Well, it had to come to this – a whirlwind article about everything else in Rochester. We’re going to run the gamut from Industrial, to all the Center City District (CCD) zones to Open Space, and everything inbetween. Buckle Up…
Filling In: Zoning Part 4, All the Other Zones
November 5th, 2015Posted in Architecture, Urban Development | 5 Comments »
Tags: City of Rochester, Filling In, Matt Denker, Matthew Denker, Rochester, Rochester NY, zoning, zoning code
Bell Tower from Rochester School #7, Rediscovered
November 1st, 2015Posted in Architecture, Rochester History, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure | 7 Comments »
![When Bill Schmidt purchased his home on Lake View Park this summer, he became the lucky owner of the bell tower from School #7 in northwest Rochester. [IMAGE: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-school-7-bell-tower-02.jpg)
Every so often we’re contacted by a lucky homeowner who discovers a neat little historical treasure hidden away in their basement or roof rafters – usually an old book or a subway token. Then there’s Bill Schmidt. When Bill purchased his home on Lake View Park 
this summer, he became the lucky owner of an old bell tower from the long-demolished School #7 in northwest Rochester…
Tags: architecture, demolition, Dewey Avenue, Fairview Heights, historic preservation, Lake View Park, Pierpont Street, Rochester, Rochester NY, school bell tower, Virgil I. Grissom School #7
Abandoned Theme Park: Frontier Town
October 26th, 2015Posted in Art + Culture, Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Destinations, Rochester Images, Urban Exploration, Video | 12 Comments »
![Frontier Town. [IMAGE: Nate Sengillo]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/frontier-town-abandoned-theme-park-01.jpg)
Last week a Facebook message came in from RocSubway reader, Nate Sengillo. Nate wanted to share photos from his recent trip to Frontier Town. I’ve never been there myself, but I know I’ve heard of this place before as my family has spent more than a few summer vacations at nearby Lake George. But now seeing Nate’s photos, I wish I had…
Tags: abandoned, abandoned places, abandoned theme park, Art Benson, Frontier Town, Frontier Town Then and Now, Iroquois, Jennifer Renee St. Pierre, movie, Nate Sengillo, North Hudson NY, old photos, photography, Ross Mealey, theme park, upstate New York, urban exploration, video, wild west
72 Conkey Avenue: Lost
October 25th, 2015Posted in Rochester News, Urban Development | 8 Comments »
![72 Conkey Avenue has been demolished. [IMAGE: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/clifford-and-conkey.jpg)
Here’s a quick update on a story we brought attention to exactly five years ago. On this empty lot (shown above) once stood 72 Conkey Avenue. The old 19th century Victorian storefront had been the subject of a demolition-vs-rehabilitation debate—one between the City of Rochester and neighborhood resident, Jim Fraser, who has restored a handful of neglected homes in the area. Jim saw 72 Conkey as a diamond in the rough…
Tags: 14621, City of Rochester, Clifford Avenue, Conkey Avenue, demolition, historic preservation, Ibero, Jim Fraser, Jo Dickinson, Rochester, Rochester NY, urban renewal, urban revitalization
Marshmallows and Rochester
October 25th, 2015Posted in Architecture, Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Apartments, Rochester History, Rochester News, Urban Development | 2 Comments »
![The former Rochester Marshmallow Company factory located in the High Falls District. [PHOTO: India Lombardi-Bello]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-marshmallow-company.jpg)
Story via Rochester Brainery
This former Rochester Plumbing Supply building at 281 Mill Street has recently been renovated and converted into 14 new apartments in downtown’s growing High Falls district. This is an exciting development not only because of the new life it will add to this neighborhood, but because this building has a pretty sweet past…
Tags: High Falls, history of Rochester, history of the marshmallow, Joseph B. Demerath, marshmallows, Mill Street, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester Marshmallow Company, Rochester NY, The Mills at High Falls
Rochester Street Films… Coming 11/19
October 18th, 2015Posted in Rochester News, Train/Railroad Stuff, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 1 Comment »
I am SUPER excited to be working with the volunteers at Reconnect Rochester to organize Rochester’s first ever Street Films event at The Little Theatre on November 19. If you follow this blog, you clearly have a passion for Rochester and the infrastructure that makes our city run. And I think you’ll enjoy the thought-provoking film clips and live discussion that will take place at this event. Don’t wait to reserve your seat. Here are the details…
Tags: Alex and Ander, Elizabeth Murphy, Erik Frisch, event, fundraiser, Heidi Zimmer-Meyer, Karen Elam, Kerry Ivers, Maxwell Motorbikes, Miguel Velázquez, Reconnect Rochester, Street Films, Streetfilms, Sweet Beez honey bike, The Little Theatre
Filling In: 37 Eagle Street Part 3
October 15th, 2015Posted in Architecture, Urban Development | 18 Comments »
![This is to inform you that a public hearing has been scheduled for [37 Eagle Street]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/denker/37eagle/37_Eagle_Street_Postcard.jpg)
Consider this a lightweight palette cleanser in the middle of the five course, multi-month feast that is the zoning series. Even so, it’s deeply related to zoning, so you’re not getting off that easy. Read on if you dare (Halloween pun intended!).
