As you know, the City of Rochester is requesting development proposals for the empty lots along Charlotte Street. I am sending you a plan that I worked on with a couple of designers. Unfortunately, we have not been able to connect with any interested developers, and proposals were due December 5th.
The following design is by Pebble-stream; we wanted to share it with our friends who believe in the future of this community…
Because we’re always thinking ahead to the weekend, here are a couple of fun things you might want to check out. We’ve got a Christmas celebration going on in the South Wedge, and one heck of a shopping alternative to the big box stores…
Welcome back to Filling In. As you know, we have a soft spot for city-owned property. And in fact, we really like city property that is currently up for sale or out for proposal right now. With that in mind, let’s talk about 19 Eiffel place…
The erosion of a former barrier beach at the Braddock Bay outlet has caused silt to collect in the mouth of the bay, impacting channel navigation for boaters. The shrinking bay is also being over run with cattails which as led to the displacement of various native plants and wildlife. In an attempt to restore the bay, the Buffalo-based U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is considering a plan to build up a new barrier beach and construct a new breakwall.
Last spring Senator Chuck Schumer urged the EPA to fund the $9 Million project, saying the plan would help open navigation channels for boaters, create new fish spawning areas for game fishing, and protect local wetlands & wildlife. The Senator also points out that property values for the nearly 100 homes on the bay are also at stake.
But not everyone is in favor of the engineering plan. Last week, Barbara Carder of Hilton wrote in to express her concern over the issue. She’s asking for people to attend a public meeting this Wednesday…
This week on Filling In, we’re going to take a look at one of the sadder surface parking lot+grass field combos in the city. Sure it’s not the only one, but it’s sitting in a built up neighborhood, next to a local grocery store.* Indeed, the walk score of this location is a hefty 86. It’s not for a lack of ideas that nothing is here. Take a look at this prior effort…
With the holidays starting earlier and earlier each year, there’s a good chance many of you have already gotten a jump on your shopping lists. And if you’re looking for some local gift ideas, this one is for you…
Have you ever wanted to DO something with all of that (generally) unused street parking in Rochester? Have you ever wanted to show people that we could have livelier streets with a few less cars and a few more amenities? If you answered yes to either of these questions, it’s time to learn about Park(ing) Day. The event’s website is at www.parkingday.org but in case you want the elevator pitch instead, Park(ing) Day is an event that has been going on for over a decade around the world to bring attention to the positive impact on livability that on-street parking can have when reimagined as something other than car storage. And this is where our story starts…
Born from a new age of information sharing, as well as a recognized need for communal spaces where people can “imagine, innovate, and inspire” come makerspaces. Makerspaces (and hackerspaces) are not a new idea. However, they are fairly new in the United States. But as one makerspace/hackerspace proclaimed, these “spaces” are catching on – and there are more being established on a regular basis. Including a few right here in Rochester…
Rochester’s airwaves are on the brink of some exciting changes. WAYO 104.3 FM is a new non-commercial, low-power community radio station with expansive musical and cultural programming, emphasizing creative freedom, diversity, and community engagement…
Rochester is loaded with fun things to do and see including many festivals, shopping, entertainment, art and culture. Our city is consistently ranked highly on national “quality of life” lists. We’ve got exciting neighborhoods. Great people. And great old homes – at crazy affordable prices.
Here comes another great home buying opportunity for anyone looking to move into the area, or anyone who may be growing tired of renting. Let’s look at 279 Field Street in the Swillburg Neighborhood…
Within the last year I have written a great deal about cities and the historic buildings they should be obligated to see maintained. Many cities cannot, will not, or do not want to penalize or fine the industrial and commercial property owners who fail to maintain the buildings within their care. Often what happens is that these neglected buildings are then demolished because they are supposedly beyond repair or structurally unsound.
It should be noted that buildings are rarely too far gone, even when roofs are missing and the “elements” have begun to reek havoc, and that often these very buildings are “structurally sound.”
The area around University of Rochester—both east and west of the river—has seen an explosion of new construction. RocSubway contributor Jimmy Combs ventured out this weekend to get a snapshot of the progress of three of these developments; College Town, The Flats at Brooks Crossing, and the new Golisano Children’s Hospital. All are due to open by 2015…
A year ago RochesterSubway.com took you UP inside Rush Rhees Library at the University of Rochester. The views from that tower are spectacular – but it’s the 6,668 pounds of bronze bells inside that are truly awe inspiring.
The bells are actually part of a massive musical instrument called a Carillon. And now, if you’ve got experience playing a keyboard, you may have a shot to go to the top of Rush Rhees and play the carillon yourself. Doris Aman of the University of Rochester Carillon Society sent in the following one-time offer…
Rochester has long been home to a vibrant and diverse music scene. Original music has always had room to find an audience here, a luxury most cities cannot claim, but we support our own. Even in the pre-punk days local bands like The Invictas , Soul Brothers Six and Duke Jupiter were able to make a name on a national level. But beyond those lucky few lie the stories of dozens of bands who achieved their own form of greatness. With an array of clubs and bars encouraging original voices there has never been a lack of up-and-comers (and should-have-made-its) hitting the stage on any given night.
