![Hart's Local Grocers, Rochester NY. [IMAGE: Provided by Hart's Local Grocers]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/harts-local-grocers-rochester-01.jpg)
Urban greengrocers are making a comeback 
across the country – and in Rochester too! Late last year RocSubway was the first to tell you about a new, locally-owned grocer opening in downtown Rochester. Construction is now underway at Hart’s Local Grocers, a new independent grocery store in the East End. Founder, Glenn Kellogg announced today that Hart’s will open its doors this summer.
Posts Tagged ‘downtown Rochester’...
Hart’s Local Grocers To Open This Summer
Friday, May 2nd, 2014Tags: 10 Winthrop Street, downtown Rochester, Glenn Kellogg, grocery store, Hart's Local Grocers, Rochester, Rochester NY, urban, Winthrop Street
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester News, Urban Development | 5 Comments »
New Midtown Tower Renderings
Friday, April 18th, 2014![New rendering of Midtown Tower, Rochester NY. [IMAGE PROVIDED BY: Buckingham Properties]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-midtown-tower-revised-rendering-01.jpg)
Last month we saw some pretty glitzy renderings of the Midtown Tower development with new retail stores included. Today the developer, Buckingham Properties, sent over some new renderings that show a more refined “skin” for the 17-story tower…
Tags: Buckingham Properties, CJS Architects, development, development plans, downtown Rochester, Ken Glazer, Midtown, Midtown Plaza, Midtown Tower, Phillip Michael Brown Studios, Rochester, Rochester NY, urban development
Posted in Rochester News, Urban Development | 16 Comments »
Rochester Wins Parking Madness Tournament! Hooray for us?
Wednesday, April 9th, 2014
Well, it’s time to celebrate. Rochester has just won the . To outsiders, Rochester is a Cinderella story (who in the world would have picked us to beat out Detroit in the second round?). But anyone who reads this blog is probably not surprised. We’ve been fighting the parking madness mindset on these pages for years. It’s just that now, the national blogosphere knows about Rochester’s dirty little parking problems. Our asphalt is hanging out there for the world to see.
How embarrassing. Right? Some people have asked, “Why would we want to win such a negative contest? Doesn’t this paint Rochester in a bad light?” Now the man who nominated Rochester, Matthew Denker, explains why he did…
Tags: downtown Rochester, Matthew Denker, parking, parking lots, parking madness, Rochester, Rochester NY, Streetsblog, urban planning
Posted in Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 15 Comments »
Filling In: 79 North Clinton
Friday, March 28th, 2014![A building in Portland, Oregon. [IMAGE: Google Streetview]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/79-north-clinton-01.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Matthew Denker.
Submit your story today.
Fellow Rochesterians, lend me your ears. I recently visited the reasonably pleasant city of Portland, OR. While I was there, I couldn’t help but notice a rather cleverly decorated, midcentury modern building. It was this one, actually…
Tags: 79 North Clinton Avenue, downtown, downtown Rochester, Filling In, Matthew Denker, North Clinton Avenue, Portland, Rochester, Rochester NY
Posted in Opinion, Reader Submitted Stories, Urban Development | 25 Comments »
City Seeks New Name for Midtown Plaza and Street
Tuesday, March 11th, 2014![The City of Rochester is asking the public to name the new street and plaza at the Midtown site. [PHOTO: Earthcam.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-midtown-plaza-2014-03-11.jpg)
On Monday we had some fun climbing to the top of Midtown Tower. Today we can have some more fun with Midtown. The City of Rochester is asking the public to name the new street and plaza being built at the Midtown site…
Tags: Buckingham Properties, Christa Development, City of Rochester, development, downtown Rochester, Elm Street, Midtown open space, Midtown Plaza, Midtown public space, Midtown Rising, Midtown Tower, pedestrian mall, Rochester, Rochester NY, Windstream
Posted in Rochester News, Urban Development | 16 Comments »
Anonymous Photos: Inside Midtown Tower
Sunday, March 9th, 2014
The latest Midtown renderings from Buckingham Properties are a promising sign of things to come. Still, it’s difficult to ignore this 18-story skeleton which has been looming over Rochester’s streets since 2011. When most people look up at this hulking mass of steel and concrete they see a blemish on the Rochester skyline. But for one urban explorer, this is a photo op.
