(Rochester, N.Y.) – Midtown Tower will either be torn down or almost entirely rebuilt.
The city is seeking developers who are interested in turning the 17-story building into residences, offices, and retail. The building has been part of Rochester’s skyline for nearly 50 years.
Several developers have expressed interest. Heidi Zimmer-Meyer of the Rochester Downtown Development Corporation said she has talked to two New York City developers and one local developer about the tower. “There is money locally and if you're a well-heeled deep-pocketed investor, you likely have the capacity to pull something like this off.”
“They come up here and they can't believe the building is available,” said Steve Golding, who is managing the project for the city.
If a developer signs on, the tower will be gutted and stripped to its steel beams. The structure is riddled with asbestos. The siding, ceilings, and windows would have to be removed. The state is paying for the remediation, as part of the $65 million grant to the city for the Midtown demolition.
“What we will do is provide that basic building shell to the developer so they don't have to pay for demolition,” said Golding. “We can provide any manner that that they like. If they want a 10-story building, we provide a 10-story building. So we have a lot of flexibility.”
“Removing the exterior siding is going to make it look very different to the public,” said Zimmer-Meyer. She said developers like the views, location, and the fact they wouldn’t have to buy any steel for a brand new tall building.
The deadline for developers to submit proposals is March 2. The city will determine if any of the proposals are viable by October. If none of the proposals work, the city will tear down the tower.
