There’s tons of development happening all over the city of Rochester. In addition to the bigger ones, I thought I’d keep you updated on some of the smaller projects that are less spoken about.
179 Atlantic Avenue has been completely overhauled inside and out. The building is nearing completion and will be ready for occupants sometime around the new year…
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…
Rochester has a nice skyline, although it’s not notably more impressive than some comparable cities like Des Moines, IA where the tallest tower is 801 Grand at 630 ft. or Birmingham, AL where the tallest tower is the Wells Fargo Tower at 454 ft. tall.
Welcome to the first part of Filling In: 37 Eagle Street. I’d love to tell you how many parts to expect, but I don’t really know. What I can tell you is that this is the first Filling In about a real live project: my wife and I are building ourselves a house at 37 Eagle Street in Corn Hill.
So what gives? Why a house, you say? Well, I’ve always dreamed of building myself a house, and if you haven’t noticed from previous columns, I’m very much interested in developing Rochester. If that’s not a fortuitous intersection of desires, I don’t know what is…
While Buckingham Properties is hard at work breathing new life into Rochester’s old Ward Plumbing Supply building at 739 South Clinton Avenue a group of RIT architecture students is simultaneously using the project to test their own chops. The wild concepts the students came up with are fun to compare with the actual project…
It’s kind of amazing we haven’t looked at Charlotte Street already, but better late than never. Also, the RFP from the city is out, so there’s that. You can read the details here . Let’s just say the city is much more open minded about this proposal than the one for Midtown Parcel 5.
This proposal, in case you’re curious, is due December 5th. It’s going to be a busy few weeks for you if you’re trying to submit for this and Site 5…
As some of you may or may not know, the city recently released a Request For Proposals (RFP) for the redevelopment of another piece of the Midtown site. Parcel 5 , the site in question, is the very long block from Main St to Elm St and between the Windstream building to the west and 1 East Avenue (Bank of America) to the east. Let’s go back to our trusty Midtown site plan for a visual…
Next spring construction will begin on Rochester’s first parklet—a mini public space—in front of Joe Bean Coffee Roasters . Parklets are a relatively new urban feature you may have seen popping up in metros across the country. These makeshift public spaces typically extend out from the sidewalk into adjacent parking spaces offering people a place to stop, to sit, and to rest while taking in the activities of the street…
RocSubway is excited to share with you some exclusive pictures of an exciting downtown development. 210 South Avenue is currently being transformed into future commercial and residential space in the heart of downtown Rochester. The building currently known as the Merkel Donohue building—and its connected buildings—will be transformed into a mix of commercial & residential space and will go by the name of Woodbury Place…
Next month Rochester’s transportation authority, Regional Transit Service (RTS) will open a new $50 million transit center at Mortimer Street in downtown Rochester. According to a D&C story RTS has requested that the City change the name of Mortimer Street to “RTS Way.” Mortimer Street has quietly existed between N. Clinton Ave and Saint Paul Street since Rochesterville was incorporated in 1817.
I’ve spent the last five years of my life advocating for Rochester’s public transit system and building a good working relationship with folks at RTS. That’s why I know they will take what I’m about to say as constructive criticism, and nothing more. Here it goes:
Renaming Mortimer Street after yourself is a bad idea. Don’t do it!! Now, let me explain…
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…
Rochester Museum and Science Center is planning an expansion to link the main museum building on East Avenue with the Strasenburgh Planetarium next door. The $7 million project will be paid for with the help of private donations and a variety of grants.
Now, most people seem to agree the link between the two buildings is greatly needed. However, since renderings were released last spring, the design aesthetic has been a hotly debated topic…
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…
The following post by Amy Cavalier was originally published at DePaul.org.
Thousands of miles, several movie appearances and more than 140 years after leaving the Cunningham Carriage Factory on Litchfield Street in Rochester NY, a late-19th century brougham-style carriage returned home on Tuesday, September 30…
On Monday, September 29, Reconnect Rochester will host a discussion with author and transit advocate Benjamin Ross. Mr. Ross will be at the Public Library on Monroe Ave. at 6:30 p.m. to talk about his new book, Dead End: Suburban Sprawl and the Rebirth of American Urbanism.
Ross was the head of Maryland’s Action Committee for Transit during much of its long fight to build a light rail line outside Washington, D.C. After a 25-year battle, the Purple Line will begin construction next year…
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…
Several years ago the west end of Rochester’s abandoned subway tunnel was filled as part of the Broad Street Improvement Project. Now a planned downtown development could permanently close off one of the last remaining entry points to Rochester’s old subway tunnel. Morgan Management is waiting for approvals to build a five-story luxury apartment complex at Court Street and South Avenue, right smack on top of the subway’s east entrance and the former site of the Court Street subway platform…
The abandoned subway tunnel beneath Rochester’s Broad Street has become one of the most popular sites for students of architecture and design to test their creative chops. You may remember the ROC Low Line; an underground park designed by a team of RIT students. Soon after that we reviewed a more serious plan to install an underground shopping mall and entertainment venue called Broad Street Underground.
Yet another thought-provoking concept and set of renderings have been shared with us. This one elaborates on the idea of using the interior space as a nightclub, with various (wet and wild) public spaces…
Durand Eastman Park has long been a popular recreational destination for Rochesterians. Last year while digging into the legend of the Lady in White I came across some old photos of the park’s construction, as well as some interesting old structures. The stone foundation of the old refectory is still there (often mistaken for a fort or castle ruins). But there was another interesting feature of the park which has long vanished. The bath house…
The corner of Averill Avenue and Ashland Street is buzzing as a major renovation takes place at Calvary St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Parish . The winter of 2014, which brought ice dams and water damage to the historic structure, also brought an insurance settlement and a generous benefactor to restore the building to its original luster…
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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.
![179 Atlantic Avenue has been completely overhauled inside and out. The building is nearing completion and almost ready for occupants sometime around the new year. [PHOTO: Steve Vogt]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/179-atlantic-avenue-rochester-01.jpg)
![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)
![The old Ward Plumbing Supply building at 739 South Clinton Ave. [PHOTO: Google]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-edge-of-the-wedge-02.jpg)
![Charlotte Street, Rochester NY. [PHOTO: Google]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/denker/Charlotte-St-Current-View.jpg)
![Next spring construction will begin on Rochester's first parklet in front of Joe Bean Coffee Roasters. [IMAGE: Staach]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/parklet-at-joe-bean-coffee-rochester-ny-03.jpg)
![Merkel Donahue building, Oct 2014. Development Update on 210 South Avenue, Rochester NY. [PHOTO: Steve Vogt]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/development-update-210-south-ave-rochester-ny-01.jpg)
![This proposed luxury apartment complex by Morgan Management could permanently close off one of the last remaining entry points to Rochester's old subway tunnel. [IMAGE: Morgan Management]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-court-street-apartments-by-morgan-01.jpg)
![Kenneth Martin chose to focus on Rochester's abandoned subway tunnel for his Master of Architecture Thesis. This is his concept for breathing new life into the space. [IMAGE: Kenneth Martin]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/ken-martin-aqueduct-concept.jpg)
![This was the bath house at Durand Eastman Beach. It opened in 1916 and by 1949 was closed due to high water. [PHOTO: Rochester Municipal Archives]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-durand-eastman-beach-bath-house-01.jpg)
![Calvary St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church at the corner of Averill and Ashland St, Rochester NY. [PHOTO: Provided]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-saint-andrews-church-renovation-01.jpg)
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