for the Armory site.

"We need to speak with one community voice," Boyd says. "We want to hear what everyone has to say. But we'll have more influence if we are working together."

I found this interesting, it lists where the stores in Midtown are going:
http://www.midtownrochesterrising.com/mayor/midtownrising/BIR/BIR-Tenants.cfm

RochesterAddict

June 19th, 2008, 06:10 PM

Alleson Athletic in Brighton to make uniforms for Under Armour
Democrat and Chronicle

A Brighton-based maker of athletic uniforms is going to the show with a new arrangement that makes it a supplier to sports apparel giant Under Armour.

Alleson Athletic, headquartered with a distribution center on Brighton-Henrietta Townline Road, manufactures uniforms for most major sports.

Under the arrangement announced this week with Under Armour, Alleson will make custom uniforms for youth, high school and collegiate teams under the Under Armour brand.

Most of the work will be done at its Mexico plant, supplemented by its Geneva, Ontario County, facility, said Todd Levine, vice president of sales and marketing.

To handle the Under Armour work, Alleson expects to add jobs in customer service, order processing and account management in Monroe County, Levine said, though he could not say how many.

Worldwide, Alleson employs about 700 people with about 150 in western New York. It was founded in Rochester in 1933.

The Under Armour work could potentially double Alleson's sales, Levine said. He declined to provide sales figures for the privately held company.

"This is a very exciting deal for us," he said.

Maryland-based clothing brand Under Armour started in 1996 and has grown rapidly to a $606 million company in large part on its synthetic-fabric clothing that wicks perspiration off the skin instead of simply absorbing it.

The first Alleson-made Under Armour gear will be football uniforms rolling out in fall 2009, Levine said. The Alleson-manufactured uniforms will use Under Armour materials and designs, he said.

Comix Cafe closed
WHEC 10

A local comedy club has closed its doors. Today the doors to Comix Café in Winton Place Plaza are closed and a closed sign is tacked up to the wall.

The Buffalo location has also shut down.

We don't know why they are closed. We have calls into Comix Cafe officials and the building landlord but they haven't been returned.

A story about the new South Wedge Colony restaurant and bar by City Magazine, with the usual hippie, I hate mainstream people slant: http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/nightlife/articles/THE+SCENE%3A+South+Wedge+Colony+Bar+++Grill%3B+Third+Thursdays/

A story about the new Astoria greek restaurant: http://democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080619/ENT0305/806190305/1060/ENT03

2 stories about "the reserve" new gated community in Brighton:
http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/news/articles/DEVELOPMENT%3A+Fewer+reservations+about+The+Reserve/
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080619/NEWS01/806190349&s=d&page=4#pluckcomments

RochesterAddict

June 19th, 2008, 07:21 PM

On top of which I would much rather live in that area than as far away as the HomeARama homes are. Which by the way there are some nice homes on display (went today to see). There are also some very very strange ones as well. I highly recommend going however just to see all the newest home decoration and outdoor living ideas.

Nice, I want to check it out. What I question is, who would want to live that close to the county landfill? Doesnt make sense to me, what does it smell like in August?

blangjr21

June 19th, 2008, 09:38 PM

I couldn't smell anything when I was there, but the wind was blowing out of the west, i'm sure with a good southern breeze you'd smell something!

RochesterAddict

June 23rd, 2008, 07:59 PM

http://cmsimg.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A2&Date=20080623&Category=BUSINESS&ArtNo=80623009&Ref=AR&Profile=1001&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0
Dixon Schwabl's Offices

Dixon Schwabl named best small company to work for in U.S.
Democrat and Chronicle

Dixon Schwabl, a Perinton-based marketing and communications firm, today was named the best small company to work for in America.

The announcement was made in Chicago at the Society for Human Resource Management’s annual conference.

The society sponsors the list of small and medium-sized companies that are ranked by the Great Places to Work Institute, the same research and consulting firm that creates the list of 100 best large companies that runs in Fortune magazine each year.

“To be on that list among all of these companies is a huge gift,” said Lauren Dixon, CEO of Dixon Schwabl. “I keep pinching myself … I can’t believe it.”

This year marks the fourth in a row that Dixon Schwabl has been on the list of best small companies, defined as between 50 and 250 employees. The firm was 23rd in 2005, seventh in 2006 and ninth in 2007. The list has existed for just five years.

Although Dixon Schwabl often is identified as a Victor-based company, the firm's office is in Perinton. Dixon Schwabl is in the Victor ZIP code.

Wegmans Food Markets Inc. has been on the large-company list for 11 years and reached the No. 1 spot in 2005. It has remained in the top three ever since.

The complete list of the small and medium companies will be published in the July issue of SHRM’s flagship publication, HR Magazine, and listed at www.greatplacetowork.com.

Perinton entrepreneur revitalizing the 19th Ward
Democrat and Chronicle

Local entrepreneur invests in building, neighborhood's future.

In one form or another, 332-336 Arnett Blvd. has long been home to commerce.

Part of the row building housed The Creator's Hands gift store and gallery for a number of years. When the business showcasing works by American artists and craftspeople moved out in 2005, the storefront windows looked out on some far less savory capitalism, with occasional drug dealing out front.

Today the space in the 83-year-old building, just west of the Arnett branch of the Rochester Public Library, is hosting a family of businesses and business services aimed at a target audience of a few square blocks of southwest Rochester.

Inside the operation called "The Arnett," a small coffee shop sits alongside a copy shop. Diners at the cajun/creole restaurant The French Quarter Cafe eat steps away from a credit counseling service and a business consulting operation.

The idea is to provide both a series of niche businesses lacking in the city's 19th Ward, such as higher-end retail, and the needed training and services to help other businesses launch in the area.

The neighborhood "has a lot of good housing value," said David Dey, who created The Arnett and runs a pair of operations there with his wife, LaDonna. "But on the other hand, it has a series of challenges. It's an ideal area to launch this model."

Included in The Arnett, in addition to the cafe, are:

Kingdom Ventures Inc., which imports such goods as handbags and ceramics from developing nations and sells them through the Internet, craft shows and in its small retail space.

Risego Inc., an entrepreneurship training service for youths, and the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship, a similar training and consulting service for adults.

Lighthouse Copy & Business Services, a copy shop.

His Blends Coffee Shop.

A Caroline Creative, an event planner.

Creative Counseling & Budgeting.

Fine A.R.T.S., a gallery.

The business mix was, in large part, deliberate, said Dey, 42, of Perinton, as he did an analysis of businesses within roughly a four-block radius to see what particular niches needed to be filled.

The people behind those businesses came in through various ways, Dey said. He met Glenn and Rebecca Fadner of Kingdom Ventures through church.

Rochester couple Don and Natalie Gordon of Lighthouse Copy & Business Center got involved after Natalie Gordon, who works at a nearby doctor's office, saw the renovation work going on at The Arnett.

Lighthouse is equipped with desktops, printers and a copier, all donated, said Don Gordon, 46, with its target audience being businesses on the city's west side that don't have easy access to one of the major chains, such as Kinko's.

For Nick Brown, 33, of Penfield, opening The French Quarter Cafe is the culmination of seven years of work doing catering locally and in the South. The restaurant opened in May.

"It's a good neighborhood," Brown said. "The bad rap is a few kids here and there."

Dey's Risego Inc. bought the building for $150,000 in August 2005 to develop it, as his Institute for Social Entrepreneurship already existed in the back of the building. After failed attempts to get outside funding, Dey in late 2007 began paying for renovation work out of his own pocket. He also started rounding up donations of goods and materials, from office equipment for the copy shop to restaurant equipment for the cafe.

Daniel Ocke of Ocke Construction in Ontario, Wayne County, did the flooring work. The impetus, he said, was Risego's focus on youths.

"If Rochester fails, (the area's suburbs) are going to fail," Ocke said.

There are four upstairs apartments, which Dey said he plans to rent out to help cover costs.

M5 Networks opens office at High Falls
Rochester Business Journal

M5 Networks Inc., a Manhattan-based voice-over Internet protocol provider for mid-sized businesses, has opened a Rochester office on Commercial Street in the High Falls business district.
Mayor Robert Duffy and the city’s commissioner of economic development, Carlos Carballada, were among those in attendance Monday at the company’s ribbon-cutting.
In addition to its corporate headquarters in New York City, M5 Networks has offices in Philadelphia and Chicago.
The Rochester location came about because M5 sales executive Phelim White has family here; the company’s manager of client services, Jason Klinger, is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology; and its director of client services, Brent Barbara, is a University of Rochester alumnus, officials said.
“We have a growing commitment to Rochester,” M5 president and CEO Daniel Hoffman said. “The area offers a technologically savvy labor market and experienced business professionals who are attracted to the region’s quality of life plus greater cost efficiencies.”

More Buffalo-area developers come into the Rochester area
Democrat and Chronicle

Largo Real Estate Advisors of Getzville, Erie County, recently arranged for a $1.7 million mortgage to cover improvements on two office buildings in Victor, Ontario County.

The mortgage will cover improvements such as new carpeting, new roofs and repaving parking lots at 1286 and 1290 Blossom Drive. This mortgage is just the most recent of several commercial real estate mortgages in the Rochester area that Largo has secured.

In recent weeks, Largo also announced these mortgages:

$1.38 million for an office building at 135 Sully's Trail in Perinton's Basin Meadows Professional Park, owned by North Forest Office Providers.

$1.5 million for another North Forest office building at 101 Canal Landings Blvd. in Greece.

$10.6 million for a 2 million-square-foot building partly occupied by Eastman Kodak Co. and Kodak-spinoff Carestream Health on Lexington Avenue. Acquest Development bought the building from Kodak last year and has been subdividing it.

More Largo mortgages may be coming as more Buffalo-area developers, familiar with Largo from their work in that region, come into the Rochester area. Largo also has offices in Albany and Florida.

Bill Hamilton, chief financial officer for Buffalo-based North Forest, said getting mortgages through Largo is a lot like contracting out for payroll and human resources services.

"They have good contacts with the lending communities," particularly with insurance companies that like to invest in longer-term commercial mortgages more than banks do, Hamilton said.

Marshall Cook, general manager of North Forest's Rochester office, put it this way: "Largo basically takes our mortgage, they shop it around and they get us the best rate."

Largo also services the mortgages it secures by collecting payments and making annual inspections to ensure the mortgage providers' investments are being used well.

Hamilton said North Forest worked with Largo on a majority of its 14 properties in the Buffalo area. The office developer typically puts up the shell of its building and finishes enough of the interior to seek several tenants before attempting to recover some of those costs through a long-term mortgage on the property, Hamilton said. The capital helps North Forest start its next project, he said.

Here is a site for public art around Rochester, interesting: http://www.rochesterpublicart.com/

Just FYI, this is going on:
https://app.e2ma.net/userdata/6659/images/scaled_e1214238308.jpg

RochesterAddict

June 23rd, 2008, 10:07 PM

Landing ahead for 20-year dream
Rochester Business Journal

The developer of the multiple-use riverfront project Brooks Landing broke ground on the second phase, a $2 million, two-story retail and office building at Genesee Street and Plymouth Avenue. Combined, the three-phase Brooks Landing project and nearby Riverview Apartments are estimated to cost $46 million.

Jazz Fest attendance breaks record
Rochester Business Journal

More than 125,000 people attended the seventh edition of the Rochester International Jazz Festival, setting an attendance record, organizers said Monday. The nine-day festival concluded Saturday.
“What was happening here for nine days was pure magic,” said John Nugent, festival producer and artistic director. “I looked around and saw how happy people were, how much they loved the music and how happy the musicians were to play here.”
Marc Iacona, festival producer and executive director, said the showers and thunderstorms did not deter the festival’s loyal fans.
“For us to see an increase in attendance under challenging weather conditions is truly amazing,” Iacona said. “Every show went on. Every artist appeared. And out of almost 250 shows, we had only two or three delays and as soon as the rain stopped we were back on track.”
Last year’s Festival tallied 121,000 attendees, organizers said. This year’s festival featured nearly 250 concerts in 15 venues, including 59 free concerts on three outdoor stages.
Nugent discussed plans for next year.
“If we decide to continue to grow we will do so in a very measured fashion,” Nugent said. “Demand has kept pace with new offerings. We know people like the ability to move easily from one venue to another and experience the ambiance of discussing the music with friends and taking in many concerts in an evening so we want to preserve that aspect of the festival. Growth is not our primary objective.”
The producers want to continue to provide free concerts and keep prices for ticketed events reasonable, he said.
“Artistically we want to continue to present a broad spectrum of jazz—which we define as all kinds of creative improvised music—so that we continue to appeal to a diverse audience,” Nugent said.
Next year’s festival is scheduled for June 12 to June 20.

M5 Networks opens Rochester office in High Falls district
Democrat and Chronicle

A voice-over-Internet communications company officially opened its Rochester office today.

New York City-based M5 Networks Inc. now has space at 4 Commercial St. in the High Falls district. The company provides phone service to mid-sized business customers, and will have technical support employees in Rochester.

M5 Networks also has offices in Philadelphia and Chicago.

“The area offers a technologically savvy labor market and experienced business professionals who are attracted to the region’s quality of life, plus greater cost efficiencies,” said Dan Hoffman, president and CEO of M5 Networks.

