(Rochester, N.Y.) – It’s the biggest redevelopment project in Rochester. It’s getting millions of dollars in state funding. It’s been the hallmark of Mayor Bob Duffy’s administration.
And the governor-elect knows nothing about it.
13WHAM News asked Andrew Cuomo if Duffy has talked to him about a performing arts center downtown, something the mayor said he would continue to fight for as lieutenant governor. The performing arts center is slated to go at Midtown.
“He has talked to me about many things. I don’t believe we’ve spoken specifically about that,” Cuomo said.
13WHAM News then asked Cuomo if he’s familiar with the Midtown project.
“No, I’m not,” Cuomo responded.
That’s in stark contrast to the two men whom Cuomo is succeeding. Former Governor Eliot Spitzer pledged state $55 million of state money to tear down the former shopping mall in October 2007. Governor David Paterson reaffirmed that commitment to Midtown immediately after taking office. Paterson came to Rochester in September to mark the start of the Midtown demolition.
Cuomo was in town touring a state fleet maintenance facility in Pittsford to learn about winter preparedness.
A city spokesman sent an email addressing Cuomo’s comments.
“The theater is NOT the Midtown Project or part of the Midtown project. It is a proposed project at the Midtown site,” said Gary Walker, who also wrote that the theater project is in its infant stages and it’s too early to lobby for funding. Walker said, “All that aside, the election is not two weeks gone and the state is in a $9 billion shortfall. To the Mayor/Lt. Governor-Elect, lobbying for anything, much less a proposed project with so many unanswered questions, is inappropriate at this time.”
In response to why Duffy and Cuomo have not talked about Midtown, Walker wrote, “No, why would he? It's a fully funded project and the final phase of the project was just kicked off by Governor Paterson. While it will be finished in the new governor's term, the funding and plans were finalized under Governor Paterson.”
One of the projects planned for the Midtown site, Midtown Tower, expecting a $1.2 million dollar state grant for construction. The city also has not secured the money needed to rebuild the infrastructure on the site. Nor has it secured developers to fill up all of the land.
Cuomo said not all projects could be funded, but he recognized the importance of economic development to create jobs and boost tax revenues.
When asked if he would familiarize himself with local projects, he said, “Yes and Bob Duffy as lieutenant governor is going to bring an extraordinary amount of expertise in that area.”