The same anonymous photographer who took us inside Terrence Tower and the Sykes Datatronics building, climbed to the tippy top of midtown last week. He submitted this collection of photos and the following narrative…
Tags: abandoned, abandoned places, aerial photography, Buckingham Properties, construction, downtown, downtown Rochester, Midtown, Midtown Plaza, Midtown Tower, photo, photography, Rochester, Rochester NY, rochester photos, skyscraper, urban development, urban exploration
Posted in Art + Culture, Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Images, Urban Development, Urban Exploration | 7 Comments »
Powers Building, Main & State Streets, 1968
Friday, February 28th, 2014![The Powers Building at Main & State Streets, 1968. [PHOTO: Winters, via Library of Congress]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/powers-building-rochester-1968.jpg)
Check out this great photo of the Powers Building from 1968. Notice the workmen up on the ledge of the Mansard roof. Down at street level a shiny new, streamlined façade as been awkwardly forced on top of this 1869 building…
Tags: Crossroads Building, downtown Rochester, Elwood Building, First National Bank, Four Corners, Fun Foto Friday, Main Street, Main Street Four Corners, Monroe County Savings Bank, old photos, old photos of Rochester, old photos of Rochester NY, Powers Building, Powers Hotel, Rochester, Rochester NY, State Street
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 8 Comments »
The Big Plans for RG&E Beebee Station
Monday, February 24th, 2014![RG&E Beebee Station [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rge-beebee-station-rochester-00.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Joel Helfrich.
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I was saddened to learn last week about Rochester Gas and Electric Corp’s shortsighted proposal to demolish Beebee Station. If the plans are carried out, Rochester will have a tremendous hole at the center of the city: High Falls. What is most important to realize is that there is another, alternative way forward…
Tags: adaptive reuse, Bankside Power Station, Battersea Power Station, demolition, downtown Rochester, Gasometer City, High Falls, Joel Helfrich, RG&E Beebee Station, Rochester, Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E), Rochester NY, rochester photos, Tate Modern art museum
Posted in Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 45 Comments »
Stadiumville
Tuesday, February 18th, 2014
The Rochesterian has blogged several times about the need to create a link between Frontier Field and Sahlen’s Stadium… and how Rochester needs someone like Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula to invest in a Harbor Center type of development centered around Rochester’s sports arenas. I don’t disagree. Rochester’s stadiums (and the neighborhoods around them) could, and should be a much bigger draw.
Last April a local businessman named Jerry DeCarolis sent me a concept plan he put together called “Stadiumville.” I was impressed. But this plan was so ambitious, and so broad-sweeping, I wasn’t quite sure how seriously to take it. And so I ended up sitting on the document – until now…
Tags: Buckingham Properties, development plans, downtown Rochester, Frontier Field, infill development, Jerry DeCarolis, LeChase Construction, Mark IV Construction, Mayor Patrick Duffy, Rochester, Rochester NY, Sahlen’s Stadium, Stadiumville, urban development, Wilmorite
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Urban Development | 31 Comments »
The VERY Tall Tale of Jack & His Beanstalk… Now at the Sibley Building
Tuesday, February 4th, 2014!['Balloon Manor: The Very Tall Tale of Jack & His Beanstalk' at the Sibley Building, Rochester, NY. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/jack-and-the-beanstalk-balloon-sculpture-00.jpg)
Local balloon artists Larry Moss and Kelly Cheatle are hard at work right now constructing an enormous, 5-story tall beanstalk entirely out of balloons in the atrium of Rochester’s landmark Sibley Building.
Unlike previous haunted “Balloon Manors” you may remember at area shopping malls, admission is completely free for the public to come and enjoy this one. Balloon Manor: The VERY Tall Tale of Jack and his Beanstalk is due to be completed today, and open for viewing thru Sunday, February 9…
Tags: Airigami, art, Balloon Manor, balloon sculpture, downtown Rochester, Joseph Eddy, Kelly Cheatle, Larry Moss, Martha Stewart, Rochester, Rochester NY, Sibley Building, Sibley's, The Very Tall Tale of Jack & His Beanstalk, Winn Development
Posted in Art + Culture, Events, Rochester Destinations, Rochester News, Video | 3 Comments »
RGRTA Digs Up More Buried Treasure: Seven Masonic Stone Carvings
Thursday, January 9th, 2014![A stone from the Masonic Temple that once stood at Clinton Avenue and Mortimer Street. [IMAGE: RGRTA via Democrat & Chronicle]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/stone-from-masonic-temple-rochester.jpg)
In 2012 we were surprised to learn that RGRTA had dug up the foundation of the RKO Palace Theater while excavating for the new transit terminal. This week, Jim Memmott reported on some more fantastic treasures that were unearthed at the same site. Some time last year seven heavy stones (some weighing a ton) were pulled up from depths of up to 30 feet below street level. Each stone bore a symbol of the Freemasons…
Tags: Clinton Avenue, construction, downtown Rochester, excavation, Freemasons, Jim Memmott, Masonic Temple, Mortimer Street, RKO Palace Theater, Rochester, Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA), Rochester NY, RTS Transit Terminal