Hoffman also noted the company’s relationship with PAETEC Holding Corp., which is M5 Networks’ phone line supplier.

Mayor Robert Duffy noted the M5-PAETEC connection as he welcomed M5 Networks to the city.

“The city is always trying to recruit new companies here, but I don’t think we’ve explored the possibilities of recruiting their clients,” said Duffy. “This is a great morale booster for us.”

M5 Networks hired 10 people to staff its support operations and plans to add locally as the company grows.

HR association honors Dixon Schwabl
Rochester Business Journal

Dixon Schwabl Advertising Inc. staffers uncorked champagne Monday to toast the Victor firm as the best small company to work for in America.
The award was announced Monday morning to an audience of close to 20,000 at the Society for Human Resource Management’s annual conference in Chicago. This is the first time Dixon Schwabl has ranked No. 1. Last year, it ranked ninth.
“This is a tremendous honor, and one that I am proud to share with our employees and clients who have helped Dixon Schwabl make it happen throughout our 20-year history,” said Lauren Dixon, Dixon Schwabl CEO. “I plan to celebrate this achievement with everyone in Rochester. I am committed to making Rochester the city with the greatest number of ‘best’ companies in the nation, and I look forward to helping other firms develop fun and rewarding workplaces with more fulfilling cultures for their employees.”
With 2007 capitalized billings of close to $140 million, Dixon Schwabl ranked third on the Rochester Business Journal’s most recent list of local marketing communications firms. The firm has roughly 75 employees.
For each of the last five years, SHRM has produced a ranking of the top 25 small and top 25 midsize companies in the United States that use people management strategies to develop a productive and satisfied work force. This is the fourth consecutive year Dixon Schwabl has been included on the list.
The businesses on this year’s list, ranging from 50 to 999 employees, were announced by SHRM and selected and ranked by the Great Place to Work Institute in San Francisco. The results were based on a randomly distributed employee opinion survey. Each company evaluated was given a score based on employees’ responses to a detailed questionnaire about the organizations’ workplace cultures.
Wegmans Food Markets Inc. regularly takes top ranking in Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list, also tabulated by Great Places to Work Institute. Local companies Paychex Inc. and Nixon Peabody LLP also placed on the 2008 list and prior lists.
Stories about the winning organizations honored by SHRM will appear in the July issue of HR Magazine, the society’s flagship publication.
“These companies stand out because their employees find them to be places where they can trust the management, take pride in their work and have fun. Other companies have much to learn about how to be productive and do right by their people,” the institute’s co-founder, Robert Levering, said in a statement.

Staples to open Wednesday in Penfield
Democrat and Chronicle

The first Staples in Penfield is to open at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

The new 21,191-square-foot store, at 1601 Penfield Road, will employ about 30 full- and part-time workers and feature more than 7,000 products.

This is the seventh Rochester-area location for the office products retailer.

The company, which has its headquarters in Framingham, Mass., has more than 2,000 stores globally and employs about 43,000.

downtownhobo

June 24th, 2008, 12:35 AM

I have visited Dixon Schwabl's office before. It's very interesting. It has the slide in the picture, a fire pole, squirt guns available to all employees, table top tennis courts, and lots of other junk. I wished i worked there!

ManAboutTown

June 24th, 2008, 02:42 AM

But if you worked there, you'd be stuck at a hidden, car-oriented, non-descript, suburban slum of an office. That alone makes it a pretty sh*tty place to work IMO.

RochesterAddict

June 24th, 2008, 09:46 PM

But if you worked there, you'd be stuck at a hidden, car-oriented, non-descript, suburban...

I guess we disagree, but no big deal, I think this looks pretty sweet...lol.

http://cmsimg.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A2&Date=20080624&Category=BUSINESS&ArtNo=806240322&Ref=AR&Profile=1001&MaxW=318&Border=0
When an ice cream truck swings by every Thursday afternoon during warm weather, Dixon Schwabl picks up the tab for its workers in Perinton.

http://democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080624/BUSINESS/806240322/1001&GID=58qJhyo/6xEsPymULjYvic2ke4A60ExgEqr0lWSKveU%3D

East Rochester to discuss townhouse plan
Messenger Post Newspapers

Representatives from Isla Housing and Development will be back in East Rochester next month to present more details of the townhouse complex they would like to build.

The Village Board has scheduled a public hearing for 8 p.m. July 14 as part of its monthly meeting. Mayor Jason Koon said this will be a continuation of the hearing adjourned April 14 when Elston Hernandez, Isla’s director of development, was told the village wanted more information on the proposal.

“A lot of it is the buildings themselves,” said Koon. “The height, where they’re going to put them.”

Residents also had questions about traffic, sidewalks, drainage and how the proposal would look.

“We’ll have somebody come in and answer questions and do a full presentation,” said Koon. “At this one, we’ll be able to get a lot more details.”

Sonia Nunez, executive director of Isla Housing and Development, said the company will be represented at the meeting by architects and engineers who will more fully explain the project, which has changed.

Isla is now planning to build 25 townhouses for senior citizens or empty nesters instead of the 25-unit condominium project it talked about in April. That plan included 12 duplexes and a single unit of multi-family homes with two bedrooms.

Nunez said Isla is looking at smaller homes — with single master bedrooms, one and a half baths, a fireplace, attached garage and high-efficiency heating and central air conditioning — that would sell for about $176,000 each.

The ranch-style homes would be built in a vacant field off East Linden Avenue. Isla is also asking that a portion of the 1.9-acre parcel be changed from single-family zoning to multi-family. The rest of the property is already zoned as multi-family.

“We’re really excited about the project and hoping we can get all of our approvals in place so we can hopefully start ground breaking,” Nunez said. “I think they’re going to look beautiful over there. East Rochester is a beautiful village and I think it will be good for the town.”

More infill Blang.

City proposes developing site for CityScape
Rochester Business Journal

A request for proposals for residential redevelopment of the Valley Court Apartments has been issued by the city of Rochester.
The Department of Community Development’s Bureau of Housing and Project Development plans to rehabilitate the 4.5-acre site on Genesee Street, across the Genesee River from the University of Rochester and near Genesee Valley Park as part of its CityScape project.
CityScape was introduced in 2003 to provide Rochester with market-rate, single-family housing. Its first project was at Newcroft Park, a 25-unit single-family subdivision near Atlantic Avenue.
The city wants developers to consider Valley Court Apartments’ three original buildings in their plans. The structures originally were the Jewish Orphan Asylum, which opened in 1916, city officials said. The buildings were converted to apartments in 1931.
Two new buildings, constructed as apartments in 1959 and 1961, will be demolished, city officials said.
Proposals must be submitted by 4 p.m. Aug. 18, officials said. For details, visit http://realestate.cityofrochester.gov.

I found this really interesting, not just because Rochester ranks #47, but from the national information as well. It is a list of the top 60 cybercities in the nation. New York City, Rochester, and Albany rank in the state.
http://media.dailycamera.com/bdc/content/static/cybercities2008.pdf

bdaly

June 25th, 2008, 05:41 AM

I guess we disagree, but no big deal, I think this looks pretty sweet...lol.
I toured their facility once while I was working on my MBA, and it's an interesting place. The slide was featured in the story, and they also have a soundproof scream room. They have a day of the month where they surprise employees with a random activity. Two examples include giving everyone $50 and they had to go to Eastview to buy a certain co-worker a gift, while another was flying to NYC to a spa. Of course, ad agencies are famous for these types of not-so-cheap activites, and then laying off people in an instant when they lose an account. Luckily, DS seems to be different, and they have a larger number of accounts (so they're not terribly dependent on one company).

blangjr21

June 25th, 2008, 04:45 PM

That infill in East Rochester is interesting because it will mean that the entire village will be developed. That parcel has been for sale for some time, and it is nice to see someone will be filling in that empty field in the middle of a townhouse complex.

Wouldn't want to pay the ER village tax bill though.

RochesterAddict

June 25th, 2008, 05:54 PM

http://cmsimg.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A2&Date=20080625&Category=BUSINESS&ArtNo=806250330&Ref=AR&Profile=1001&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0

Ad campaign pitches city to businesses
Democrat and Chronicle

With the help of Rochester's familiar circle-R logo, the city's Economic Development Department is launching an advertising campaign to encourage business owners to either keep their companies here or move them in from out of town.

The logo will be used as a brand identification for this area, according to economic development director Carlos Carballada. The idea behind the ads is to promote the area's arts and cultural scene as one of the world-class strengths of Rochester.

Arts and culture are part of quality of life issues considered when businesses locate here.

Rochester has a surprising number of world-class arts and cultural assets, Carballada said.

"People are amazed when they realize we have the world's largest and most complete museum of photography and film," he said. "Or that we have the only museum of play anywhere or that our Geva Theatre features Broadway actors."

Commuters traveling on Interstate 490 will get their first look today at 48-foot billboards promoting two popular Rochester cultural attractions: the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film and Strong National Museum of Play.

On Interstate 490 West at University Avenue on the right side of the road will be a billboard featuring characters from movie The Wizard of Oz with the slogan "There's No Place Like ... Rochester" to promote the Eastman museum. It has more than 30,000 film titles, including the master negatives of The Wizard of Oz.

On Interstate 490 East at Mount Read Boulevard on the left side of the road will be a billboard featuring a young girl sitting on a chessboard with the slogan "Forget Vegas. This Is The Place To Play!" This ad promotes the Strong National Museum of Play, the only museum devoted to play.

Future billboards placed in the heaviest traveled areas of Interstate 490 will feature 20th-century composer George Gershwin with the tagline "Gershwin Would Say We've Got Fascinatin' Rhythm" to promote the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

An ad in the Rochester Business Journal will feature a container of low-fat yogurt with the tagline "In A Lot of Towns, This Is As Good As Culture Gets." The ad copy asks the question, "Do you really want to expand your business in a town that thinks a sonata is some foreign automobile?"

Also starting today, these same images will appear in full-page ads in the July issues of business publications including Business Week, Forbes, Fortune and Inc.

The ad campaign was unveiled Tuesday at the Strong Museum.

The city has partnered with Monroe County, Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester, VisitRochester, Rochester Business Alliance, Greater Rochester Enterprise and the Ad Council of Rochester along with many members of the Arts & Cultural Council.

Frontline Advertising of Rochester donated the cost of writing, designing and producing the ads.

Mayor Bob Duffy said it takes a team to put together this campaign, but there was no competition among the partners involved.

"There is an abundance of opportunity here," Duffy said.

Earlier Tuesday, Visit-Rochester held its 76th annual meeting at the Riverside Convention Center where a new mobile visitors center and redesigned Web site were unveiled.

Keynote speaker Thomas Ranese, chief marketing officer of Empire State Development, discussed state tourism.

Ranese said tourism to New York state generated 155 million visitors and $47 billion in direct and indirect spending. For 2007, the estimated economic impact of tourism to the state grew by nearly 10 percent.

The rising price of gas is a challenge for consumers who still want to get away.

Ranese said that 80 million people live within a three- to five-hour drive of New York and that the exchange rate favors travel to New York state.

The challenge is to remind consumers that New York state is just a tank of gas away. Working with tourism and film offices, the goal is to create an image that will make people want to stay.

Ranese said that while the I Love NY logo is the most recognizable in the world, it's been diluted.

People outside of the state think the logo only refers to New York City.

Visit Rochester has a new site: http://visitrochester.com/

Rochester wants to buy armory for housing options
Democrat and Chronicle

Redevelopment sites in southeast, southwest and downtown Rochester all await proposals for market-rate housing options, and the city is preparing to push even more property into the pipeline.

In the past week, the city has issued requests for proposals for Valley Court Apartments at 1170 Genesee St., south of Brooks Landing, and for the old Rascal Café lot at 920 E. Main St., northwest of the Gibbs Street intersection.

Negotiations continue, meanwhile, for the city to buy the 12-acre Culver Road armory site, near Cobbs Hill Park and Interstate 490.

Each site has a unique history: Valley Court Apartments, for example, first opened as a Jewish orphanage in 1916. And in each case, redevelopment would put the property on the tax rolls.

"It's lifting the lifeboat, if you will ... for everybody in the city," said Bill Pritchard, vice president of the City Council.

In addition, the city administration has said it intends to seek development proposals later this year for the Josh Lofton building near the I-490 overpass on West Main Street and for a city-owned parking lot on the northwest corner of West Main and Plymouth Avenue.

"I'm very excited about what's going on right now, because for a very long time we have been developing affordable housing. Really, what hasn't been happening is market-rate housing," said Bret Garwood, director of housing and project development for the city. "That we are moving to a place where we can create both is a really good direction."

Valley Court will continue a revival of the South River Corridor housing market, and the Rascal lot has been called the most important undeveloped site downtown. Garwood echoed those sentiments and added that the armory is "one of the most fantastic development opportunities we have in the city." Early ideas include single-family residences, some attached and some not, behind the armory, and mixed-use redevelopment of the building itself.

Discussions of what to do with the World War I-era armory have been going on for years. One idea is to convert its main hall into four or five theaters for small-venue performing arts groups.

"We've probably looked at every attic and basement and storeroom (in the area)," said Rochester Community Players president Peter Scribner, referring to his and the Downstairs Cabaret's searches for permanent facilities. "The Culver Road armory is so superior to anything we've seen."

