Call it hard evidence; definitive proof that the immediate demolition of 13 Cataract 
is NOT necessary for the Brewery’s visitor center to be built.
Genesee Brewery Visitor Center APPROVED!
March 14th, 2012Posted in Rochester News, Urban Development | 1 Comment »
Tags: Cataract Brewery, Genesee Brewery, Genesee Brewery Visitor Center, North American Breweries, Rochester, Rochester NY
Demolition of 13 Cataract. A Timeline of Events.
March 13th, 2012Posted in Rochester Images, Rochester News, Urban Development | 5 Comments »
![A stage where 13 Cataract brewhouse used to be? Not sure if this is serious or not. [RENDERING: Eric Mower and Associates]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/genesee-visitor-center-stage.jpg)
Yet another press release from the Brewery today. They are clearly on the defensive and changing their story every day. Now they say, “the building at 13 Cataract Street will NOT be replaced with a parking lot. See the attached rendering.”
I’m sorry, I just can’t take this rendering seriously. It looks like an episode of South Park unleashed on our streets. But hold on… if the Brewery wanted to put a stage in the place of the historic 13 Cataract building, why did their plans show a parking lot? Is this rendering real; or clever marketing spin? I think the answer lies somewhere in the Zoning Board’s January 19th decision.
Boy oh boy, this Brewery story is getting complicated. So let’s review the events that led to this horrific rendering issued yesterday. Here’s a timeline:
Tags: Cataract Brewery, Genesee Brewery, North American Breweries, Rochester, Rochester NY
Show of Support for Rochester’s Brewery Square Vision
March 9th, 2012Posted in Rochester News, Urban Development | 8 Comments »
Brewery CEO, Rich Lozyniak, said Thursday that those who want to save 13 Cataract Street are “a very small group of people standing in the way of progress.” I don’t believe tearing down a 120 year old brewing landmark for 27 parking spaces is progress… I’ve always supported the idea of a Brewery Visitor Center. But I also support the effort to save the 120 year old brewhouse across the street (13 Cataract ). And I know I’m not alone…
Now you can send an email to the Brewery’s CEO and City Hall to show your support .
After the jump you’ll see the story from News 10 NBC’s Lynette Adams…
Tags: Cataract Brewery, Genesee Brewery, North American Breweries, Rochester, Rochester NY
Press Release from Brewery CEO
March 8th, 2012Posted in Rochester News | 3 Comments »
Evidence that a story can be spun in multiple directions. Here is Rich Lozyniak today announcing that he has listened to the community but he’s not open to allowing 13 Cataract St. to be redeveloped—a building which was designated one of official historic value by the City in 2003. He’d rather threaten to scrap his project across the street than remain open to the possibility for two development projects side by side. The threatening tone of his statement below is clearly aimed to scare the Planning Board into denying Landmark status for 13 Cataract. Yet, somehow, it’s his name that is being “dragged through the mud”? Be careful what you wish for Mr. Lozyniak. That “small group of people” you say are standing in the way of progress might actually be standing on the progressive side of the issue. Enough of that. Here’s his statement…
Tags: Cataract Brewery, Genesee Brewery, North American Breweries, Rich Lozyniak
Dear Preservation Board:
March 4th, 2012Posted in Opinion, Rochester News, Urban Development | 7 Comments »
![13 Cataract Street at night. [Flickr Photo: Steven Yacuzzo]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/cataract-brewery-night.jpg)
This Wednesday the Preservation Board will decide whether or not to sponsor a citizen’s request to nominate 13 Cataract St. for Landmark Designation. If they sponsor the nomination it will move on to a public hearing and to the Planning Board for consideration later this month. If they don’t, it could spell the end for this valuable piece of our history and any possible redevelopment on the eastern rim of the High Falls gorge. In the meantime, North American Breweries, Inc. continues to move ahead with work on their visitor center across the street. No problems posed so far by the big bad historic building across the street.
The following is a letter I will be submitting to the Preservation Board (via Peter Siegrist, [email protected]).
I’m also sending copies to:
Mayor Richards
[email protected]
Carlos Carballada, Commissioner
[email protected]
Bret Garwood, Director, Business & Housing Development
[email protected]
If you would like for 13 Cataract to be preserved, you should do the same. Use the email addresses above. And feel free to steal from my letter if you’d like…
Tags: A.C. Wagner, architecture, Cataract Brewery, Genesee Brewery, KPS Capital Partners, North American Breweries, Rochester, Rochester NY
Another High Falls Icon Will Come Down… Or not?
