(Rochester, N.Y.) – The house at the corner of Conkey and Clifford avenues has seen better days. Vacant for many years, it’s an eyesore.
But Jim Fraser sees something else.
“It's a nice Victorian place. It's got a little retail space in the storefront there and also it’s location is central to the neighborhood,” Fraser said. “It was built in 1879 and it was run as a small corner grocery, probably the first in the neighborhood.”
Fraser and his partner, Jo Dickinson, are no strangers to massive rehab jobs in the neighborhood. They gutted their Evergreen St. house and are in the process of restoring several more.
“The houses are a lot of times in very good condition,” said Dickinson. “They just need some love.”
The couple acknowledges many people think they’re crazy for pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into a crime and poverty stricken neighborhood.
“It’s not for everybody,” said Fraser.
But the couple likely won’t be able to realize its dream of restoring 72 Conkey Ave. The city, which owns the property, is worried Fraser and Dickinson have bitten off more than they can chew, because their existing renovation projects are taking some time to complete. The city is also skeptical that a multi-unit building with commercial space is a good fit for that corner.
The structure could be demolished any day.
“We haven’t made an absolute, final decision, but we have to be mindful of whether projects can revitalize a neighborhood,” said Bret Garwood, the city’s director of Business and Housing Development.
“The city needs to be patient and they need to be flexible,” said Fraser. “The last thing this neighborhood needs is another weeded lot.”
Fraser said that when he acquires a vacant property, he secures the building. He said putting up new housing is more expensive and tearing down old houses disrespects the area’s history.
Despite their disappointment, Fraser and Dickinson aren’t going anywhere. The neighborhood is slowly rebounding, with the addition of the new housing project El Camino Estates. They said neighbors are getting more involved.
“The neighborhood needs us,” said Fraser. “There's a lot of blight here there's a lot of deterioration in the housing, but there's a lot of potential.”