Were he to build new, Scribner said, "I would almost lay it out exactly as the armory is laid out. I would have moved the bathrooms to a different location, but that's about it. ... It's just that ideal for what we want to do."

Neighborhood leaders also want to talk to the public library, the YMCA and others. "The community has to kind of help us define what we want and don't want," said Bill Jones, executive director of Third Rochester Enterprise Corp., a privately funded group focusing on the Upper Monroe neighborhood.

City officials are talking with the state about how they will acquire the armory, then sell it to private developers. The New York Army National Guard is moving out, relocating a maintenance unit to the airport facility by Sept. 1 and transferring the surplus property to the Office of General Services.

If the city acquires the property, which is currently assessed at $1.4 million, it can influence what develops instead of having the site auctioned off to the highest bidder, said Kathy Sheets, the city's director of real estate. The armory likely will be vacant for a time, because the city wants to conduct environmental, building condition and market studies.

Both the armory and the three rear buildings of Valley Court Apartments, used for the orphanage until conversion to apartments in 1931, are eligible for the state and national registers of historic places. The front two Valley Court buildings were built in 1959 and 1961, respectively, and will be torn down.

The Culver Road armory, built for the cavalry, is one of three historic armories in the city — the others being the arsenal, since converted for use by Geva Theatre, and the castle-like East Main Street state militia armory, restored and reopened in 2006 as a multi-purpose arena with office space.

Downtown, the Rascal lot, bordered by Grove Place and Main, Gibbs and Chestnut streets, is the last development parcel in the city's Cultural District. The 1.5-acre block was home to St. Peter's Presbyterian Church and single-family homes before Levi's Music Store and the cafe moved in. The block was razed in the mid- to late-1980s. Mayor Robert Duffy had mentioned it as a possible site for a midsized theater, before tabling the idea.

Today the property belongs to the Cultural Center Commission, which sought and then rejected development proposals for the site last year. Initial proposals ranged from a $20 million hotel and townhouse complex to a $92 million, 15-story glass and brick high-rise.

Dont forget Taste of Rochester is this weekend, Ill be there! It looks like they listened and spaced things out this year, good stuff: http://www.tasteofrochester.net/

http://www.tasteofrochester.net/images/2008_Event_Map.jpg

Dimension

June 25th, 2008, 06:07 PM

Rochester has world class art and culture??? No offense to anyone though/.

blangjr21

June 25th, 2008, 07:01 PM

I had forgotten that taste of Rochester was this weekend, now I'll most definitely be there...it looks huge compared to last year.

RochesterAddict

June 25th, 2008, 10:59 PM

Rochester has world class art and culture??? No offense to anyone though/.

The George Eastman house is the National Museum of Photography.

The Strong Museum of Play is the National Toy Museum.

The Memorial Art Gallery has Van Gogh, Monet, Egyptian ruins, and many other amazing exhibits.

Artisan Works is a really cool gallery/museum, equivalent to the American Visions Museum in Baltimore. (for reference)

The Little movie theatre independent movie house.

The 300 festivals we hold each year.

The Science Museum and Planetarium.

GEVA theatre, Rochester Broadway Theatre League, Downstairs Cabaret, Blackfriars, the Philharmonic, and the Opera League of Rochester.

The Eastman School of Music.

Artwalk along University Ave and all the galleries and stores around University Ave.

Garth Fagan Dance Troupe and the Nazareth Performance Hall.

The Lamberton Conservatory and the Zoo.

and many others I havent listed.

I dont feel like google-ing them and placing links, but you can do so if youre interested.

andrew585

June 26th, 2008, 04:20 PM

Rochester has world class art and culture??? No offense to anyone though/.

This is a board to discuss Rochester Development news, not for trolling.

blangjr21

June 26th, 2008, 05:27 PM

Don't worry andrew and rocaddict he's just another Make Believes fan who has a severe inferiority complex...back to the foruming!

RochesterAddict

June 26th, 2008, 10:01 PM

Rochester business and city leaders kick off 'WeRoc' campaign
Democrat and Chronicle

Rochester business community and city officials launched a new campaign today called “WeRoc,” aimed at building a stronger sense of pride in the area.

The campaign, or movement as its founders would like to call it, is the brainchild of Sharon Napier, president and CEO of the Partners + Napier; Jeffery Hayzlett, Kodak’s chief business development officer and vice president; and Greater Rochester Enterprise.

The WeRoc campaign will highlight and promote some of the achievements of Rochester that include its 890,000 patients, large number of festivals, and Rochester native products.

GRE will be spearheading the efforts for the campaign.

The committee, made up of public relation firms around the areas, set up a website, www.weroc.org, where the community can blog, lend support or checkout WeRoc activities.

Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks said this kind of community pride has been something she and other Rochesterians have tried to push for quite sometime, but haven’t had the support.

http://weroc.org/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/ - Not bad.

http://cmsimg.rochesterinsider.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A2&Date=20080626&Category=INSIDER44&ArtNo=806270318&Ref=AR&MaxW=550&MaxH=430
lean, mean and yellow
Rochester Insider

Roc City Rickshaw offers an open-air alternative to taxis.
There's a new way to get around Rochester: by pedal power, someone else's pedal power.

For a fee, a company called Roc City Rickshaw will take you around downtown, even late at night between bars or from a bar to your front door, by pedicab, a three-wheeled bicycle with a carriage in the back.

The company was started by childhood friends Brian VanDerWoude and Chhaya En, both 28 and of Irondequoit.

Both had lived outside the Rochester area and were familiar with pedicab services elsewhere (in Orlando, Fla., and Cambodia).

When they returned home, each thought about starting a pedicab service here. Although, it took a while before VanDerWoude mentioned it to En and the two realized they were on the same page.

"It was pretty random," En says.

And, while the company is a side-project for the two (VanDerWoude works at Paychex, and En works at Ernst & Young), they hope that as an environmentally friendly alternative to taxis, their pedicabs will become a mainstay of transportation in Rochester.

"We can sense that people like the idea, but they're still nervous about getting on (the pedicab,)" VanDerWoude says. "There is a comfort level we need to establish that we're here to stay and that it's OK to hop on."

Roc City Rickshaw charges $4 for a seven-minute ride for one passenger, $7 for two passengers, and $1 for each additional minute.

The service is available from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday (they're hoping their late-night service will discourage people from drinking and driving), and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, from April to October.

Ultimately, the company plans to expand its services to Rochester-area festivals and Charlotte Beach and offer guided tours downtown.

By making this form of short-distance urban travel available here, VanDerWoude says, "We're bringing the big city to Rochester."

www.roccityrickshaw.com

bdaly

June 29th, 2008, 07:12 AM

Dont forget Taste of Rochester is this weekend, Ill be there! It looks like they listened and spaced things out this year, good stuff: http://www.tasteofrochester.net/

Stopped by this afternoon, and they did a much, much better job with it IMO. Of course, at that time, the crowd was a bit light as the weather looked threatening (so it wasn't the best time to gauge how the new setup handles crowds). After a brief shower, things cleared up for the rest of the day, so hopefully they did well the rest of the way. Hopefully this will become a real fixture and they can get more truly local restaurants in there--I had a great bowl of chicken chili at the Stock Exchange Restaurant's booth.

Dimension

June 30th, 2008, 06:58 AM

Don't worry andrew and rocaddict he's just another Make Believes fan who has a severe inferiority complex...back to the foruming!

All I am saying is that many places say they have world class art and culture.

Besides, I have nothing to gain from attacking Rochester.
--------------------------------------------------------------
How is PAETECH(?) going??? Do they have renders out yet???

wny

June 30th, 2008, 05:40 PM

Besides, I have nothing to gain from attacking Rochester.

Then why do it? It's a medium size urbanized area of 685,128 that offers all you would expect of an area that size. Some of it's offerings are indeed world class just as are some of Toronto's. Just because Toronto is bigger does not mean all of it's offerings are world class. Case in point, I saw Wicked in Toronto and Wicked in Buffalo. The Bufalo production was far superior to the Toronto one. Things are unique in various places, is there anything in Toronto that could compare to the Strong Musuem? I think not, so does that mean Toronto is not world class?

Population source: http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-context=dt&-ds_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_&-CONTEXT=dt&-mt_name=ACS_2006_EST_G2000_B01003&-keyword=rochester&-tree_id=306&-redoLog=false&-geo_id=01000US&-geo_id=40000US75664&-search_results=01000US&-format=&-_lang=en

Dimension

June 30th, 2008, 06:37 PM

I don't "live" in Toronto. I have been in Toronto for a while and till the 4th of July to meet and get to know my nephews.

bjfan82

June 30th, 2008, 06:39 PM

World class art & culture can be found in places large and small. For example, there is a good scene in Jamestown, NY (30,000 peeps) mostly related to Chautauqua Institution and Lucille Ball. But nonetheless, Rochester definitely has a quality arts scene, one of the many reasons that make Rochester a great city/region.

bjfan82

June 30th, 2008, 06:39 PM

RochesterAddict

June 30th, 2008, 08:24 PM

WeRoc aims to sharpen edge of Rochester's pride
Democrat and Chronicle

Be proud of your city, and do it with attitude
"If You're Trash Talkin' Rochester, You Better Be Ordering a Garbage Plate."

That's just one of the many messages coming out of a "WeRoc" campaign launched Thursday by members of the business community and city officials.

The campaign, or movement, as its founders like to call it, features five key messages aimed at building a strong sense of pride for the area.

Mayor Robert Duffy said he is sad to say that he thinks the bulk of the anti-Rochester criticism is spurred from individuals born and raised in the area who refuse to acknowledge the changes happening in the city.

"We got away from our pride," said the mayor. "But it's back and so is this city."

The basis of the campaign can be traced to a conversation Eastman Kodak's Jeffery Hayzlett and Sharon Napier, president and CEO of Partners + Napier, had about rebranding the city, which in turn benefits businesses.

Hayzlett was recruited from South Dakota to be Kodak's chief business development officer.

"The brand is nothing more than a promise of what we're going to do," said Hayzlett, a former tech entrepreneur. "We need to start thinking with a little bit different attitude, walk a little bit with a swagger and with some pride in our chest because we're Rochester," he said at the campaign unveiling.

For Napier it was a pro bono project, which she extended to other public relation firms in the area. With the support of the Greater Rochester Enterprise, which will spearhead the movement, more than $600,000 was collected in cash along with an additional $400,000 of in-kind donations.

The campaign features a couple of themes that promote Rochester products, schools, accomplishments and quality of living. The WeRoc committee set up a Web site at www.weroc.org, where the community can blog, lend support and check out WeRoc activities.

"There's a lot of things going on, but what's different about this is that all the different organizations are talking to each other and meeting with each other to get on the same page as a collaborative effort," said Mark Peterson, managing director at GRE.

A number of companies such as Bausch and Lomb, Wegmans Food Markets and Xerox Corp. have already signed on as partners.

"We have a lot, we have great schools, a great workforce, we have world class culture and we have a community that knows how to give back," said Napier.

http://csl.pugby.com/Portals/CapronStreetLofts/homepageImage.jpg
The new site for the Capron Street Lofts is out: http://csl.pugby.com/Home.aspx

Prices and layouts are reflected, looks like they are doing a nice job.

http://www.rochesterdowntown.com/img/detail_photos/0018_Cox_001.jpg
The Cox Building is almost ready for leasing. http://www.rochesterdowntown.com/living/fetchBuilding_r.php?127

http://www.rochesterdowntown.com/img/detail_photos/0073_Gauss_001.jpg
I didnt know the Gauss Building was going residential either.
http://www.rochesterdowntown.com/living/fetchBuilding_r.php?114

Two more Midtown stores to remain downtown
Democrat and Chronicle

As Midtown Plaza merchants disclose their relocation plans, two more said today that they will remain in downtown Rochester.

Midtown will close to the public July 25 and merchants will relocate no later than July 31. Midtown is to be torn down next year to make way for PAETEC Holding Corp.’s new headquarters and other development.

In the latest moving plans, Pert’s Boutique will close July 25 and reopen July 31 on the first floor of the Cox Building, 55 Mortimer St., according to owner Pert Pointer.

The Abbott’s Frozen Custard store at Midtown also will close July 25. It will reopen in early August in the Warner Building, 72 St. Paul St.

Not Rochester, but Canandaigua keeps growing:

Changes ahead for Canandaigua Lake
WHEC 10

Many people are concerned about possible changes to the west side of Canandaigua Lake. Developers are hoping to build high-end homes and a boating community, but many residents are saying 'leave it alone'.

Canandaigua residents seem to feel differently about change

"We get people from all over the country coming to Canandaigua Lake. They come here because it's beautiful, it's pristine and that can all change," said Canandaigua resident Al Kraus.

"We're not driving horse and buggies up and down the street anymore quite frankly and people have to accept change for the positive," said Canandaigua resident Marty McMillan.

But Al Kraus said, the $70 million project doesn't seem like a positive change to him.

"It will set a precedent that will probably lead to a lot more of this going on in the future," said Kraus.

But Project Developer Steve Mancini said this shouldn't be a concern.

"The only way anybody else could do another project like this is if there was another commercial marina with upland properties," said Mancini.

The plan is to build 70 homes, costing anywhere from $800,000 to $1.5 million. The goal is to create a boating community with a clubhouse by the water. Mancini said opposition comes with the territory.