February 23rd, 2012Posted in Rochester News | 9 Comments »
![This smokestack which belongs to the old RG&E Bee Bee Station power plant has towered over the High Falls neighborhood since the 1940's. [PHOTO: skyscraperpage.com user: xzmattzx]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/high-falls-smokestack-xzmattzx.jpg)
Cars parked in the High Falls neighborhood this week got notices slipped under their wiper blades. RG&E will be demolishing the last Beebee Station smokestack sometime within the next six months due to high levels of asbestos contained within the structure.
Tags: Cataract Brewery, High Falls, North American Breweries, RG&E Beebee Station, Rochester, Rochester NY, smokestacks
Does Rochester Have a Parking Problem?
February 20th, 2012Posted in Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 13 Comments »
Yes, we have a parking problem. Quite simply, there’s too much of it. It’s EVERWHERE. No rhyme or reason or method to the madness. We lost control of this problem decades ago when we bulldozed half of our downtown in the name of urban renewal, and to this very day we continue to allow our few urban spaces and historic buildings to be paved over.
At its best, this is land that’s not being used for any productive purpose but to store our cars on. More than that, these ugly gray patches of land create voids in our community; Dead-zones where no one wants to be for any length of time. These are places not worth caring about. And our city is literally covered with them…
Tags: downtown Rochester, map, parking, Rochester, Rochester NY
Winter Arrives for Rochester’s Polar Plunge
February 12th, 2012Posted in Art + Culture, Events, Video | 2 Comments »
If you’re a snow bunny like me, this winter had been pretty darn cruel until today. Over the past 24 hours Rochester got nearly as much snow as it’s seen all season—and it landed just in time for the 2012 Lakeside Winter Celebration at Ontario Beach. We weren’t able to stick around for the wagon rides and the snow sculpting contest, but I did catch the good part—THE POLAR PLUNGE! If you got stuck at home digging out and missed the action, here’s a short video…
Tags: Charlotte Beach, Lakeside Winter Celebration, Ontario Beach Park, Polar Plunge, Rochester, Rochester NY, Winter Festival
New Gallery Exhibit: Revisiting Rochester
February 2nd, 2012Posted in Events, Rochester Destinations, Rochester Images, Rochester News | 5 Comments »
![High Falls, c.1900 [IMAGE: Part of 'Revisiting Rochester' exhibit]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/revisiting-rochester-high-falls.jpg)
A new exhibition celebrating Rochester’s heritage encourages us to honor and preserve our past as we seek to revive our city for the future. Beginning February 3, a collection of digitally-enhanced images of Rochester during the Progressive Era will be on display at Joe Bean Coffee Roasters [map ] throughout the entire month of February.
Tags: Joe Bean Coffee Roasters, Kind of the Hill, Mike Battle, old photos, old photos of Rochester, Rochester, rochester images, Rochester NY, The Simpsons, vintage views
Rochester is Passed Up for Lego Space Landing
January 25th, 2012Posted in Rochester News | 10 Comments »
![Two teenagers from Toronto, Ontario sent this Lego man into space riding a weather balloon. One really tiny step for Lego man; One giant leap for mankind. [PHOTO: via Toronto Star]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/lego-space-man-1.jpg)
Two teens from Toronto, Ontario did the unthinkable a few weeks ago. They launched a Lego man into space and recorded the whole thing! And get this, Rochester should have been the Lego man’s landing spot…
Tags: Asad Muhammad, JFK, LEGO, Lego space man, Mathew Ho, Newmarket, Ontario, Peterborough, Toronto, weather balloon space photos
Signs of Progress in Irondequoit?
January 23rd, 2012Posted in Rochester News, Urban Development | 4 Comments »
I dropped by the Irondequoit Planning Board meeting Monday night because there were two very interesting matters on the agenda. One of those was Irondequoit Square (or I-Square) which RocSubway broke news of here last August. The other involved an all-but-forgotten friend, Chase-Pitkin…
Tags: Chase-Pitkin, Cooper Road, development, development plans, Irondequoit, Irondequoit Square, Mike Nolan, Saint Paul Boulevard, St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Stones Learning Center, Titus Avenue, Wegman's
Greentopia Film & Little Theatre Present, ‘Urbanized’, February 2.
January 21st, 2012Posted in Events | 2 Comments »
The very same people responsible for Rochester’s Greentopia Festival are expanding the Greentopia brand this year to include a series of film screenings. My heart skipped a beat when I learned they’ll be bringing Gary Hustwit’s Urbanized to the Little Theatre for a one-night-only event featuring a panel discussion afterwards. I’ve been waiting for this movie to hit Rochester for months. Now I won’t have to travel to someone else’s city to see it!
