(Rochester, N.Y.) – Midtown Plaza is known as a “super block.” Once it’s torn down, the city wants to divide the 9-acre site into 7 blocks, with a green courtyard in the middle.
PAETEC’s headquarters would sit on Clinton Avenue near Main Street. A hotel would go on Main Street. Retail, offices, and housing would fill out the other parcels. The city plans to solicit private developers for these sites in the coming months and years.
“To think of a brand-new streetscape downtown, to think of our center city being totally revamped and restored, revitalized, it's an exciting time,” said Mayor Robert Duffy.
PAETEC is the only business that has signed onto the project. With about $78 million of city and state commitments for the project, officials admit there’s a risk involved.
“Risk? I think the greater risk is doing nothing,” said Economic Development Commissioner Carlos Carballada.
Other highlights of the plan:
• The Skyway would be permanently severed.
• Midtown Tower will be spared the wrecking ball, if a private developer submits a viable plan.
• Midtown’s atrium, which is eligible for landmark status, could be saved. One of the alternatives is to enclose the structure at a cost of about $5 million. Another alternative would not save the atrium, but incorporate its design into future buildings. “There are more than several investors looking at the tower as a residential conversion project, one out of town developer that literally would buy it today,” said Rochester Downtown Development Corporation’s Heidi Zimmer-Meyer.
• The project would be done in two phases. The first phase involves PAETEC’s headquarters and building the new infrastructure, including roads and sewers. The second phase is much more flexible, and dependent on development proposals for the site.
It’s anyone guess when such a massive project could be completed.
“I think the better part of a decade is what we're looking at,” said Zimmer-Meyer.
“Beats me,” said Carballada.
“What I look forward to some day is taking my grandchildren down and saying, ‘Wow,’” said Duffy.
The city’s vision for the Midtown site was put forth in detail in the Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement. There will be a 40-day public comment period.