The plan was first proposed three years ago, but because some Canandaigua residents are opposed to it, it's taking a long time to get approval. Mancini said if all goes well, he'll be able to start building in the springtime.

The Canandaigua residents who are against the development say another major concern is the negative effects it could have on the environment.

RochesterAddict

June 30th, 2008, 08:29 PM

Stopped by this afternoon, and they did a much, much better job with it IMO. Of course, at that time, the crowd was a bit light as the weather looked threatening (so it wasn't the best time to gauge how the new setup handles crowds). After a brief shower, things cleared up for the rest of the day, so hopefully they did well the rest of the way. Hopefully this will become a real fixture and they can get more truly local restaurants in there--I had a great bowl of chicken chili at the Stock Exchange Restaurant's booth.

I went on Friday night and had some great food and really enjoyed myself. There were so many people there by 10pm that it was wall to wall, but I agree, they did a much better job laying out the festival this year. Good time.

RochesterAddict

June 30th, 2008, 08:43 PM

All I am saying is that many places say they have world class art and culture.

Besides, I have nothing to gain from attacking Rochester.
--------------------------------------------------------------
How is PAETECH(?) going??? Do they have renders out yet???

PAETEC does not have renderings yet. They said they should have something to show us by Fall. MAT keeps us informed with what the newspaper does not.

Here, 2 stories to learn about Rochester history and culture:

http://democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080630/NEWS0204/806300319/1003/NEWS01

Excerpt:
Hiram W. Sibley, for example, donated an extensive music library to the University of Rochester in 1904. Initially it was housed in the Prince Street building his father had funded. Later it was moved to the Eastman School of Music, and it is now the largest music library affiliated with any college or university in the United States, according to the Sibley Music Library's Web site.

http://cmsimg.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A2&Date=20080630&Category=NEWS05&ArtNo=807020309&Ref=AR&Profile=1003&MaxW=318&Border=0
http://democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080630/NEWS05/807020309/1003/NEWS01

Some of the wealthiest people in the nation once called Rochester, NY home. Now we have the next generation of wealthy philanthropists. Golisano, Gleason, Wolk, Polisenni, Chesonis, Glazer, Wegman and many other names found at the Genesee Valley Club, Oak Hill, and the Country Club of Rochester are the modern day Sibley's. They help to fund and grow our cultural scene.

Dimension

July 1st, 2008, 12:31 AM

Sabretooth

July 1st, 2008, 02:26 PM

^^ Kroger has a sizeable mid-rise in downtown Cincinnati (my gf's sister works there); of course they're a much larger company than Wegmans.

If you're going to apply that argument to Wegmans, you probably could to Tops as well (at least before the sad chapter of their history where they were owned by A-hole).

"Make Believes" - I like that! :lol:

blangjr21

July 1st, 2008, 04:20 PM

It does look like they are doing a great job at the capron street lofts, but, when they were in the planning stages it said prices in the 130,000's to 200,000's not 160,000's to 450,000's which is what they are listed as on that new website.

From what I could find there were only two floorplans less than 175,000, and to be honest for that kind of money I'm just going to purchase a home instead.

RochesterAddict

July 1st, 2008, 05:41 PM

RochesterAddict

July 1st, 2008, 05:44 PM

Oak Hill is about $25,000 in order to be considered and then I think it is $40,000 per year and you have to spend at least $500 at the club house a month, if you don't they bill you the missing amount.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Why doesn't Wegmans just build a tower instead of going in to office parks and renting space.

Wegmans doesnt rent, they own their buildings on Brooks Ave in Chili.

Only MAT can verify this, but I think the company Duffy got mad for wasting the citys time, was Wegmans. They were scouting to expand their offices and chose to expand in Chili over a downtown location. But thats my own hypothesis.

RochesterAddict

July 1st, 2008, 05:51 PM

Brooks announces plans for new crime lab
Democrat and Chronicle

Monroe County’s highly anticipated new crime lab will be located on a parking lot behind the Terminal Building, at Broad Street and Plymouth Avenue downtown, County Executive Maggie Brooks said today.

The $30 million, four-story crime lab will be used by the surrounding counties as well, and will replace a lab that law enforcement officials say is cramped and inadequate for modern crime-solving techniques.

The county has raised just over half of the total project budget and is committed to borrowing for the rest if it cannot raise it, Brooks said.

If construction begins as planned at the end of 2009, the lab would be finished by mid-2011.

Gates firm plans to rebuild after fire
Democrat and Chronicle

McDonald Springs' efforts get boost after COMIDA grants tax abatement
A Gates company that modifies trucks for heavy-duty work plans to rebuild after a devastating fire last December.

McDonald Springs of Rochester Inc., 80 Pixley Road, sustained major damage in a fire that broke out Dec. 3 and then reignited the following day. The 25-year-old company had bought the 2-acre site in 2006.

McDonald Springs recently requested and was granted an industrial development tax break from the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency. According to COMIDA, McDonald plans to rebuild the shop and replace some equipment at a cost of more than $640,000.

The company installs heavy-duty custom suspension systems and makes other modifications, such as mounting cranes in trucks. It's temporarily operating at 1025 Chili Ave.

Another company dealing with heavy-duty trucks also won COMIDA help. Metzger Gear, of 218 Mushroom Blvd. in Henrietta, is planning to expand its building by 50 percent. Metzger sells and services trucks. The expansion of 6,000 square feet will cost about $400,000, and will allow additional business, generating three more jobs. The company won a property tax abatement.

Induction Atmospheres, a company that makes and integrates customized industrial heating equipment, has moved into a new building at 35 Industrial Park Circle in Gates, two miles from its previous location on Elmgrove Road.

"We were really getting cramped in the old building," Steve Skewes, IA president and CEO, said in a prepared statement. "We need the extra space to expand our new metallurgical lab and to provide more room for our growing engineering group, assembly areas, applications lab and in-house machine shop."

The Industrial Park Circle building has 19,000 square feet, almost five times the size that Induction started with in 2002. It also has grown from four employees to 15, with more hires expected.

In Chili, construction has begun on the Kings Crossing project, a luxury apartment complex with 60 units in 11 buildings. The project includes 38 townhomes and 22 patio homes, each about 1,300 square feet. All homes will have two-car garages, according to the construction lender, Buffalo-based Rose Hill of WNY Group. Rose Hill brokered the $5.5 million construction loan.

Henrietta aerial imagery company plans for growth
Democrat and Chronicle

The KCM 39 digital aerial camera is nothing much to look at, just a softball-sized box with a large optical lens sticking out of it.

But the 15-pound, 39-megapixel camera and accompanying control system — with a premium price tag of about $250,000 — have helped push rapid growth at a small aerial imagery company.

Henrietta-based Geospatial Systems Inc. in the past year has turned a profit for the first time, added workers and moved into larger space as it readies for even more employees this year. That growth comes as the company is trying to expand from mapping and surveying markets into real-time aerial surveillance for military and homeland security, said President and Chief Executive Maxime Elbaz.

Geospatial was formed in late 2004 by the merger of optical imaging companies Pixel Physics of Rochester and AnaLux Inc. of Pittsburgh and radar systems company ANRO Engineering of Florida.

Today, Geospatial offers an array of products, including aerial digital cameras for both day and night use and ground-based radar systems. Its technology and products are developed in house, Elbaz said. The company has patents pending on technology such as an athermal lens that isn't affected by changing temperatures and environments and a shutter that can be replaced without the pilot having to land.

Product assembly is done in a couple of rooms in the company's offices at the Lennox Tech Enterprise Center.

According to Greater Rochester Enterprise, the economic development organization, the Rochester region has more than 50 companies involved in the optics and imaging industry. An analysis of the industry by University of Rochester Professor Duncan Moore found strengths, including the fact that the area's imaging companies cover a wide spectrum from biomedical optics to defense.

With optics programs at UR and Rochester Institute of Technology and with the area's established industry, including growing Henrietta aerial imagery company Pictometry International Corp., Elbaz said, "The next big development from Rochester might be coming from Geospatial. We have a lot of expertise."

The company's target markets include both pilots who do aerial imagery work and aerial imaging companies.

Geospatial posted its first profit in 2007 and moved to the Lennox Center from RIT's incubator because of a need for more space. The same year, it grew from 12 workers to 17 and expects to be at 20 to 25 employees by the end of 2008, Elbaz said.

Much of the company's growth so far has been organic, paid for out of its own income. Now Geospatial is trying to find venture capital to let it grow more rapidly so as to tap into other potential applications, such as with the military.

"You just cannot grow beyond a certain size by bootstrapping," Elbaz said.

‘We ROC’ effort highlights area’s many positive features
Democrat and Chronicle

Staci Henning is looking for more converts to the cause: getting the Rochester area recognized both locally and nationally as a good place to live and do business.

We wrote last year about the marketing director of Greater Rochester Enterprise and how her own career and life path brought her back to this area after years of living elsewhere in the United States and Japan.

She became a moving force behind a "Talk It Up Rochester" ad campaign aimed at highlighting the area's economic attributes.

Now Henning, with the help of many others, is expanding the campaign, making "We ROC" the catch phrase of an effort aimed more at consumers this time than at businesses.

"Some people here complain that they have a 20-minute commute," Henning said Friday. "If you don't have something to compare it to, you don't appreciate how short that is."

At www.weroc.org, the organizers of We ROC are gathering the personal stories of people who moved away from Rochester and returned. There already are posts from people who have lived in New York City, Boston, Hartford, Philadelphia, Washington, Dallas, Los Angeles, Syracuse and South Bend, Ind.

Besides telling what brought them back to Rochester, each person talks about his or her favorite Rochester-area spot. (Or spots. One poster listed so many theaters, galleries, restaurants and the like that you wonder how she has time to work or sleep.)

Among the favorites: the public market, the Little, the wineries, Black Creek Park, George Eastman House, the zoo, urban villages such as Park Ave. and the South Wedge, suburban villages such as Pittsford and Fairport, and, of course, Wegmans.

When you browse the "ROC Rebounders" portion of the Web site or listen to Henning and her enthusiasm, it's hard not to feel good about this place. The $500,000 We ROC campaign's first goal is to get more people to be proud of where they live and positive in talking about the Rochester area. Periodic online surveys will gauge whether the campaign is making a difference.

Eventually, We ROC will be aimed at a wider audience with a goal of attracting business activity. To that end, it's a big help that campaign partners include multinational companies such as Bausch & Lomb, Constellation Brands, Eastman Kodak and Xerox as well as fast-growing Paychex and PAETEC.

‘Ambassadors of Rochester’ celebrate bittersweet milestone
Messenger Post Newspapers

Although the Empire Statesmen drum and bugle corps celebrates its 25th anniversary this year without its founder, Vince Bruni, it will mark the milestone with the same passion he brought to the group.

Mr. Bruni, whose spirit inspired musicians for two decades, died on the eve of the Drum Corps Associates Labor Day weekend championship tournament in 2003.

Saturday, the group will pay tribute to its founder at an anniversary concert at St. John Fisher College.

The Empire Statesmen has 125 members. The tribute concert is an alumni event, and an opportunity for Rochester to see why the group has been widely referred to as “America’s Entertainers,” organizers say.

"The reason we (the Empire Statesmen) were born was to entertain the crowd and play music that everybody knows," said Dave Bruni, of Gates.

Dave has taken his father's role with the corps. However, when Mr. Bruni died, the role of director was retired, so Dave’s title is assistant director, he said.

The concert will highlight some of the tunes that garnered the Statesmen worldwide success. It will feature big-band songs like "Moonlight Serenade," the Glenn Miller Orchestra's theme song; Broadway classics like "Sun and Moon," from the show "Miss Saigon;" and patriotic salutes.

“Nobody does big band like the Empire Statesmen," boasted Allen Buell, the group’s business manager.

Lucy Kantor, a member of the Statesmen's colorguard who lives in Victor, concurred. She said the concert is a "celebration of the members, and all the shows we've done."

The Statesmen's all-age drum corps unites people from all walks of life. Some are college-educated musicians, while others joined the group without having played an instrument before. They are taught to play, and the Statesmen won't turn anybody away who wants to join. Teenagers and adults play together, and two families participate in the corps.

For the members, the milestone is an important one. And for one member, the group is such an integral part of her life that she made a major concession to remain involved.
Patsy Vankirk, a snare drummer, says the anniversary of the corps’ founding in 1983 is "phenomenal," and the success of the Statesmen is "just massive." Vankirk moved from her home in Pennsylvania to Greece to be closer to the corps.

The Empire Statesmen have traveled extensively, playing in London, Sweden, Denmark, Brazil and Mexico. They have brought the name of Rochester to cities all across the world, and have become the only group in the area to be drum and bugle corps world champions five times, most recently capturing the title in 2004.

"We're sort of the ambassadors of Rochester," said Dave Bruni.

The show is slated for 7 p.m. Saturday, July 5, at St. John Fisher College’s Growney Stadium, 3690 East Ave., Pittsford. Tickets are $15 for general seating and $18 for reserved seating. For more information, log on to www.statesmen.org.

And the list of the sweatiest cities came out, wow, important!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25391565/from/ET/&GT1=43001

1. Phoenix, Ariz.
2. Las Vegas, Nev.
3. Tallahassee, Fla.
4. Tucson, Ariz.
5. Memphis, Tenn.
6. Miami, Fla.
7. Houston, Texas
8. Tampa, Fla.
9. Baton Rouge, La.
10. Fort Myers, Fla.