A little over twenty years ago David Baumgartner, Sean Leahy, Will Veeder and Kris Durso joined those ranks as Muler . During their two decade career, Muler has embodied everything that makes this scene unique. They were just four guys who made loud tuneful rock and roll in the least pretentious way possible…
On Facebook last week I shared an old photo of Rochester’s iconic Mercury statue as it was being removed from its original perch atop the Kimball Tobacco Factory in 1951. The factory was demolished to make way for the War Memorial and the statue sat in storage until the Lawyers Cooperative (Aqueduct Building) became his new home in 1973.
Fast forward to June 2011; the 21 foot tall, 700 pound statue gets a thorough inspection for signs of wear and a good restoration. The following photos were taken by Wes Plant during that checkup. And they show Mercury in detail you’ve probably never seen before…
A while back, Chris Clemens called attention to Rochester’s growing collection of Little Free Libraries . Last week Deanna Varble and Ken Braley wrote in to RocSubway and asked me to share a few more they’ve been working on.
I love this grassroots effort to encourage reading. And I’m happy to share these newest additions to the greater Rochester neighborhood…
Welcome back to our three part series on Charlotte. We’ve arrived at part three. This is it, the omega. If you recall, all the way back in part one, we said this part would be broken up into three sections:
1. Residential and Commercial Development;
2. Transportation; and
3. Governance.
So without further adieu, let’s jump right in. Ok, one quick disclaimer, Charlotte as a whole is pretty big, too big for one little three part column. With that in mind, I’m cutting off Charlotte at Denise Road, similar to the other parts. Maybe someday I can write an addendum addressing the southern portion of the neighborhood. But enough of that – Onward!
Dear readers, we interrupt our three part Charlotte series to give you a small morsel of something different before the grand finale. Consider this a palette cleanser, an intermezzo, if you will.
I looked up tired in the dictionary, and found this picture of 34 King Street in the Susan B. Anthony neighborhood. Seeing as the Carriage Factory lofts are being built immediately behind, I think it’s time for a major upgrade here. Allow me to present the all-new 34 King Street…
In part one of our three part Charlotte bonanza, we looked briefly at the history of Charlotte, from its formation in 1792, through its resort years and annexation in the early 20th century. In part two, we’ll look at Charlotte as it is today. Let’s start with the lay of the land. Shown above is the official definition of the city’s neighborhoods. As you know, Charlotte is the one at the top. Zooming in (and switching to Google maps) here’s what we see…
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After the Erie Canal was rerouted south of downtown Rochester, the Rochester
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![Development proposals for the empty lots along Charlotte were due to the City on Friday. An independent design shop called Pebble-stream came up with this proposal but couldn't find an interested developer before the deadline. [IMAGE: James Reynolds, Pebble-stream]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/pebble-stream-charlotte-street-plan-01.jpg)
![50 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Rochester NY. [PHOTO: Flickr User Da Da Z]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/topics/wp-content/uploads/rochester-facts-40-1.jpg)
![Braddock Bay, Rochester, NY. [PHOTO:
Rochester Parks, Google]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-braddock-bay-breakwall-01.jpg)
![Community 'makerspaces' are popping up all over the country with two right here in Rochester; Makerspace and Interlock. [PHOTO: Brian Boucheron, Flickr]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/hackerspaces-makerspaces-01.jpg)
![WAYO 104.3 FM is a new non-commercial, low-power community radio station. [PHOTO: Provided]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/wayo-104-3-fm-radio-01.jpg)
![This is currently the only property available for sale in Swillburg on Field Street. Over 1,700 square foot, 4 Bedroom / 1.5 Bathroom; for $129,900. [IMAGE: Lisa Shingleton, Nothnagle Realtors]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-homes-for-sale-swillburg-279-field-street01.jpg)
![The demolished Bethlehem Steel North Office Building in Lackawanna, NY. [PHOTO: Chris Smart]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/bethlehem-steel-administration-building-lackawanna.jpg)
![Construction on College Town, at University of Rochester. June 2014. [PHOTO: Jimmy Combs]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-college-town-01.jpg)
![The carillon inside University of Rochester's Rush Rhees Library tower. [PHOTO: University of Rochester Carillon Society]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/university-of-rochester-rush-rhees-carillon-01.jpg)
![Muler. April 2012. [PHOTO: Facebook]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/muler-band-2012-04.jpg)
![Statue of Mercury. Rochester, NY. [PHOTO: Wes Plant]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-mercury-statue-renovation-2011-40.jpg)
![A Little Free Libraries at 226 Hudson Avenue. Rochester, NY. [PHOTO: Deanna Varble]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-free-library-10.jpg)
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