Tags: architecture, Corn Hill, custom home, Eagle Street, Filling In, Matthew Denker, real-estate, Rochester, Rochester NY, SWBR Architects, urban development
Filling In: Zoning Part 3, Commercial
October 7th, 2015Posted in Architecture, Urban Development | 4 Comments »
![The Flatiron Building - The highest of the highs in C-1. [IMAGE: Mike (M J M), Flickr.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/flatiron-building-night-01.jpg)
Goodbye houses, hello something more! Having already discussed the city’s 3 residential zones, it’s time to talk about its 3 mixed-use zones. In one of the many progressive moves in the 2003 re-zoning, Rochester moved away from pure commercial use zones by adding mixed use and residential uses to the (formerly) commercial zones. The narrative descriptions changed, but the letter designations did not. Anyway, ditch the bowtie, grab a monocle and let’s go…
Tags: development, Filling In, Matthew Denker, Rochester, Rochester NY, urban development, urban planning, zoning, zoning code
UPDATE: Little House in the City
September 30th, 2015Posted in Architecture, Rochester News, Urban Development | 10 Comments »
![Tucked away in a remote corner of downtown Rochester, facing the back side of the Geva Theatre and surrounded on all sides by parking lots, stands this unassuming brick house. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/st-marys-place-01.jpg)
Quick update on this story I posted in January about the sole remaining house in the Capron neighborhood downtown. Patrick Dutton has been working extremely hard to save and repurpose the structure. I know because he told me directly and I also have had conversations with contractors I know personally who have said the same. Unfortunately the house at 35 St. Mary’s Place has partially collapsed during the work, and now may be unsalvageable. Here’s an update directly from Dutton…
Tags: Patrick Dutton, St. Mary's Place
Meet Rochester Artist and Craftsman, Scott Grove
September 28th, 2015Posted in Architecture, Art + Culture, Interviews, Rochester History, Rochester News, Urban Exploration | 4 Comments »
![Meet Scott Grove, a Rochester artist, sculptor, furniture designer, architectural preservationist, among other things. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/scott-grove-powers-building-maintenance-01.jpg)
On my almost daily walk along State and Main streets I’ve often noticed this boom lift blocking the sidewalks around the Powers Building . I’ve never given it much thought. I just figured Daniel Powers liked his windows really clean.
Then, last week while at the Fringe, my RocSubway teammate Joanne Brokaw got introduced to Scott Grove. As it turns out, Scott is that guy hanging high up over Rochester’s sidewalks—and he’s not cleaning windows…
Tags: architecture, artist, Bausch & Lomb Headquarters, Daniel Powers, downtown Rochester, Eastman Theater, H.H. Warner Building, historic preservation, Jonathan Child House, Neighborhood of the Arts, Piano Works Mall, Powers Building, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Public Market, Scott Grove, sculpture, State Street, University of Rochester
Filling In: Zoning Part 2, Residential
September 22nd, 2015Posted in Architecture, Urban Development | 34 Comments »
![34 Atkinson Street - An utterly illegal house to build today. [IMAGE: Google]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/denker/zoning/34_Atkinson_St.jpg)
Hope your heart is still racing from our introduction to Zoning last week, because this week we’re talking about residential zoning in Rochester!
