Rochester, N.Y. - Signs of promise hang on the walls of Monroe Community College’s Damon City Campus; signs promoting new escalators, a new entrance, and a Rochester Police substation.
It seems those promises are a little too late for MCC.
“We've been planning this for 20 years, we're ready and as our students have pointed out, it's time to move - we're ready,” MCC Damon City Campus Executive Dean Pete Otero said.
Vice President for Winn Development, Joe Eddy said there's a lot in store for the Sibley building.
Eddy said he remains hopeful MCC will be a part of that future.
“We think there's a lot that can happen in the next four and a half years as we improve the building and sign new tenants, and we're going to be doing a new office lobby, we'll replace escalators. I think it will be something that people will want to come here and hopefully MCC will change its mind and wants to stay at Sibley,” Eddy said.
Eddy also said there are plans to bring apartments to the Sibley building.
Construction on those apartments is expected to begin in 2014.
Eddy said there is a chance the state could weigh in on funding and the future of the college. but for MCC the answer is clear – the campus plans to move out at the end of its lease.
“We're very comfortable with how the state has responded to us,” Otero said. “President Kress talked with S.U.N.Y and we're very comfortable, it would be extraordinary if it didn't happen.”
Otero said the college is moving forward and looking for an architect to help with design plans for their new space.
Some legislators questioned whether the space at Kodak would be too much for the campus; MCC said the space is needed and will use it for administrative offices and new programming.