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester History, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 9 Comments »
1964 Rochester Transit Terminal Concept
Monday, January 6th, 2014![A concept by RTC president William Lang for a central transit terminal at Main & Clinton, Rochester NY. [IMAGE: Democrat & Chronicle, January 29, 1967]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-central-transit-terminal-concept-1964.jpg)
Like, WOW! I stumbled upon this concept for an elevated transit terminal in a 1967 D&C article. The drawing shows how Rochester Transit Corporation president William Lang envisioned passengers would wait for their bus – suspended above the intersection of Main & Clinton. This view is looking east toward Clinton Avenue with Sibley’s in the background…
Tags: bus station, bus terminal, bus-stop, Civic Development Council, downtown Rochester, Main & Clinton, Main Street, mass transit, mass transportation, Mortimer Street, public transit, public transportation, Regional Transit Service (RTS), Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Transit Corporation, RTS Transit Terminal, transit, William Lang
Posted in Rochester History, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 6 Comments »
ROC City Skatepark Has New Location(s)
Thursday, December 26th, 2013![The Roc City Skatepark was planned to be built under the I-490 Freddie-Sue Bridge. [PHOTO: RocCitySkatepark.org]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/roc-city-skatepark.jpg)
Roc City Skatepark, originally planned to be built under the interstate 490 Frederick Douglass–Susan B. Anthony Memorial Bridge, now has a new location… maybe even several new locationS…
Tags: downtown Rochester, Freddie-Sue Bridge, Frederick Douglass–Susan B. Anthony Memorial Bridge, Genesee Crossroads Park, I-490, Jim Maddison, park, Roc City Skatepark, Rochester, Rochester NY, urban development
Posted in Rochester News, Urban Development | 8 Comments »
New Grocery Store Rumored for Downtown
Sunday, December 22nd, 2013![A new independent grocer may be coming to downtown in 2014. [PHOTO: benchilada, Flickr]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/grocery-produce.jpg)
RocSubway was informed over the weekend by two separate and anonymous sources that a new independent grocer may be coming to downtown Rochester in 2014. Admittedly, this may be unsubstantiated and premature. But these sources have been very reliable in the past. And if true, this would be wildly good news for downtown.
And what the hell, this is a blog, not the Associate Press. I think I have the right to circulate some juicy gossip once in a while…
Tags: 10 Winthrop Street, downtown Rochester, grocery store, Rochester, Rochester NY, The Little Theatre, urban development, Winthrop Street
Posted in Rochester News, Urban Development | 44 Comments »
Rochester Center City Master Plan: Q&A
Monday, December 9th, 2013![Rochester Center City [PHOTO: RocPx.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-center-city-master-plan-01.jpg)
The City of Rochester Bureau of Planning and Zoning is in the process of updating Center City Master Plan. From the City’s website, “The intent is for this document to be a strategic plan [to] help the city measure and celebrate downtown progress, prioritize further research and analysis, prioritize projects, and help secure funding.”
A draft plan can be viewed online , and in a series of open houses the City is now gathering public input on that draft. The last open house is this Wednesday evening (details at the end of this story).
I had a chance to catch up with Jason Haremza, senior planner with the City of Rochester, to ask a few questions about the update…
Tags: Center City, Center City Master Plan, city planning, downtown Rochester, interview, Jason Haremza, planning, Rochester, Rochester Downtown Development Corporation (RDDC), Rochester downtown plan, Rochester NY, urban design, urban planning, urban revitalization
Posted in Interviews, Rochester News, Urban Development | 5 Comments »
Deep Inside Rochester’s Big Old Sibley Building
Monday, November 18th, 2013![The Sibley Building, Rochester NY. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-sibley-building-01.jpg)
This former department store (Sibley, Lindsay & Curr Company) is truly massive. Rochester’s Sibley Building weighs in at over 1.1 million square feet (23 acres of floorspace) – easily the largest building in Monroe County.
WinnCompanies out of Boston now owns the property and plans to spend up to $200 Million over the next five years to bring it back to life as mixed-use space. Holy smokes, do these guys have their work cut out for them. You may have noticed new windows and awnings along Main Street? Some 2,000 windows have yet to be replaced.
Last week the UofR Urban Explorers Club went on a tour through the maze of hallways and spaces, from the dark sub-basement all the way up to the two massive water tanks on the tower rooftop…
Tags: abandoned places, downtown Rochester, EZ-net, Main Street, Rochester, Rochester NY, Sibley Building, Sibley's, Sibley's Department Store, Sibly Lindsay & Curr Co., University of Rochester, urban exploration, urban explorers, UrbEx Club, Winn Development, WinnCompanies
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development, Urban Exploration | 122 Comments »
How Public/Private Investment Downtown Helps the Entire City
Thursday, October 31st, 2013![Midtown Tower construction site. [PHOTO: Jimmy Combs]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/public-private-investment-midtown-rochester-01.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Martin Edic.