Tags: Gary Hustwit, Greentopia Festival, Joni Monroe, Little Theatre, Mike Governale, Richard Perrin, Urbanized, Wayne Goodman
What to the Slave is the 4th of July?
January 15th, 2012Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images | 4 Comments »
![An engraved portrait of Frederick Douglass, noted African-American abolitionist. Douglass was an active abolitionist in the Rochester area and a sought-after lecturer after the Civil War. After his home on South Avenue was destroyed by fire in 1872 he moved to Washington, D.C. [PORTRAIT BY: Ritchie, Alexander Hay, 1822-1895.]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/frederick-douglass-portrait.jpg)
On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day we are hopefully reminded of the inspiring actions and many speeches by an individual who dedicated his life to the pursuit of freedom and basic human rights—not just for one group, but for all people.
Of course, in Rochester we also remember other individuals who made tremendous contributions to this ongoing effort… Susan B. Anthony for women’s rights and suffrage. And Frederick Douglas (depicted above) for the abolition of slavery.
One speech in particular, given by Douglas on July 5, 1852 in Rochester, is arguably one of the most momentous oratories in American history. It’s one that helped set the stage for the transformation of America from a country that was, in Abraham Lincoln’s words, “half slave and half free” to one which was at least on its way to guaranteeing the “blessings of liberty” to all men (and eventually women)…
Tags: anti-slavery, civil rights, Corinthian Hall, Corinthian Street, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass, Isaac and Amy Post, Plymouth Avenue, Rochester, Rochester NY, Sophia Street, Susan B. Anthony, underground railroad, What to the Slave is the 4th of July?
Cataract Brewery Architect Died 77 Years Ago Today
January 10th, 2012Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester Subway | 21 Comments »
A new web site, SaveCataract.com , and a mountain of information on Rochester’s endangered Cataract Brewery building has surfaced this week… The accomplished life (and death) of its architect… Original architectural drawings… And new documents submitted by North American Breweries to the Zoning Board (see the section called Offers to Buy Cataract). Ready? Let’s dive right in…
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: A.C. Wagner, American Brewing Company, Anheuser-Busch, architecture, Bavarian Brewing Company, brewery architect, Cataract Brewery, Genesee Brewery, Genesee Brewing Company, High Falls, Highland Brewery, Joel Helfrich, Kalmback and Geisel, KPS Capital Partners, Liberty Brewing Company, Merchants Ice Company, New England Brewery, New England Fruit Company, North American Breweries, Rich Wagner, Rochester NY, Standard Brewing Company, Steigmaier Brewery
Rochester’s Miniature Polar Express
December 20th, 2011Posted in Art + Culture, Train/Railroad Stuff, Video | 4 Comments »
If you’re looking for something to do with the kids while they’re off from school for the holidays, grab your conductor hats and head out to the Garden Factory [map]. They’ve got a 60’x20′ model railroad on display thru the end of the month that you won’t want to miss.
Tags: David Rouse, G scale, Garden Factory, holidays, miniature, model railroad, Peter Todd, train, trolleys
A Drive-Thru Rochester
December 11th, 2011Posted in Art + Culture, Transit + Infrastructure, Video | 14 Comments »
A few weeks ago I was driving home from my downtown office and happened to have my camera with me. Not sure why but I thought it be interesting to see what I’d capture if I left it on my dashboard for the ride. Now don’t try this at home—distracted driving is not cool. I’m a professional… idiot that is.
Anyway, the results I thought were pretty cool. And it got even cooler with some quick editing and quadruple speed playback. Throw in a mirror effect and some of that dope-ass hip hop music all the kids are listening to… and now we’ve got something worth sharing.
So go ahead—turn down the lights, pump up the volume, and hit it full screen. Let me know what you think in the comments.
Tags: ad, automobile, dashboard camera, downtown Rochester, drive, hip hop, rapper, Rochester, rochester music video, Rochester New York, Rochester NY, Rochester Subway, rochestersubway.com, urban
Subway Santa’s Sweet Sack of Stuff
December 10th, 2011Posted in Rochester Gifts | 2 Comments »
![Subway Santas [Flickr Photo: t_a_i_s]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/subway-santas-t_a_i_s.jpg)
Subway Santa is a little late to the party this year. The lack of snow this holiday season has wreaked havoc on his internal clock. We’ve got just two weeks left for Christmas shoppers—even less for Hanukkah. So let’s cut the bull and get right to it. Last year we were inspired by these crafty Rochester Subway gift ideas. This year, Rochester Subway Santa has two more goodies for you.
