(Rochester, N.Y.) – With Mayor Robert Duffy at the controls, an excavator punched the first hole through the old Wegmans building. The ceremonial gesture marked the beginning of the long-awaited demolition of Midtown Plaza.
It's been three years after city and state officials announced the block-sized former shopping mall and office complex would be razed. Politicians, including Mayor Robert Duffy and Governor David Paterson, held a “wrecking ball ceremony” Monday morning.
"The demolition of Midtown Plaza today will pave the way literally for new development, new jobs and a new era of opportunity and progress," said Paterson.
Workers have spent much of this year clearing out asbestos, drywall, plumbing, and electrical fixtures. Last week, the first skyway came down.
It will take a few months to tear down the Wegmans building. Demolition work on the 8-acre site will be finished by the end of next year. Up to 50 workers will be on site during demolition. Only Midtown Tower will be left standing, as a developer plans to convert it into luxury condominiums.
The state is paying $55 million for demolition. The goal is to clear the way for future development. The city spent years trying to rejuvenate Midtown Plaza, but had no success. When the city shut down Midtown in 2008, the few remaining retailers either closed or moved to scattered sites downtown. The city allocated about $12 million to relocate tenants and study the demolition and rebuilding of the site.
Questions remain about how the rest of the site will be developed. PAETEC Communications has agreed to build its headquarters on the site, but has yet to complete the deal with the city. The Rochester Broadway Theatre League and the city would like to build a theater along Main St., but funding has not been secured. The city has not secured the estimated $35 million to rebuild infrastructure, including streets and lighting.
"I’m not worried," said Duffy, when asked about the prospect of the site being an empty lot one day. "It was vacant before...If it were not for this governor, this project would still be an empty shell and it would remain that for many many years."
Another potential issue for the project is the possible change in city leadership, if Duffy wins his race for lieutenant governor. A new mayor may not share his passion or vision for the project.