Submit your story today.
Recent commentary from the Green Party candidate for mayor made me realize that for many, there are simplistic black and white arguments regarding the value of investing in downtown versus investment in education and poverty alleviation.
The Green Party outrage over the sale of Midtown to Buckingham/Morgan developers for $2.00 is one example. I’d like to talk about how the economics work, and why I think there’s a bigger picture being overlooked…
Tags: development, downtown Rochester, Fast Ferry, Hilton Garden Inn, Martin Edic, Midtown Plaza, Midtown Tower, Renaissance Square, Sibley Building, tax abatements, tax incentives
Posted in Opinion, Reader Submitted Stories, Urban Development | 39 Comments »
SUNY Rochester?
Monday, October 28th, 2013![Donald J. Sullivan would like to see a SUNY college in downtown Rochester. [PHOTO: Flickr, PatrickHashley]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/sunyroc-suny-rochester-skyline-patrickhashley.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Donald J. Sullivan.
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Rochester is a city with a rich history that has experienced a steady decline in population, quality of life, and reputation. Despite this the city has many proud residents who are not satisfied with the status quo. Due to repeated failures we’re skeptical of large projects. This environment of pride mixed with skepticism has produced a generation of Rochester supporters who embrace progressive ideas, respect history, and proceed with caution. My personal contribution is a plan to establish a large State University in Downtown Rochester. We’ll call it SUNY Rochester.
Tags: Donald J. Sullivan, downtown Rochester, Monroe Community College (MCC), Nazareth College, Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Rochester NY, St. John Fisher College, State University of New York, SUNY Albany, SUNY Brockport, SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Rochester, University of Rochester
Posted in Opinion, Reader Submitted Stories, Urban Development | 27 Comments »
Business Improvement District Could Bolster Downtown
Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013![Ambassadors with the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District provide a variety of services including street cleaning and beautification, providing information, and security. [PHOTO: MinneapolisDID.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/downtown-improvement-district-01.jpg)
If you live, work or own a business in downtown Rochester, yesterday you might have received a request to answer a few questions. Do NOT throw it away! Trust me. It’s important.
That Downtown Satisfaction Survey is intended to gather insights which will help in establishing a Business Improvement District. What’s that? I’m glad you asked…
Tags: Boston, business improvement district, downtown, downtown improvement district, downtown Rochester, Downtown Special Services, Heidi N. Zimmer-Meyer, Minneapolis, New York City, Red Shirts, Rochester, Rochester Downtown Development Corporation (RDDC), Rochester information booth, Rochester NY
Posted in Rochester News, Urban Development | 5 Comments »
Bike Rochester: El Camino and Route 390 Trails
Sunday, October 20th, 2013![The fifth and final part of Ryan Green's Bike Rochester Series... the El Camino and Route 390 Trails! [PHOTO: Ryan Green]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rg-bike-rochester-el-camino-and-route-390-trails-014.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Ryan Green.
Submit your story today.
This is the final part of my series on Rochester’s plethora of trails! However, there are still many which I haven’t covered. For a more complete list and description of trails in the region, check out Rochester Trails . If you haven’t, check out the past segments we have covered: Downtown to Fairport , Lake Ontario , Brockport , and the Genesee Valley Greenway and Lehigh Valley Trail loop .
This final part serves to tie up some loose ends, and to showcase additional trail options and connections in the region. Here, we will go on an alternative route North to the lake, this time on the east side of the river gorge, and check out the parkway and Route 390 trails, which provide us with additional connections. [View this route in Google Earth using this .KMZ file]
Tags: Basil Marella Park, bicycle path, bike path, Butterhole Seneca Park Trail, City of Rochester, Colonel Patrick O'Rorke Memorial Bridge, downtown Rochester, El Camino Trail, Erie Canal, Erie Canalway Trail, Genesee Greenway Trail, Genesee River, Genesee Riverway Trail, Genesee Valley Park, Greece, Greece Canal Landing Business Park, I-390, Irondequoit, Island Cottage Road, Janes Road, Lake Avenue, Lake Ontario State Parkway, Lake Ontario State Parkway Trail, Latta Road, Long Pond Road, Rochester, Rochester NY, Route 390 Trail, Ryan Green, Saint Joseph Street, Saint Paul Boulevard, Saint Paul Street, Scrantom Street, Seneca Park, Seneca Park Avenue, Stutson Street, The Flats, Thomas Avenue, Van Voorhis Avenue, West Ridge Road
Posted in Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Destinations, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Exploration | 5 Comments »
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