The city of Rochester is gearing up for a few major construction projects that are all looking to change its current landscape and affordability. One program that will shift the housing market in Rochester is the Mission-Based Affordable Housing Partnership.
People of color in central New York aren’t getting a fair number of jobs in the construction industry, a local study finds. According to a new study by the Urban Jobs Task Force and the Legal Services of Central New York, there’s a major racial disparity in the New York construction industry despite people of color making up a quarter of the state population.
As some of you may have heard, bike share is coming to Rochester. I’ve considered writing about it all sorts of ways. I thought about mentioning how many other cities have it. Or how safe it is. Or even the specific plans for Rochester (warning: PDF). As you may have already guessed, I’m not about to do any of that. Instead, I’d like to discuss what bike share has meant for me over the past decade, and what it might mean for you too.
Somewhat unexpectedly, a fifth proposal for Midtown Parcel 5 was submitted. Spoiler alert, it’s, how to be polite about this, different. Ok, fine, it’s terrible. It’s bad. It’s terribad. It might even be a false flag operation to make the submitted proposals look better. I don’t know, but inexplicably it’s being taken seriously by parts of the city which is creating unrest with other parts of the city. I’d be calling for the popcorn if this weren’t the future of the middle of our town on the line.
Today’s Filling in is just a little bit different than usual. Instead of looking at one building or one site, we’re going to take a look at a whole block. Namely, Main Street from Clinton to St. Paul. If you hadn’t already heard, there is a huge event called The re:Main Social taking place there on October 1st. I hope all of you are able to make it. In the lead up to it, let’s discuss some short to long term visions for the area.
The City announced the Inner Loop RFP winners. The three proposals that won aren’t bad. No Great Wolf Lodge, at least. One of the sites is being held for a future RFP. Best of luck to all the winning proposals.
I don’t know of anyone in the world who loves parking—except maybe Lorraine Baines—but that’s not exactly the kind of parking I’m talking about here…
I’m talking about the hassle of cruising up and down the rows of a Wegmans parking lot, trying to squeeze in next to the hummer who decided he needed an extra couple of spaces, fighting the nine other drivers who won’t even entertain the thought of walking an extra twenty feet to pay $5 for a bottle of water.
Cuomo was in town to announce a sizable expansion of the Genesee Brewery. More details here. This is exciting for Genny and the region in general. One other small plug for a local firm – the design is being done by Pardi.
Welcome back, readers! In this edition of Filling In, let’s take another look at Parcel 5. Before we get started, quickly refresh by scouting the last time we discussed this site. I apologize in advance that this article probably isn’t going to cover much more about what I think should be done with the site, rather, what should probably not be done, and why…
Do me a favor. If you’re at home, step outside for a moment and take a good, long look at your driveway and garage (Don’t worry, the Internet will still be here when you get back). If you don’t have a driveway or garage, step outside and catch me a Charmander!
Did you do it? Did you stare intently at your driveway/garage situation? Great! Now, think about it for a moment and answer honestly: Does your car have a bigger bedroom than you do? Seriously. What percentage of the space that you own/rent/occupy is dedicated solely to vehicular storage? Your car isn’t paying rent. Why does it get the biggest room in the house?!
What else could you do with that space the garage sits on? A jam space for your band? Art studio? Game room? Greenhouse? The possibilities are many…
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After the Erie Canal was rerouted south of downtown Rochester, the Rochester
Industrial & Rapid Transit Railway (the “subway”) was built in
its place as a link between the five different railroads and interurban trolley
lines that served the Rochester area. As the industrial landscape of Rochester
changed, and highways replaced the railroads, the Rochester subway gradually
became a relic of a bygone era. In 1956 the subway was abandoned and much of
its route was converted into Interstate 490 — built to connect Rochester
with the New York State Thruway (I-90). Read more about the history of the Rochester Subway.
RochesterSubway.com exists to help spark
public dialogue around how we can better connect the neighborhoods of Rochester
NY, surrounding communities, and their cultural offerings. Rochester’s
future is written in her past. Let's rediscover it.
![Map of potential bike share stations [PHOTO: Zagster]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/topics/wp-content/uploads/Bike_share_map.jpg)
![Rendering of Parcel 5 Proposal by Fraser Smillie [PHOTO: DeWolff Partnership Architects]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/topics/wp-content/uploads/Midtown_Parcel_5_Dewolff_Rendering.jpg)
![Unbuilt SOM design for Riverside North of Main Street. [PHOTO: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle 4/3/66]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/topics/wp-content/uploads/SOM_Riverside_Towers.jpg)
![Overhead view of Main Street from Clinton to St. Paul [PHOTO: RPL Local History Division]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/topics/wp-content/uploads/Street_Scene_1898.jpg)
![490 and Inner Loop Progress [PHOTO: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle 5/26/57]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/topics/wp-content/uploads/Inner_Loop_Construction.jpg)
![For Park(ing) Day is tomorrow. [IMAGE: Provided]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/parking-day-2016-01.jpg)
![Get in on the Geneseecret [PHOTO: Genesee Ad from 1962]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/topics/wp-content/uploads/The_Geneseecret.jpg)
![Excerpt of full page ad showing the soon to be completed Lincoln Tower downtown [PHOTO: Rochester Democrat & Chronicle 1/25/1970]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/topics/wp-content/uploads/Space_Odyssey_1970.jpg)
![2008 Conceptual plan for Midtown by the City of Rochester [PHOTO: City Hall Photo Lab Contemporary Collection]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/topics/wp-content/uploads/Original_Conceptual_Plan.jpg)
![Lincoln Rochester Trust Branch [PHOTO: Rochester Daily Record 6/9/1958]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/topics/wp-content/uploads/Lincoln_Rochester_Trust_Inner_Loop_Branch.jpg)
![For Park(ing) Day this year, some folks want to turn a downtown parking lot into a public art gallery space. They are asking for submissions of visual art, in any form, showing how you would transform one unused place in the city of Rochester. [IMAGE: Provided]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/parking-day-2016-request-for-art-01.jpg)
![Midtown Plaza Under Construction [PHOTO: Buffalo Courier-Express 6/4/1961]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/topics/wp-content/uploads/Midtown_Under_Construction.jpg)
![Midtown Plaza Rendering [PHOTO: Buffalo Courier-Express 6/5/1961]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/topics/wp-content/uploads/Midtown_Rendering.jpg)
![Taking Down Mercury [PHOTO: Rochester Municipal Archives]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/topics/wp-content/uploads/Taking_Down_Mercury.jpg)
![Excavating for the War Memorial Arena in 1952 [PHOTO: RPL Local History Division]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/topics/wp-content/uploads/War_Memorial_Excavation.jpg)
![MLK Park née Manhattan Square Park Playground in 1983 [PHOTO: City Hall Photo Lab contemporary collection]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/topics/wp-content/uploads/Manhattan_Square_Park.jpg)
![Cobbs Hill Aerial [PHOTO: City Hall Photo Lab contemporary collection]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/topics/wp-content/uploads/Cobbs_Hill_Aerial.jpg)
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