85. Buffalo, N.Y.
86. Rochester, N.Y.
87. Albany, N.Y.

Sabretooth

July 1st, 2008, 06:50 PM

^^ "The company says its findings are based on computer simulations of the amount of sweat an average person would have produced walking around in cities during the summer months last year."

People in Phoenix walk around in the city? I thought people moved to Phoenix to not have to deal with the drudgery of living in a dank, urine-soaked hellhole of a city?

Sabretooth

July 1st, 2008, 06:51 PM

Re: Sweaty city list (which seems to have disappeared): "The company says its findings are based on computer simulations of the amount of sweat an average person would have produced walking around in cities during the summer months last year."

People in Phoenix walk around in the city? I thought people moved to Phoenix to not have to deal with the drudgery of living in a dank, urine-soaked hellhole of a city?

Dimension

July 1st, 2008, 08:19 PM

Dimension

July 1st, 2008, 08:26 PM

Wegmans doesnt rent, they own their buildings on Brooks Ave in Chili.

Only MAT can verify this, but I think the company Duffy got mad for wasting the citys time, was Wegmans. They were scouting to expand their offices and chose to expand in Chili over a downtown location. But thats my own hypothesis.

But I'm sure they have more than $20,000 a month on mortgages for the buildings. If you had everyone working in the same building, I would think it would cut costs even though Wegmans is doing well.

Quick question, why are they building so many buildings in Henrietta when a lot of the retail and office space is empty??? Its going to turn in to Amherst, although the plazas and office space in Amherst are starting to be filled in.

RochesterAddict

July 1st, 2008, 08:46 PM

But I'm sure they have more than $20,000 a month on mortgages for the buildings. If you had everyone working in the same building, I would think it would cut costs even though Wegmans is doing well.

Quick question, why are they building so many buildings in Henrietta when a lot of the retail and office space is empty??? Its going to turn in to Amherst, although the plazas and office space in Amherst are starting to be filled in.

Wegmans is building one building for all operations employees in Chili. Wegmans is a grocery store so it will always needs lots of buildings for storage, warehouse, they manufacture some of their own food, and they are now builidng a culinary school.

Henrietta is centrally located, is near the Thruway, and is growing, with many new homes being built below the Thruway. Also, RIT and U of R are nearby. Henrietta is equivalent to Cheektowaga in Buffalo (except Henrietta now has new homes), Amherst is similar to Greece. (Except remove Williamsville, thats similar to Brighton in Rochester.) much of the land in Henrietta is being purchased/developed by Benderson, so Im sure their plans are to turn Henrietta into Buffalo. Thats ok, Henrietta has never been designated a nice town. Its where middle to lower class citizens live and where every chain in the metro locates. Every city needs one of these suburbs, every city has at least one.

ESL closes on land for new headquarters
Rochester Business Journal

ESL Federal Credit Union took ownership Tuesday of three parcels of land at 225 Chestnut St. in preparation for this month’s groundbreaking for construction of new headquarters.
Closing documents were signed last week to transfer the city-owned property to ESL.
ESL plans to build a six-story office building and adjacent parking garage at the location. More than 300 employees are scheduled to move from Irondequoit offices in the spring of 2010.
“This is a tremendous project that will contribute to the beauty of our skyline and the economic redevelopment of our center city,” Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy said.

Crime Lab moves to next phase
Rochester Business Journal

Monroe County’s $30 million public safety laboratory will have four floors and 45,000 square feet of space on the southeast corner of Plymouth Avenue and Broad Street, officials announced Tuesday.
“Today I am thrilled to announce that we are advancing to the next phase of the crime lab project,” Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks said. “By moving ahead with planning and design, we are one step closer to constructing the expanded, state-of-the-art crime lab our community needs, and one step closer to enhancing our community’s public safety.”
Construction could begin by the end of this year, Brooks said.
In 2005, Brooks formed a task force to assess the need to modernize the crime lab, and determine potential sites and cost estimates. The lab currently is located on the fifth floor of the county’s Public Safety Building.
The lab provides forensic services to law enforcement and public safety agencies in Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates counties.

Paychex named on list of top IT workplaces
http://rochesterbusinessjournal.com/fullarticle.cfm?sdid=73941

ManAboutTown

July 2nd, 2008, 03:22 PM

Nope, it wasn't Wegmans. Wegmans and the City haven't been friends for many years. Wegmans pissed off former Mayor Johnson after bailing on their planned expansion of the Mt Hope store and subsequent attempt to weasel their way into a rezoning of the Psych Center land for that store instead. Then their plans for East Ave expansion completely ignored neighborhood plans and city zoning codes and annihilated an entire historic city block. They have since put this project on the back burner as they continue to focus on their core suburban sheep customers. Most recently, they closed Driving Park; PriceRite has since come in and is enjoying remarkable success. And, keep in mind, Danny Wegman presided over Wade Norwood's failed run for Mayor.

Rendering of new Regional Crime Lab:

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i227/swedishczech/crimelab.jpg

RochesterAddict

July 2nd, 2008, 05:10 PM

CHOW HOUND: Mustard's Eatery & Bar, New Mings, Quick bites
City Newspaper

Mustard's Eatery & Baris the newest Pittsford canal eatery, located in the former Schoen Place Prime Rib and Grill location. This Napa-style restaurant offers a formal menu in a relaxed, casual atmosphere with warm oak floors and wicker furniture that bring to mind the sunny West Coast. The waterside eatery is open for lunch and dinner, and executive chef Keith King has created a simple, yet flavorful menu with a refreshing lack of heavy sauces. The menus are neatly segmented by "plates." You can get a small plate and enjoy a tapas-style experience; a green plate to get your salad fix; or a large plate for a more traditional entree. Menu highlights include the lobster mac & cheese and the clams Remick gratin.

Owners Nick and Gayle Mourgides, who also own Olive's across the street, fell in love with the California wine country and wanted to bring some of that flavor back east. Gayle says she wanted an atmosphere that is earthy without being "country." To that end, the eatery will highlight California wines, beers, and spirits that will pair nicely with dishes that use herbs directly picked from the gardens around the patio.

Mustard's is located at 50 State Street in Pittsford. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., with dinner service starting at 5 p.m.; and Sunday 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. For more information call 267-7500 or visit www.mustardsonthecanal.com.

New Mings Good news for the Upper Monroe neighborhood: your local noodle place is back, with some dramatic changes to the menu. No longer just a close replica of the original Mings on South Clinton, New Mings has incorporated Vietnamese and Thai favorites such as pho, lemongrass chicken, and masamun. Reopened on June 20, New Ming's is still a family affair, with Karen Poon, sister of the original Mings owner, as the acting manager. The decor is updated, including new furniture and fresh paint, along with stylized dishes to create more of a feast for the eyes. We recently tasted the panang, which is braised chicken in a dry curry sauce, coconut milk, and vegetables. It was billed as spicy, and indeed it was - deliciously so! The phat Thai also pleased with an excellent balance of sweet, spicy, and salty, with crisp bean sprouts as a garnish and a generous slice of lime to spray over the colorful dish. A beer and wine menu is planned for the near future.

New Mings is located at 1132 Monroe Avenue, and is open Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Call 271-7267 or visit http://newming.net.

The village of Fairport has been steadily increasing the number of restaurants in its quaint canal area, and now Cappuccino Italiano will join the ranks. A call to the former Park Ave restaurant's new number revealed that it is still in the remodeling phase, and the plan is to open after the July 4 holiday. The eatery will occupy the previous Ristorante Grappa location and continue to serve high-quality coffee and Italian fare. (145 North Main Street, Fairport; 377-0940)

A new restaurant addition that may help ease city-dwellers' ice cream cravings is Roman Holiday Gelato, opening soon at 747 Park Avenue, next to Wine Sense. Housed in the former Cheese Shop, we can't wait to see how a pairing of gelato and wine will taste.

I also went to the New Astoria on Monroe Ave, fast casual Greek restaurant. It was ok, but not amazing. I had excellent french fries, but my Gyro was a little salty. I think next time Ill try a ckn pita with feta, it looked good.

bdaly

July 2nd, 2008, 08:52 PM

Speaking of the Wegmans East Ave expansion, here's a segment channel eight had last week:

http://rochesterhomepage.net/content/fulltext/?cid=19451

The beauty shop is the only remaining property for them to purchase. The article notes that there still isn't a timetable on the expansion, though.

steel

July 5th, 2008, 08:17 PM

I heard a rumor that PAETEC was only going to be 15 floors. What are people hearing on this? I though it was supposed to be more like 30.

ManAboutTown

July 6th, 2008, 04:07 AM

Wow, Paetec rumors are spreading all the way to Chicago? Not sure where you're getting that information - maybe ppl are getting things confused with the 17-story Midtown Tower. They just confirmed what I've been saying for a while now; that Midtown Tower will not be demolished for Paetec and (hopefully) the tower will be re-used. Paetec will build their new tower on Clinton between Main and Broad at the current B Forman Building. Everything I've heard continues to point to a 30-35 story building that will be a minimum of one foot taller than Xerox.

steel

July 6th, 2008, 05:47 AM

I am glad they will keep midtown tower. I actually like that building. though I sure it will get a recladding.

RochesterAddict

July 7th, 2008, 05:16 PM

http://my-expressions.com/up_media/4051/pblog/5159/1215176055.jpg
I watched the fireworks from the rooftop deck of Buckingham Commons, they were sweet. I got to see the city fireworks, Frontier Field fireworks, High Falls fireworks, Brighton, Pittsford, Gates, Henrietta, and Perinton fireworks all from the roof. It was sensory overload.

Midtown Tower gets a reprieve
Rochester Business Journal

The latest plans for the Midtown Plaza property include Paetec Holding Corp. headquarters farther north on the parcel, across Clinton Avenue from the Chase Tower, and the possibility that Midtown Tower will be retained. Rochester officials are applauding the new location because it does not interfere with the parking garage beneath the plaza complex or the tower.

A South Wedge food market, eatery
Democrat and Chronicle

Kenneth "Casey" Holenbeck of Rochester has enjoyed cooking since he was a child.

At two, Holenbeck's mother would pull a chair up to the stove so that he could cook his own eggs. Both of his grandfathers were cooks and bar owners. Holenbeck knew one day he wanted to own a restaurant.

"I guess it was something in my blood," said the 29-year-old former cook at Restaurant 2 Vine in Rochester. "But I didn't know how to go about it."

An opportunity opened up last fall when the South Wedge Green Grocer and Garden Center closed in the Abeles Building. Nannett Haynes-Cerpo had operated the grocery store at 683 South Ave. for a year before closing the location in October because of illness.

In February, Holenbeck opened Mise En Place, a food market with a 16-seat restaurant in the 2,000-square-foot space. Mise En Place is French for "everything in its place." "I never dreamed the restaurant would come with a store," Holenbeck said.

As a resident of the South Wedge, Holenbeck always liked the green grocer and what Haynes-Cerpo tried to do. He had shopped there many times and had seen similar shops in New York City, where his older sister lives. But the combination of fine prepared foods made with fresh ingredients, local goods and local produce in season, and staple grocery items was something Rochester did not have.

Holenbeck had a vision and saw an opportunity, according to Robert Boyd, executive director of the South Wedge Planning Committee, the nonprofit working to revitalize the area. "The restaurant is a tremendous asset to the community, bringing fresh fruit and vegetables, and groceries at reasonable prices to residents in the community — some who don't have transportation," Boyd said. When members of other neighborhood committees in western New York visit Rochester, Boyd takes them to Mise En Place, where they are quickly impressed. "They say to me, 'We need this in our neighborhood,'" he said.

In preparing to open his business, Holenbeck received help in writing his business plan from Boyd's committee. He also sought advice from his former bosses at Restaurant 2 Vine, Gerry Vorrasi and Jerry Serafine.

A privately held company, Holenbeck declined to disclose revenues. However, he said that Mise En Place has taken off. "The neighborhood has been incredibly supportive. I'm very happy about that."

Moore Corporate Real Estate has Gates Business Park back on track
Democrat and Chronicle

With the recent sale of 50 Bermar Park to Merlin International, Gates Business Park has nearly completed a comeback-kid kind of story.

Just 4,200 square feet remain available in the seven-building complex off Buffalo Road, as Moore Commercial Real Estate has brokered $5 million worth of sales and leases since 2006.

Merlin bought the 29,000-square-foot building at 50 Bermar Park for $1.2 million in June.

In April, LeFrois Development bought 40 Bermar Park for $425,000 and is leasing the 10,000-square-foot building to a state agency that provides physical therapy services for the disabled.

The park wasn't looking so trim when Bob and Steve Moore became involved with it two years ago. More than half of the 142,000 square feet in the park were empty at the time, said Bob Moore, president of the brokerage.

The owner, Jerry Reinhart of Batavia, meanwhile, was looking to scale back his real estate holdings as he planned for retirement. He has owned the park since 2002.

When the Moores took over the account, some Board of Cooperative Education Services programs recently had moved out, vacating about one-third of the complex.

"They left a big hole that the owner and the previous broker's management had trouble backfilling," Moore said. Plenty of newer west-side flex space joined the market, too, Moore said, making the brokerage compete for the attention of possible buyers or lessees. Gallina Development's Elmgrove Crossings, for instance, features a host of on-site amenities.

