City of Rochester
News Release
NOTE:
- City of Rochester plan attached;
- Mayor's, Council's correspondence to Main Clinton Board attached;
- Mayor's correspondence to County Executive, et al attached.
(July 15, 2009) - Mayor Robert J. Duffy, City Council President Gladys Santiago and members of City Council today announced a plan to move forward with a pared down Renaissance Square project at Main St. and Clinton Ave. in Downtown Rochester.
The plan would move forward with the design of the Monroe Community College Campus as is, but would shift the bus terminal away from St. Paul Street to mitigate the negative impact on the existing buildings and provide greater opportunity for parking and future development. The plan would build the two funded portions of the project -- the bus terminal and community college.
As there is no solid funding for the proposed Performing Arts Center (PAC), no identified owner of the PAC and no agreed to plan to fund the operating deficit of the PAC, continuing to design and build the Project with a placeholder for the PAC is unrealistic and adversely affects the rest of the Project. Council and the Mayor will not support the condemnation of private property in the proposed PAC footprint. The corner property can be used for private development opportunities that support the Project.
“The Renaissance Square project has been discussed and planned for the past 11 years,” said Mayor Duffy. “In that time the project has had a series of redesigns. This is the first one that can actually be done and will work for Downtown and for taxpayers. It allows the construction of the terminal and college while preserving and expanding much needed parking for our fast developing Downtown.”
City Council Economic Development & Environment Committee Chair Dana Miller said: “It is important to hold on to federal dollars earmarked for this project. But City Council joins with the Mayor to say it is in nobody’s interest to condemn private property without a clear reason to do so. Taking someone’s property for an unfunded and uncertain purpose, as presently is the case with the PAC, is not acceptable in our city.”
The Mayor and Council are proposing an inter-municipal agreement that sets forth the new understanding of the parties.
They are then willing to support the Project and to grant the necessary timely approvals. The agreement would include the following:
• Eliminate the PAC from the project
• Accept private development proposals for properties allocated to the proposed PAC
• Construct MCC Facility as currently designed with enhancements made possible by eliminating PAC
• Reduce Transit Center to the west to a total of 16 bays in the center portion to reduce impact on other property, parking and other opportunities for development
• Add two floors to the Mortimer Street Garage
• Retain western end of Mortimer Street for access to existing buildings, parking and development opportunities
• Hire a consultant to propose ways the Project can be integrated with the existing surrounding structure and include retail development
• Appointment of one representative from City Council to Main & Clinton Board
• Provide maximum opportunity for construction jobs to residents of the City of Rochester
• Cooperation of RGRTA and Monroe County in supporting intermodal high-speed rail station when it is built
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News Media: For more information please contact Bridgette Burch White, City Council, 428-6176 or Gary Walker, Director of Communications 428-7405.