Contrary to common knowledge, residential zoning isn’t exclusively for residences (nor is commercial zoning exclusively for commercial – it’s a good place to build apartments, in fact). That said, Rochester has 3 specific residential zones that we’re discussing here. Grab your bow tie and let’s go…
Tags: City of Rochester, Filling In, Matt Denker, Matthew Denker, Rochester, Rochester NY, zoning, zoning code
Park(ing) Day 2015
September 16th, 2015Posted in Events, Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development, Urban Exploration | No Comments »
![An empty parking lot in downtown Rochester at Franklin & Pleasant Streets. [PHOTO: Young Urban Preservationists]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/parking-day-2015-02.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Sara Jenks, Young Urban Preservationists. Submit your story today.
Over the past year I’ve been itching to move downtown (“Oh, you live really downtown” is the common response upon mentioning my address). This past spring I finally ripped the bandaid and moved out of my mom’s house. In the month between choosing where to live and moving in, I scoped out my new neighborhood nearly every day. It was always obvious that surface parking lots dominated the usable land in the St. Joseph’s Park neighborhood, or as I like to call it, St. Joseph’s Parking Lot. What shocked me was one particular lot that never saw a car. Morning, noon, and night I drove by the lot on the Northwest corner of the intersection at Franklin & Pleasant Streets . Every time there sat only a rusty chain and two cones across the entrance…
Tags: Eat Me Ice Cream, Franklin Street, Inner Loop Country Club, Neighborworks Rochester, North Winton Village, Park(ing) Day, parking, parking lots, parking madness, Pleasant Street, Reconnect Rochester, Rochester, Rochester NY, Ugly Duck Coffee, Young Urban Preservationists (YUP)
The Legendary White Deer of Seneca Army Depot
September 13th, 2015Posted in Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Destinations, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Exploration, Video | 2 Comments »
![White deer at Seneca Army Depot. Romulus, NY. [PHOTO: Matthew Ehlers]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/seneca-army-depot-00.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Matthew Ehlers.
Submit your story today.
For years I’ve wanted to camp overnight near the Seneca Army Depot and see if I could get some photos of the famed Seneca White Deer. Finally, I decided it was worth getting up before sunrise and just driving out there . The morning had perfect conditions. Hazy clouds extended the sunrise until at least 7:30 AM. Prime time activity for the deer population…
Tags: Army Corpse of Engineers, Cayuga Lake, Genesee-Finger Lakes Region, Matthew Ehlers, movie, nature, Odocoileus virginianus, Romulus NY, Seneca Army Depot, Seneca County, Seneca Lake, video, white deer, wildlife
Filling In: Zoning Part 1, Introduction
September 10th, 2015Posted in Architecture, Urban Development | 18 Comments »
![Current Rochester Zoning Map [IMAGE: City of Rochester]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/denker/zoning/Rochester_Zoning_Map.jpg)
Well readers, this is it. The series of articles you’ve been waiting for your entire life without even knowing it. That’s right, we’re going to talk about zoning, and more specifically, zoning in Rochester. I’ve been known to refer to zoning as the last bastion for the wicked, and over the next few weeks, I look forward to pleading my case.
Tags: City of Rochester, Edward Bassett, Filling In, form-based code, Matt Denker, Matthew Denker, New York City, Rochester, Rochester NY, Village of Euclid (Ohio) v. Ambler Realty Co., West Palm Beach FL, zoning, zoning code
Bus Graveyard
September 8th, 2015Posted in Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Exploration | 10 Comments »
![RTS bus graveyard. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-rts-transit-bus-graveyard-00.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted anonymously with additional photos by Mike Governale
I was near the airport when Vice President Biden’s plane came in a few weeks ago. Held up by a road block, I happened to find myself near a junk yard full of old RTS buses. I knew traffic wouldn’t be moving for a while so I pulled over and got out to take a closer look. It was little bus graveyard…
Tags: abandoned places, airport, bus, bus graveyard, Greater Rochester International Airport, GRI Airport, mass transit, mass transportation, public transit, public transportation, Regional Transit Service (RTS), Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA), transit, urban exploration
Filling In: Aldi Revisted
September 1st, 2015Posted in Architecture, Urban Development | 11 Comments »
![Aldi Sign [Image: Matzo Electric Signs]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/denker/aldi/Aldi_Sign.jpg)
Welcome back, readers – it’s been a while! But now that summer is drawing to a close, and we’re starting to stock up for the long winter ahead (wouldn’t want to be THIS guy ), it’s time to start Filling In again. For our first discussion, let’s revisit Aldi. When we last wrote about it, Mike was advocating for getting good design, and I was putting forward a couple ideas about how the store might improve its relationship with the neighborhood . “Fine,” you say, “where is this going?” Well I’m glad you asked.