But Gates Business Park had its own charms: "It competes by being more flexible and having its rents lower," Moore said.

Rich LeFrois, president of LeFrois Development, said the park was attractive because of location and price, but lack of repairs under some owners before Reinhart may have discouraged buyers and tenants.

"We're in that business and we think it's a pretty good value," said LeFrois, who has some building improvements in mind for 40 Bermar Park.

In the past two years, Moore has brokered sales of five of the business park's buildings, filled one with tenants and almost filled the remaining building.

"All of the sales were completed either at the asking prices or within 5 percent of the asking prices," he said.

Empanada Stop comes to East Rochester
Democrat and Chronicle

East Rochester has a new stop for hungry lunch-goers and those who aren't able to hit Juan and Maria's Empanada Stop at the Rochester Public Market.

With a growing demand that was quickly outpacing production, local business owners Juan and Maria Contreras realized they were outgrowing their small kitchen at the Public Market. In early June, Contreras said the market location sold 1,223 empanadas in one seven-hour period — more than three empanadas a minute.

"We were looking for a very specific site that would allow us to have a bit of takeout and a good-size kitchen where we could produce for both sites," he said.

But they weren't sure their customers would find them in a second location. So when they initially started feeling the growing pains, they surveyed customers to find out if location would be a deciding factor in their continued patronage. For eight days they surveyed about 1,000 people. "What it showed me was no matter where we set up an Empanada Stop, we will be successful," he said.

And Contreras was right. His customer base from Pittsford, Webster and Fairport has already discovered the second location on West Commercial Street in East Rochester. On a recent Wednesday afternoon, the small takeout area was packed with employees from nearby businesses and loyal followers who drove in from neighboring suburbs.

With the familiar colors and images of the shop at the Public Market, the new location has a small takeout area with a bar for people to stay and eat. Tented high tops allow patrons to eat outside in the summer months.

Kathleen Torgerson and Jayna Young, both paraprofessionals at the nearby BOCES, had sampled the food during past visits to the Public Market, so they were eager to check out the nearby location.

"We have a new lunch spot," Torgerson said. While paying for their lunch, the women were happily informed they could call in or even fax lunch orders, an added bonus for those with a short lunch break.

Word of mouth is clearly one of the Empanada Stop's best means of advertising. "Everybody at work is talking about it," Torgerson said.

Word has spread beyond the nearby businesses, too. Public Market regulars Norm and Alma Greiner have been enjoying the Empanada Stop for years. During a recent haircut, Norm was chatting with his hair stylist on Park Avenue and found out about the new location.

"We found it and are glad we did," Alma said. "I like the food, but I can't make it like this."

Offering lunch and dinner, the new location is open from 11.a.m to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday. (The Public Market hours will remain the same.) Soon all production will be done at the East Rochester location, which measures nearly 1,600 square feet, or eight times the size of the Public Market location.

Empanada fans won't have to worry about the menu. Both locations will continue to serve the same food people have come to expect, with the addition of a few new entrees including Juan's Brunch — a bed of yellow rice served with beans, grilled pork and topped with fried eggs — and Pigs in a Blanket, boasting grilled Zweigle's sausage wrapped in a flaky empanada.

When asked about the future of the Empanada Stop at the Public Market, Contreras was quick to reply: "Are you kidding me? That's home! We are definitely not leaving there at all. That's our baby there."

I just thought this story was interesting, Hot Shots indoor volleyball has been successful for 18 years. http://democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080703/BUSINESS/807030368/1001&GID=

RochesterAddict

July 7th, 2008, 05:35 PM

I also found this interesting, if you want to complain about high taxes in NYS, Chicago now has the highest sales tax in the nation:

From City of Broad Shoulders to City of High Taxes
Plain Vanilla Shell

Chicago's no Second City, at least not when it comes to sales taxes.

A boost in the Cook County sales tax that took effect on Tuesday means people shopping in Chicago now pay a cumulative 10.25 percent levy -- the highest of any major U.S. city.

A $300 purchase of say, a couch, in Chicago would now carry a sales tax of $30.75. By comparison, New Yorkers pay about 8.4 percent while residents of Los Angeles pay 8.25 percent.

The county portion of the tax applies to clothes, furniture, restaurant food, and alcohol -- not to groceries or medicine.

County Board President Todd Stroger pushed through a 1 percent increase this year to help close a more than $200 million shortfall in the county's $3 billion budget, saying new money would go toward rescuing public health care services.

While Stroger has been a favorite target of disgruntled taxpayers, his office notes that Cook County still only accounts for 1.75 percent of the sales tax paid by Chicagoans, with the largest chunk -- 6.25 percent -- levied by the state of Illinois.

Still, many businesses fear that lower total rates in nearby counties will draw customers away from Cook County.

"The sales tax will kill us," said Lorri Burke, manager at the Second Chance thrift store in Steger, located just inside Cook County on 34th Street.

On the other side of the same street, in what is Will County, some businesses aren't shy about exploiting their lower rates, with some displaying prominent signs that read, "No Cook County Tax."

Palatine, another community on the outer edge of Cook County, is so angry about the county sales tax that it even threatened to secede.

Annoyance about the tax runs deep.

Nearly 76 percent of respondents in a recent Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce poll said the higher sales tax rate would lead them to change their buying habits, including by traveling outside the county.

The taxes may hurt Chicago's market competitiveness and create hardships for businesses already struggling amid an economic downturn, said Jerry Roper, the Chamber's president.

"Cook County voters are tired of seeing headlines of cronyism, corruption and their tax dollars being thrown around like play money," Roper said.

But a spokesman for the Cook County Board president said residents who rely on county hospitals and other health care services understood the need to raise the sales tax.

"These institutions were at risk," said Sean Howard. "If it wasn't for the sales tax increase, some of the services would have been eliminated."

Rochester is pretty isolated from most of the economic turmoil of this nation right now, but I was just reading that every retailer, including Walmart is scaling back on store openings or dropping all store openings in 2009. Steve and Barrys is on the verge of Bankruptcy, Starbucks is now going to close 600stores nationwide (no big deal, they have like 7,000) Sharper Image is now closing all 180 stores (got some sweet deals in the Troy, MI store), etc, etc. The banking industry is destroyed, with most major banks laying off people weekly.

Charlotte ran this story recently: How losing Wachovia could change Charlotte
http://charlotte.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2008/06/30/story1.html?b=1214798400%5E1661046

All fueled by greed and stupidity. Whos to blame for this, Americans mindset or the govt?

blangjr21

July 7th, 2008, 06:05 PM

I'm not sure I would go straight to I like the Midtown Tower, but it does have the "ugly stepchild" type of love thing going. It will also create a nice density downtown if they do keep it, reclad it, and PaeTec is 30-35 stories tall.

Speaking of which if PAETEC has to be more than 1 foot taller than Xerox Square does that mean Chesonis has a Napoleon complex, because he is building the largest home on Ambassador Drive as well....

jerry rome

July 7th, 2008, 09:35 PM

I'm not sure I would go straight to I like the Midtown Tower, but it does have the "ugly stepchild" type of love thing going. It will also create a nice density downtown if they do keep it, reclad it, and PaeTec is 30-35 stories tall.

....
Beth and Chet did a story on WHAM this morning that indicated Paetec was thinking of putting up a 15-17 story tower and using a rehabbed midtown tower as well. Their thinking is that it is a lot cheaper to do a gutting of mid-town than putting up a 35 story tower. They mentioned the work on Buffalo's old federal building as a comparison.

Either way WHAM is moving to the HSBC building this summer.

ManAboutTown

July 8th, 2008, 01:26 AM

It would truly be sweet if Wachovia left Charlotte. I couldn't think of a city/state more deserving of economic decline. Let's all keep our fingers crossed.

As for Beth & Chet's gossip on Midtown, I suppose it's possible they know something I don't. I haven't heard anything suggesting that Paetec is changing their plans and certainly nothing about them re-using Midtown Tower. The floor plates in that building do not suit their needs so that would be a big surprise. However, it's perfectly suited for hotel and residential re-use and I know that the powers that be are using the Dulski project as an example.

blangjr21

July 8th, 2008, 02:49 AM

BTW the Federal Building reclad in Buffalo certainly does look pretty fantastic. Lots of good things going on in Rochester and Buffalo. I certainly wish nothing badly on any other city in this great nation, and doing so calls into question a city inferiority complex...but, and that is quite the BUT

those who moved to Charlotte thinking that the grass is greener and always growing, and that the sh$t don't stink there certainly do need a swift kick in the @$$

steel

July 8th, 2008, 03:35 AM

Its actually a pretty cool building. You just have get an appreciation for its textures and forms. I mean just look at that cantilever part. If I was a rich dude that would be my apartment.

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/3724/rchmalltwrcolor5yp.jpg

Sabretooth

July 8th, 2008, 02:24 PM

The grass is never greener somewhere else. Just different shades of green.

But if someone wants to move to a city because "everybody else is" and they think it's some sort of panacea to a "problem" they have which doesn't really exist, then so be it. They'll never be happy anywhere, though they'll try their darndest not to show it. Everybody does foolish things every now and then and tries to rationalize them. The true justice wouldn't be Wachovia leaving Charlotte, it would be people who had decent jobs in Upstate NY and elsewhere but left them because "there are no jobs/the economy sucks", etc. to move there - and now have lost their jobs, jobs they'd still have where they left. And now there 'ain't nobody wanting them'. That's justice, and about as poetic as it comes.

I can understand appreciating Midtown from an architectural standpoint, but other than that it's certainly not my favorite in Rochester's or any skyline. A Dulski-esque recladding would probably look really sharp. And maybe they can put another "claw" on top of it a la Times Square. :) Nah, that'd look stupid not to mention fake on a modern building.

RochesterAddict

July 8th, 2008, 05:00 PM

Personally, I think the midtown tower is hideous (I can honestly say it is one of the ugliest buildings in Rochester), but Im glad we are retaining another tall building in Rochester to help the skyline and hopefully a total reclad will do wonders for the building.

Work finally starts on Charlotte Pier
WHEC 10

They've been talking about it for years and now somebody's doing something about it. The Charlotte Pier is getting a much-needed facelift.

The pier is now closed but when it re-opens, people will be in for a treat and workers say some people who came by for a look have even been applauding them.

One couple wanted to walk the pier today, but couldn't. It's blocked off because work is finally underway to repair broken concrete and missing cables in the safety railing.

Charlie Yonckheere spends his summers in Rochester. He said, “I think it's a shame that it's gone this long before this area has been revitalized.”

But Yonckheere says he sees a big improvement in the last several years.

“To me it's a shame that all these other ports up and down the lake like Oswego have such nice facilities, and Rochester for years seemed to neglect the Port of Rochester.”

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Buffalo says the Charlotte pier work will cost about $105-thousand. Right now, the work is at the far end of the pier.

Project Manager Brian Hecht said, “We're going to be putting down four inches of concrete, the width of the pier for about approximately 130 feet back. It's a section that it didn't get repaired years ago.”

Workers will repair less serious areas with a concrete patch of sorts.

Hecht said, “Eliminate tripping hazards, so nobody gets hurt out there. There's going to be some cable railing repairs later in the week.”

They are also power-washing off years of graffiti.

“Basically the pier is going to be partially shut down in the evening to a certain extent. So about half the pier will be open during the evenings so people can still come out and fish and go for walks and that,” said Hecht.

For a visitor, the lake, beaches and pier are special.

“This is amazing, very. I can't get over how huge it really is. I had no idea, coming from Arizona and California, where it's desert, so,” said Allison Geiger.

The concrete is breaking up and there are places where there's several inches difference in where the concrete slabs meet. This will be repaired to the delight of people in wheelchairs and moms and dads with strollers.

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter fought for federal funding for the pier repair work and she said today it's a regional treasure, and this is good news for everyone.

Not Rochester, but its good to see Canandaigua getting fixed up, it will soon have the same allure as Saratoga Springs, good stuff:

Ribbon-cuttings galore
Messenger Post Newspapers

Crepes, murals and cabinets are among the new offerings downtown this summer. For the city, that means new jobs and refurbished storefronts, said Sal Pietropaolo, director of the Business Management Association.

The newest Main Street establishments are Simply Crepes Café, 101 S. Main St.; Express Yourself home-improvement center, 248 S. Main St. and Salmon Creek Cabinetry, 129 S. Main St.

Owners say Canandaigua was the obvious location for their businesses. Salmon Creek Cabinetry manager Erika Molin cited the lake and, of course, residents themselves, as deciding factors in locating here.

“It’s busy — it’s booming,” she said. “We really felt it was an up-and-coming location.”
For the custom-cabinetmakers, new homes sprouting up around town mean one thing: business.

“We figured it would be a good market,” Molin said.

Express Yourself, which specializes in murals, painting and four-season sunrooms, also benefits from new construction. Owner Jerry Reynolds envisioned personal service and time-saving solutions when he opened the store, which will soon expand into windows and roofing.

Pietropaolo said downtown is in the midst of receiving funds through the New York Main Street Grant Program, which supports facade improvement and interior renovation. About 16 downtown businesses applied to the program, which operates on a two-year cycle, Pietropaolo said. Between completed and near-completed projects, Canandaigua has received about $180,000 from the state, he added. Those awards are matched by property or business owners, he said, resulting in nearly $400,000 in investment downtown.