Tags: Black Radish Studio, gift idea, Gift Shop, holidays, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway map, Rochester Subway Poster, subway gifts, tokens, transit tokens
They Paved History and Put Up a Parking Lot
December 9th, 2011Posted in Interviews, Opinion, Reader Submitted Stories, Urban Development | 12 Comments »
![Genesee Brewery. [Flickr Photo: _Yoshi_]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/genesee-brewery-sign-yoshi.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Joel Helfrich.
Submit your story today.
The spate of recent articles in the D&C regarding local construction projects also means that there will be a great amount of demolition of older buildings and historic properties. Take, for example, the recent decision to demolish the Cataract Brewery buildings in High Falls. The cost to demolish the properties alone—estimated at $800,000 to $1 million—is more than twice the amount for which Genesee Brewery was recently selling the two Cataract Brewery buildings and a large parking lot. That same amount could be used to install a new roof and windows, “button up” the building, and abate the lead paint, within the older “gem” brewery building. Although the oldest Cataract building is currently a “liability” in the words of a developer who recently toured the property, it could actually act as the driver for redevelopment. Historic Preservation Tax Credits, coupled with city, county, state, and federal monies, could pay for at least 30-40% of construction costs, and potentially way more if the City took on the lead abatement costs and Genesee Brewery and its owner, KPS Capital, acted as an investor or partner in redevelopment.
Tags: architecture, Genesee Brewery, Genesee Brewing Company, High Falls, Joel Helfrich, KPS Capital Partners, North American Breweries, Rochester, Rochester Brewing Company, Rochester NY, Standard Brewing Company
Imagine, Rochester’s Historic Brewery Square
December 4th, 2011Posted in Opinion, Rochester News, Urban Development | 24 Comments »
![A view of what could one day be Rochester's Historic Brewery Square and entrance to the GardenAerial trail (right). [RENDERING: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/cataract-rendering-empty.jpg)
Rendering of renovated buildings and GardenAerial trail
I realize that sometimes it’s a bit difficult to see the potential in something. Especially when that “potential” is hidden beneath layers of mustard yellow paint, rusty corrugated siding, and 25+ years of plain old tired…
![The original panorama photo set used to create the rendering of Brewery Square. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/cataract-rendering-original.jpg)
The way things look now (click for larger views)
Why, just the other day Howard S. Decker, FAIA said, “” Mr. Decker is former Principal of DLK Architecture (Chicago) and former Chief Curator of the National Building Museum (Washington DC). He knows a thing or two about buildings, and places that are worth saving for future generations. His highly experienced eyes see the potential in 13 Cataract Street and the neighborhood it lives in.
But what about the rest of us? How can we be sure this building is worth the money and effort it will take to bring it back to life? What is the alternative to demolition? And will we lose our Brewery Visitor Center if we don’t tear this other building down??
Let’s start with an excerpt taken from a document filed by the Landmark Society in 1984 with the New York State Parks and Recreation Division for Historic Preservation…
Tags: architecture, Cataract Brewing Company, Dorraine Kirkmire, GardenAerial, Genesee Brewery, Genesee Brewing Company, High Falls, Highline, KPS Capital Partners, Michael Psaros, New York City, North American Breweries, NYC, Rochester, Rochester Brewing Company, Rochester Historic Brewery Square, Rochester NY, Standard Brewing Company
Help Save This Rochester Brewing Landmark
November 19th, 2011Posted in Opinion, Rochester News, Urban Development, Urban Exploration | 20 Comments »
On Friday officials at the Genesee Brewery unveiled plans they say will “create a destination for beer lovers that anchors development on downtown Rochester’s Northeast side.” Before we get too excited, let’s think.
Firstly, did you know Genesee Brewery is owned by a New York City investment firm called KPS Capital Partners? KPS Capital Partners established North American Breweries, Inc. in 2009 to manage its brewery acquisitions. One of those acquisitions was our beloved Genesee. They will tell you North American Breweries is headquartered in Rochester. But Genesee Brewery is no longer a locally owned company.
![The building as it was in 1899. [PHOTO: Rochester Public Library]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/genesee-brewery.jpg)
North American Breweries says their planned “Genesee Brew House…will celebrate the storied history and experience of the Genesee brand” and that they want to “tell the story of [this] resilient company with a rich history that dates back to 1878.” But to do this they will demolish this building; the centerpiece of Rochester’s historic brewing district, built 1899.
Tags: architecture, Genesee Brewery, Genesee Brewing Company, High Falls, KPS Capital Partners, Michael Psaros, North American Breweries, Rochester, Rochester Brewing Company, Rochester NY, Standard Brewing Company
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