Tags: Aldi, biking, Blossom Road, Bus Stops, Development News, Filling In, grocery store, Matthew Denker, North Winton Village, Rochester, Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA), Rochester NY, urban planning, Winton Road, Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)
Help Nurture Rochester’s Fruit Belt
August 26th, 2015Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester News, Urban Development | No Comments »
Orange Street, Lime Street, Grape Street, Orchard Street…
This is Rochester’s fruit belt, and the inspiration behind a new collaboration between Greentopia and Shawn Dunwoody. The Fruit Belt Mural Project aims to transform one of Rochester’s most challenged neighborhoods (JOSANA, in the northwest quadrant) through art…
Tags: Dutchtown, Fruit Belt Project, Grape Street, Greentopia, Indiegogo, Jay Street, JOSANA neighborhood, Lime Street, Maple Street, Orange Street, Orchard Street, Rochester, Rochester NY, Shawn Dunwoody, The Big Paint Out!, Walnut Street
Rochester’s Changing Landscape
August 25th, 2015Posted in Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 4 Comments »
![Satellite before & after image of Rochester. [IMAGE: Google Earth via Nick Russo]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-satellite-before-and-after-midtown-plaza.gif)
The following is a guest post submitted by Nick Russo.
Submit your story today.
I’ve always been a fan of Rochester Subway content which looks at our city from a different angle. I thought I might contribute something in turn, that looks at our city from an aerial angle.
I noticed this week that Google Earth had updated its imagery to include snapshots from as early as a month ago. It is now possible to follow a lot of tangible changes that have been going on in the city for a while. I put together a handful of before-and-afters that I thought were interesting (to me anyway). Take a look at the album and see if you can spot the differences…
Tags: Carnegie building, Charlotte, CityGate, Collegetown, dredging, Eastman Business Park, Golisano Children's Hospital, Google Earth, Google Street View, I-390, Inner Loop, Interstate 390, Kodak building 53, Kodak implosion, Kodak Park, Midtown Plaza, Nicholas Russo, Nick Russo, Port of Rochester, RIT Gene Polisseni Center, Rochester, Rochester before and after photos, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Rochester NY, satellite image
Remembering the Old Rochester Monroe County Airport and Murals
August 23rd, 2015Posted in Architecture, Art + Culture, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure | 18 Comments »
![Do you remember the mural at the old Rochester Monroe County Airport? A reader asked if we could share photos of it. [IMAGE: Rochester Public Library Local History Division]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-monroe-county-airport-00.jpg)
I received an email last week from George Conboy, Chairman of Brighton Securities. He asks, “Have you seen anywhere a photo of the transportation mural that was behind the long ticket counter at the old airport? I remember it as a vaguely Art Deco theme of general transportation with an emphasis, of course, on air transport.”
Mr. Conboy explained that he used to fly a lot during the “glory days” of air travel back in the 1960s when he was a kid. “I just liked that old mural. I used to see it all the time and it has always been in my mind.”
This is a great question. I had been told of this mural before but have never seen it myself. Photos of it online are practically non-existent, so this one will require some digging…
Tags: airport, art, Art Deco, Brighton Securities, George Conboy, Greater Rochester International Airport, history of Rochester, infrastructure, Monroe County Airport, mural, old photos of Rochester NY, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester NY, rochester photos, transportation
“Rolling Thunder” Food Truck Festival at Ellison Park
August 16th, 2015Posted in Events, Rochester Destinations | 12 Comments »
![The Rochester Rolling Thunder Festival is coming to Ellison Park this Saturday. [IMAGE: RocPX.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rolling-thunder-food-truck-rodeo-ellison-park-02.jpg)
Story via Tin Man Events
This Saturday Ellison Park will host Rolling Thunder – The Food Truck Wonder and what’s being billed as “a food truck rodeo on steriods.” Rolling Thunder will be the first food truck event to take place at a Monroe County Park…
Tags: County Executive Maggie Brooks, Ellison Park, event, food trucks, Joe Alessi, Maggie Brooks, Rolling Thunder, Tin Man Events
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