Simply Crepes was one participant in the grant program, restaurant CEO Pierre Heroux said. That business added the equivalent of 19 full-time jobs to Canandaigua, Pietropaolo added. For the Rochester-based cafe, the decision to move into Canandaigua came largely due to customer demand, said General Manager Rachel Roman. In the past, many local residents drove up to the Pittsford Simply Crepes restaurant but wanted a location closer to home. Plus, the growing wine and culinary industry here made it a good fit for the company, she added.

This summer, chocolate banana split crepes are the most popular item, Roman said, closely followed by the pomme brie — a crepe topped with ham, onions, brie, tomatoes and fresh apples.

steel

July 8th, 2008, 06:41 PM

Are you in favor of keeping midtown if it means Peatec is only half height?

jerry rome

July 8th, 2008, 07:07 PM

It would create a more favorable streetscape to keep midtown and put up a 15 story Paetec. The development official interviewd on WHAM yesterday morning said part of what is driving them to look into this is the high price of Steel - no offense!

RochesterAddict

July 8th, 2008, 08:35 PM

Personally I dont care what they build, I just want to see midtown plaza gone, it is such an eyesore. An antiquated relic prime for the wrecking ball.

I would be upset if they dont add the viewing deck though, I am excited about that. And if the building is shorter it may be nixed.

jerry rome

July 10th, 2008, 03:36 PM

Rochester and Monroe Country Population Plummets

New population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show that the region as a whole has lost thousands of residents since 2002.

While Webster gained almost 2,300 residents — an increase of 6 percent — Henrietta added about 1,500 (3 percent), and Victor, Ontario County, grew by 1,491 (14 percent), the populations of most area towns, cities and villages are stagnant or dropping.

County-level data released separately by the Census Bureau earlier this year showed that Ontario is the only one of six regional counties with a gain in population since 2002. Monroe County's population declined by 6,766 people since 2002, according to the data.

The city of Rochester's population declined by more than 1,000 residents between July 2006 to 2007, and by more than 8,500 since 2002, according to the Census Bureau. And Irondequoit has lost 1,729 residents since 2002.

Rochester led the list of area communities with the largest declines in population between July 2002 and 2007 with a loss of 8,522 residents. In New York state, only the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, and Buffalo, had larger drops.

Since 2002, Irondequoit lost 1,729 residents, according to the Census Bureau. But Irondequoit officials said the annual estimates are inaccurate.

Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy acknowledged that the population decline must be addressed. He pointed out that, while the annual decline in the city's population has averaged about 1,600, the drop from 2006 to 2007 was only about 1,000.

Duffy said public safety, schools and economic development are the biggest deterrents to attracting new residents. He said local and state officials must create incentives to attract new city residents, and he wants state law changed so the city can require city workers to live in the city.

"I see vacant storefronts and houses in the city. I see vacant strip malls in the suburbs. There is population decline and a lot of it is cost. We have to make this an affordable community and state to live in," Duffy said.

andrew585

July 10th, 2008, 05:56 PM

Rochester and Monroe Country Population Plummets

Jerry, I'm not sure of the source of your snippet, maybe you might be able to provide a source (I haven't seen this on the wires yet) but I wouldn't call a drop of 6,766 in Monroe County since 2002 a population "plummet". Now in Erie county, maybe the word "plummet" would be more reasonable, where the population decreased by 5,001 in between 7/1/06 and 7/1/07. By my estimates, Monroe County had an average drop of -0.18% per annum between 2002 and now - very back of the envelope, but feel free to do the math yourself.

....snip....

Rochester led the list of area communities with the largest declines in population between July 2002 and 2007 with a loss of 8,522 residents. In New York state, only the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, and Buffalo, had larger drops.

In my opinion, and I am not in denial here, we definitely need to find a way to stabilize the loss, stop the brain drain, or whatever the catchphrase is these days. I must say that it is very misleading to be using raw, absolute figures here, in lieu of using percentages. For example - the Census bureau reported that the NYC metro gained almost 24,000 residents, I believe in the past year, but that's on a base of 8.7 million, for an implied 1 year growth rate of a whopping 0.275%. This is why it's always more meaningful and relevant to use percentages versus raw figures when talking growth rates.

....snip....

RochesterAddict

July 10th, 2008, 09:43 PM

Jerry is a Niagara Falls troll that has bothered us before under another username and will always bother us for eternity...cant we ban this latest incarnation?

Here is the real article he manipulated to make himself happy for some reason:

Latest census data show pockets of growth in Rochester region
Democrat and Chronicle

Webster, Henrietta and Victor are among the fastest growing communities in the state, according to new federal data.

But the new population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show that the region as a whole has lost thousands of residents since 2002.

While Webster gained almost 2,300 residents — an increase of 6 percent — Henrietta added about 1,500 (3 percent), and Victor, Ontario County, grew by 1,491 (14 percent), the populations of most area towns, cities and villages are stagnant or dropping.

County-level data released separately by the Census Bureau earlier this year showed that Ontario is the only one of six regional counties with a gain in population since 2002. Monroe County's population declined by 6,766 people since 2002, according to the data.

The city of Rochester's population declined by more than 1,000 residents between July 2006 to 2007, and by more than 8,500 since 2002, according to the Census Bureau. And Irondequoit has lost 1,729 residents since 2002.

Officials in towns with solid growth credit good schools, low property taxes, easy access to shopping and family-friendly recreation opportunities. Experts attribute the overall decline to high taxes and a lack of good-paying jobs.

Family-friendly
Wanting to be closer to family and tired of the bustle of living near Route 104 in Greece, Richard and Gail Cunliffe moved to Webster last November. Their daughter and their first grandchild, who was born two months ago, live two miles away from the Cunliffes' new home on Waterbrook Crossing. "We like the pace of life here as opposed to living near Ridge Road in Greece," Richard Cunliffe said Wednesday as he trimmed hedges outside his one-story house.

Directly across the street, a contractor worked on building a 1,600-square-foot home, the newest addition to Belvedere, an 80-home development for owners 55 and older off Route 250 just north of the village of Webster.

Many Belvedere residents are retired couples who have moved from other areas of greater Rochester or from out of state to be closer to their children, like the Cunliffes, said developer Steve Philippone of Brannon Homes.

Webster Supervisor Ronald Nesbitt said the growth of Webster, which now has a population of 41,290, validates the town's motto: Where life is worth living.

"We have everything here," Nesbitt said. "We have a great school system. We have open space."

Henrietta town Supervisor Michael Yudelson said his town is attracting new residents because it has a good mix of residential and commercial property that offers residents convenience and keeps property taxes low.

"In tough economic times, every penny counts and taxes are even more important," he said.

Victor Supervisor Leslie Bamann said her town is an attractive choice because of good schools, shopping at Eastview Mall, low taxes and proximity to Interstate 490 and the New York state Thruway.

She said town officials are in the process of developing a new comprehensive plan that will guide future development.

"The ideal is to have what you want where you want it," Bamann said.

Declines questioned
Rochester led the list of area communities with the largest declines in population between July 2002 and 2007 with a loss of 8,522 residents. In New York state, only the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, and Buffalo, had larger drops.

Since 2002, Irondequoit lost 1,729 residents, according to the Census Bureau. But Irondequoit officials said the annual estimates are inaccurate.

"Generally, we take these estimates with a large grain of salt mainly because they're almost always wrong," said Tony Favro, assistant to Irondequoit Supervisor Mary Ellen Heyman.

"There's no way to know for sure until the census is done (in 2010), but we don't see any large shift up or down, at least no obvious evidence of any shift," he said.

But Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy acknowledged that the population decline must be addressed. He pointed out that, while the annual decline in the city's population has averaged about 1,600, the drop from 2006 to 2007 was only about 1,000.

Duffy said public safety, schools and economic development are the biggest deterrents to attracting new residents. He said local and state officials must create incentives to attract new city residents, and he wants state law changed so the city can require city workers to live in the city.

Today, the city pays $177 million in wages to city workers who live outside the city.

"I see vacant storefronts and houses in the city. I see vacant strip malls in the suburbs. There is population decline and a lot of it is cost. We have to make this an affordable community and state to live in," Duffy said.

http://cmsimg.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A2&Date=20080710&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=807100350&Ref=V2&Profile=1003&MaxW=318&Border=0

andrew585

July 10th, 2008, 11:27 PM

I remember him, he was "Jerome" from the Niagara Frontier. Wow, so he would actually take the time to chop up a D&C article, just to put some warped spin on it? Some people have too much time on their hands.

I like how he put a positive spin on the flat out population hemorrhage in Erie County, which he posted in the Buffalo Development thread. This line from Buffalo News article made me laugh out loud: The good news for Erie and Niagara counties from the estimates released today is that the losses were almost minimal — none had a population drop of more than one percentage point.

"Almost Minimal" - I suppose that's good news, kind of like the cup is 1/100 full, or something like that! Nothing like putting lipstick on the ol' pig.

Sabretooth

July 11th, 2008, 01:36 AM

^^ Just don't blame our collective problems on the state. He gets really sensitive about that. All of Buffalo's problems are exclusively the fault of its elected officials, so it stands to reason that's probably where all of Rochester's problems stem from as well. After all, we live in such a booming, progressive state.

But what are you going to do...

ManAboutTown

July 11th, 2008, 11:16 PM

Today's RBJ has an article recapping the current status of a number of developments surrounding the Midtown site. Most notable, Inn on Broadway continues to plan for their expansion onto a neighboring parking lot. The owner stated that they should have the expansion complete in 2010. If they intend to meet that schedule, we can expect to see their plans in the near future.

blangjr21

July 12th, 2008, 03:19 PM

If you haven't seen any of the upgrades to the Inn on Broadway they have been spending some money lately. A new outdoor patio and fountain really up the ambiance. Also of note next door the US Postal Service will relocate their downtown branch to the vacant office building. So that should upgrade the property at least.

RochesterAddict

July 14th, 2008, 06:04 PM

Ohio chain seeks $10M in damages from Brio
Rochester Business Journal

A multistate restaurant firm wants Rochester-area restaurateur Sami Mina to change the name of his Pittsford Italian eatery and is seeking at least $10 million in damages for alleged trademark infringement, court records state.
Bravo Development Inc., an Ohio-based operator of Italian restaurant chains, claims in a suit filed in U.S. District Court in Rochester that Mina's Brio Mediterranean Bistro infringes on Bravo's trademarked Brio Tuscan Grille name.
Mina said in a statement he believes his use of the Brio trademark predates Bravo's. He believes the Ohio chain is trying to drive his locally owned restaurant out of business to eliminate competition for a Brio Tuscan Grille it plans to open across the street. Bravo attorney Timothy Fraelich of Jones Day in Cleveland declined to comment.
The complete story appears in the July 11 print edition of the Rochester Business Journal.

I was wondering how long this would take? I know the chain has been around a while and that Buffalo got a Bravo, Italian not long ago. I figured it was only a matter of time. Brio is Bravo's upscale counterpart. The food is decent, better than the other Italian chains. But I would kiss Benuccis in Pittsford goodbye when this opens. Sami Mina also owns a Brio in Ft Lauderdale, FL, I wonder if that one will change its name as well?

Starbucks closings: Two in area to close
WROC 8

News 8 has learned two local Starbucks coffee shops will shut down, as part of the nationwide round of closings by the coffee giant.

In Greece, the location on Ridge Road near the Mall at Greece Ridge will most likely close in the next 9 months. In Geneseo, the shop on Lakeville Road will close anywhere between two months to a year.

Earlier in July, the Seattle-based coffee chain announced it was closing 600 coffee shops, mostly newer locations, around the country.

Citibank unit laying off 89 in Perinton
Democrat and Chronicle

The Student Loan Corp, a division of Citibank NA, plans to cut 89 jobs from its Perinton operation, the company said today.

The local layoffs are part of a company-wide restructuring and cost-cutting effort that would eliminate 174 jobs total, including some at Student Loan Corp. headquarters in Stamford, Conn., and in South Dakota.

Rob Julavits, a spokesman for Citigroup Inc., the parent of Citibank, said the 99 Garnsey Road facility in Perinton will have 251 employees remaining after the layoffs are complete.

Most of the layoffs will occur in August.

Rite Aids move out of plazas in Canandaigua, Greece
Democrat and Chronicle

Anyone who's familiar with both Greece and Canandaigua might be seeing a bit of deja vu this week.

Ellicott Development Co. of Buffalo has started construction of a free-standing Rite Aid Pharmacy on Canandaigua's Eastern Boulevard. The same developer put up a Rite Aid on West Ridge Road in Greece earlier this year.

What's so familiar is that in both instances, the new drugstores are replacing or have replaced Rite Aid drugstores in plazas almost directly across the street.

In this week's project, the existing pharmacy is in Canandaigua's venerable Parkway Plaza. In the Greece project, the new store was built across from Greece's venerable Ridgemont Plaza.

In Greece, a restaurant was knocked down to make room for the new drugstore. In Canandaigua it was an Econolodge.

All you have to do to understand why old stores are being abandoned and new ones being built practically next door is to look down the road: Within a quarter mile of the Rite Aid construction site in Canandaigua is a shiny, new Walgreens. They're popping up just about everywhere.

"It's tough to compete with your competition" when you're locked into an old-style plaza, said William Paladino, senior vice president of leasing and development for Ellicott Development.

The new Rite Aid will have 14,673 square feet, a standard footprint and a drive-through window for pharmacy service. These drive-throughs are becoming standard at local drugstores.

"They're not a business driver, they're more a convenience and additional service for customers," Paladino said. He only became aware of how convenient this service was recently when trying to get medicine for his son, who was very sick.

"Trying to carry a sick 4-year-old through a store ... ."

Construction began Monday. Paladino said the store is due to open in March. The site also has room for another store of about 3,500 square feet. Paladino said tenants are being sought now for that space.

Cycling competition expands to 3 days
Rochester Business Journal

The Rochester Omnium cycling competition has been expanded to a three-day event Aug. 8 to 10 with two new routes, officials announced Thursday.
“This exciting event draws tens of thousands of people and the highest level of professional cycling downtown and into our city,” Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy said.
“We are making a commitment to its future not only because of the excitement and life that the family event brings but also because of its tremendous economic impact.”
The one-day event in 2007 drew 35,000 spectators, officials said.
The Omnium begins Aug. 8 with the Rochester Time Trial, a 3.9-mile event that starts and finishes at the Port of Rochester.
The Rochester Twilight Criterium is Aug. 9, with nighttime racing through downtown streets.
The 110-mile Rochester Road Race is Aug. 10, starting in Honeoye and finishing with a circuit loop around the south side of the city.
“With the success of last year’s race, a three-day race was a natural progression,” race director Scott Page said.

Heres a nice story showing how the Finger Lakes affects the economy of Rochester: http://democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080714/NEWS01/807140333/1003&GID=xcmCfHXcos+/9aSJXJ9rWckKksoVYm6m1MjZ1C22ojM%3D

RochesterAddict

July 15th, 2008, 08:11 PM

Luxury homes proposed for East Avenue
Messenger Post Newspapers

The vacant plot of land on the 3500 block of East Avenue may finally be filled, as a developer is proposing a townhome community.

Marriott had plans approved to build a senior living center in 1999. The building would have stood between Hawthorne’s Restaurant, Route 490 and Bretton Woods Drive.

Pittsford Supervisor Bill Carpenter said Marriott backed out of the project, and the plot wasn’t developed as it is zoned specifically for the senior center.

“The zoning for Marriott was very tight. We wrote the zoning right around that project,” said Carpenter. “Marriott went through approvals then decided to no longer do business for seniors living in New York state for a number of different reasons.”

Now, Kilbourn Place Associates is looking to build a 49-unit townhome community in the same parcel. The only problem is the zoning of the space that was specifically designed for Marriott’s 106-unit project.

Because of this, Kilbourn Place Associates is seeking an incentive zoning amendment from the Pittsford Town Board.

David Luxenberg, a partner of the group, said Kilbourn is looking to build single-level housing, a commodity he doesn’t feel is available in the area.

“We’re trying to provide some housing choices which there may not be a lot of in the community,” Luxenberg said. “They provide ownership opportunities, but also are homes on a single level so that there are no mobility issues.”

There will be 17 units of two-story housing, and 32 units of single-level housing.
Luxenberg said interest in the housing would come from those who already live in Brighton, Pittsford or other areas southeast of Rochester.

“Some people are living in a very large home and don’t need that much space,” said Luxenberg. “Sometimes the children are grown and moved away, or if they are looking for something with a homeowners association to take care of maintenance and chores. It provides a lot more freedom, as well as being able to benefit from a single-level unit.”
Luxenberg estimated the cost of the homes would be $350,000 to $550,000.

As part of the incentive zoning, the developer would extend a 12-foot sound wall to the north of the property along the highway. The wall currently ends near the northwest corner of Bretton Woods Drive. Luxenberg said the buildings themselves would also block sound coming from the highway.

“All along, sound attenuation for Bretton Woods was a very important incentive,” said Carpenter. “The layout of the buildings also will help Bretton Woods and East Avenue.”
According to the application for the amendment, the sound attenuation costs are estimated at $250,000.

Kilbourn is also designing all of the homes as townhomes as opposed to condominiums. Luxenberg said that condominiums receive a reduction in their assessed value. In keeping the proposed buildings as townhouses, he estimates around $175,000 in additional tax revenue for the town.

The incentives also include preservation of various trees and the historic Wright House.
Carpenter said that the board is looking at some issues in the proposed plan including drainage, the sound attenuation and the affect on Kilbourn Road.

The board may decide on the amendment at the Aug. 5 meeting. The developers are looking to start construction in spring or late winter.

Third Walgreens for Greece?
Messenger Post Newspapers

One of Greece's most commercial corners might be getting some new tenants.

Benderson Development is planning a Walgreens, a retail/restaurant building, three other retail/office buildings, a bank and coffee shop. There’s no word yet on who the tenants might be, according to Gary Tajkowski, the town’s director of development services.

This would be the third Walgreens for Greece, if it goes through. Two others have been approved for the corner of Mount Read Boulevard and Maiden Lane and at the corner of Long Pond and West Ridge roads at Buckman's Plaza.

Years ago, under different developers, the site was slated to be a Tops supermarket. About 10 years ago, Benderson got hold of the land and planned to build a shopping plaza with a Vix drugstore. But that never happened.

The project would be somewhat L-shaped, a bit to the left of and wrapping around the plaza that houses Ricci’s restaurant and a parallel to the town’s Department of Public Works campus. The driveway from that plaza to Long Pond Road would be moved further south to accommodate both plazas, Tajkowski said.

“They came back with what we consider a very improved site plan,” said Bill Selke, Planning Board member. “We’re looking for something that fits the area, looks decent and maybe buffers the highway department.”

Selke said the project is a welcome one.

"It will make a difference in the quality of the overall look of the Latta/Long Pond corridor, and of course the safety issues, traffic wise," he said. "We have to be concerned because there is a lot of movement in that area and accidents on occasion so we want to make sure it all fits in."

BayTowne project to be considered
Messenger Post Newspapers

The ball is rolling on the BayTowne Plaza redevelopment project.

On Thursday, the town Planning Board will consider an application from the DiMarco Group for final site plan approval of the project. The meeting will be open to the public and input from the audience is welcome.

Doug Fox, director of the town’s planning department, doesn’t expectthe approval process to be especially tough for DiMarco.

“I don’t see any major hurdles to an approval for the current application,” he said.

Earlier this year, DiMarco announced plans to renovate the plaza with new restaurants, shops and façade improvements.

The plans include demolition of part of the former Tops store, which closed last year. The Tops site is about 79,000 square feet. Of that, a little more than 25,000 square feet may be torn down and converted into a streetscape look with a median, storefront parking and trees.

In the future, DiMarco officials said they might consider redeveloping the part of BayTowne where Tops is now. The developers may consider adding smaller shops into that building, and the front lobby of Tops may be torn down to make way for sidewalks and storefront parking.

John Wilkie, president of the Penfield Chamber of Commerce, sees the redevelopment as a positive sign for Penfield.

More shops in BayTowne means more people shopping locally — and saving money, since gas prices currently hover around the $4.25 mark per gallon in the Rochester area.

“Let’s get people to remember the local shops instead of running all over the place,” Wilkie said.

DiMarco also plans to build two free-standing restaurants in the middle of the parking lot — one about 6,500 square feet and another about 1,900 square feet. Local and national restaurant chains have expressed interest in leasing these two locations, but representatives from the DiMarco Group would not reveal their names.

Wilkie thinks the restaurants would draw even more businesses into Penfield.

“Maybe the restaurants will help bring in more traffic,” he said. “I think that’s good for everybody.”

Not only could the plaza see some new businesses popping up, but it’ll get a makeover, too.

All storefronts in the plaza will have façade updates. A creamy yellow color will replace the plaza’s blue-and-gray color scheme. A sidewalk may be put in to connect both sides of the shopping center and make it easier for pedestrians to navigate the shops.

At a public hearing in May, some nearby residents expressed concerns about noise in the plaza, specifically with trucks driving through at night. A truck would sweep and clean the lot when it is empty.

DiMarco has submitted a property maintenance agreement, which is being reviewed by the town now.

“It will be a formal contract with the plaza owners that regulates the times that parking lot sweeping and Dumpster pickup occurs, which was one of the main complaints ... during the sketch plan meeting a couple of months ago,” Fox said.

In the future, DiMarco may also consider developing some adjacent property that the company owns, Fox said. He added that no application has been submitted for that project yet.

A more super superstore
Messenger Post Newspapers

Henrietta will soon have a Wegmans supermarket that rivals the local grocery chain’s massive stores in Pittsford and Greece and will feature places to grab a bite to eat inside and outside.

The new store will open its doors to the public at 7 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 24.
Highlights include an expanded selection of prepared foods, including a fresh foods bar, Wokery Chinese buffet, freshly made sushi, thin-crust pizza and specialty coffees. Parents can also shop while their kids, ages 3 to 8, play at the Wkids Fun Center.

The existing Wegmans is on East Henrietta Road, directly across from the new one. The new one is front of the Dome Center on Calkins Road.

The existing store opened in February 1964 with a 19,600-square-foot floor plan. Through the years, the store had been expanded and remodeled until reaching “superstore” status in June 1975 with 57,027 square feet.

According to Wegmans spokeswoman Jo Natale, the first Super Natural Health Food Center department opened at the store in May 1979.

“This department offered a greater concentration of specialty, or natural, food items and later morphed into Olde World Cheese and Specialty Foods,” said Natale. “Eventually the ‘Super Natural’ foods went away, but later came back in what is now known as Nature’s Marketplace.”

Henrietta resident Jake Croop said he is most looking forward to the submarine sandwich counter at the new store.

“I love the old-fashioned subs at the newer Wegmans and have been waiting for these to come to this location for a long time,” said Croop. “They are delicious.”

Croop, 35, has been shopping at the old store since he moved to the area in 1994 and said he will miss the convenience of getting in and out of the smaller store quickly. He does look forward to the greater selection of items in all departments.

The exterior of the new 100,000-square-foot building, which features a mix of brick and tan with several peaks and more windows, emulates the Mt. Read store in Greece, which opened in August 2007. A clock tower erected from its roof, which needed a special variance from the town because it exceeds normal height limitations, reaches 77 feet at its peak.

The close proximity of the Hylan Drive store is not a concern for Wegmans. When the company began considering the new store, officials took into consideration the closeness of surrounding stores and it is their belief that the Henrietta area can support both stores.

According to Natale, Wegmans was not offered a tax incentive for this project. Wegmans is in discussions with a potential buyer for the old store but no specific plans have been made yet.

Rochester's Cosmic Jams a rehearsal haven for renting rockers
Democrat and Chronicle

Throughout the day, the sound of metal work echoes from the industrial buildings around Cosmic Jams.

And at random times daily and well into the night, a completely different metal sound comes out of Cosmic Jams — the heavy metal of grinding guitar riffs, crashing drums and growled lyrics.

In its 88 years, the nondescript, two-story brick building on Rochester's west side that houses Cosmic Jams has gone through a number of incarnations — decades as a paint shop and some time as an empty eyesore filled with pigeons. But for 12 years, it has served as one of the premier rehearsal spaces for numerous local bands.

Owner Vince Lattuca started his Cosmic Jams business 15 years ago, first in an old Verona Street building that was later demolished to make way for Frontier Field, which opened in 1996.

"I was really depressed for a while," said the 55-year-old Holley resident.

Then he relocated to its current location, a building owned by Rochester-based real estate management company Buckingham Properties, and divided it into more than 30 rehearsal studios.

Taking up the vast second floor of the building, Cosmic Jams is a series of long, black-painted hallways, with a door to a studio every few steps, one after another. There is no sign on the exterior, and even the company's Web site does not give the address of Cosmic Jams — the concern being the musical equipment could become a target for theft, Lattuca said.

Steve Gallagher, a professional drummer, has been renting space at Cosmic Jams after moving to the area three years ago from New York City.

"As far as studios go, this is about the best," the Chili resident said. "You don't have to worry about noise. And it's a good vibe — you get bands of all different types here."

Being located in an industrial area in the city, not remotely near any housing, Belligerent Records — a hip-hop label that built a small recording studio inside its rehearsal space at Cosmic Jams — "can do the music we want to without disturbing anybody," said Anthony LaTona of Greece.

Beneath Cosmic Jams on the first floor is a separate business — Pearl Productions and its Black Castle Studios, an audio recording studio. Pearl Productions opened in January in what had been studio space.

A former commercial real estate appraiser, Lattuca said Cosmic Jams was for many years a sideline business. And alongside renting rehearsal space it also at times has done other music-related services, such as videotaping of concerts to show promotion.

Today, after recovering from cancer that hindered his ability to play guitar, Lattuca said Cosmic Jams is his main operation.

With monthly rents of $150 to $300 for studio space, he said: "You've got to scrape up a lot to get by. Right now at least 10 bands owe me money. Will I get it all? There's a chance."

Maintaining and running a business catering particularly to numerous heavy metal bands comes with its own challenges, like the occasional business hazard of a trashed rehearsal room.

"You're dealing with a lot of guys who are rebels by nature. But at the end of the day you have to have some rules," Lattuca said. "People think it's easy — I used to have hair when I started this business."