City of Rochester
News Release
(Monday, March 15, 2010) – Mayor Robert J. Duffy along with City Council President Lovely Warren, City Council Vice-President Elaine Spaull, Neighborhood and Business Development (NBD) Commissioner R. Carlos Carballada, Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS CEO Ryan Tucholski and Board President Carolyn Stiffler, and City Living Sundays co-chairs Ted Wood of IBERO American Development Corp. and Beverly Fair-Brooks of M&T Bank announced the dates for the 18th annual “City Living Sundays.”
“This program has proven to be a very successful collaboration,” Mayor Duffy said. “There are many people out there who are renting or considering buying a house or current homeowners who are attracted to the amenities of city living. The First Time Home Buyer Credit of up to $8,000 is set to expire this spring. The Home Buyer tax credit has also been expanded to include current homeowners. This is the perfect time to discover the true value we offer.”
“Last year, 50 percent – or 71 out of the 142 homes open for City Living Sundays – sold,” said Commissioner Carballada. “We are proud to work with our partners to carry on the vision created by former City Council President Lois Giess and a handful of Realtors 18 years ago.”
This year’s annual celebration of city lifestyles, neighborhoods and home ownership will take place Sunday, March 21, 12 noon – 4 p.m., at East High School, 1801 E. Main St., for the city’s east area neighborhoods, and Sunday, March 28, 12 noon – 4 p.m., at Theodore Roosevelt School 43, 1305 Lyell Ave., for the city’s west area.
City Living Sundays is a consortium of area lenders, neighborhood associations, private businesses, the Greater Rochester Association of Realtors, the Landmark Society of Western N.Y., Rochester City School District and the City to market Rochester’s homes while promoting the unique advantages of city living.
At the City Living Sundays events, home shoppers can attend a “neighborhood city living expo,” participate in an informational seminar and select from the more than 100 houses to visit that will be open for sale each week in the area of the event.
One-stop home buying information booths will be staffed by knowledgeable lenders, Realtors, school district personnel, and bilingual staff who can provide facts, offer advice or answer questions about all aspects of home purchase and ownership, as well as about specific homes to be open for inspection that weekend. Neighborhood residents will be on hand to describe unique qualities of their part of the city. Also, stop by and register to win promotional items and tickets from Rochester’s favorite hometown sports teams: the Red Wings, Amerks, Rhinos and Knighthawks!
At the home buying seminars, bankers, Realtors and attorneys will discuss the entire home buying process and visitors can find out about City housing grants. Representatives from the City School District will also participate in the seminars to provide information on local schools.
Fact sheets, pictures and tour maps of the properties will be provided at the information sessions for the open houses.
Prospective homeowners can also "preview" the neighborhoods to be featured each Sunday by taking free tours of city neighborhoods, offered by the Landmark Society of Western N.Y. The bus tours highlight neighborhood amenities and resources, ranging from schools and shopping districts to historic sites and places of worship. A tour of the city’s east neighborhoods will be offered Saturday,
March 20. A bus tour of the city’s west neighborhoods will be offered on Saturday, March 27. Call 546-7029, ext. 10, for more information and reservations.
House hunters seeking updates or more details about City Living Sundays may call 428-CITY (428-2489) or visit www.rochestercityliving.com. Participating lenders are: Citizens Bank, CNB Mortgage, ESL Federal Credit Union, First Niagara, HSBC, KeyBank, M&T Bank and Nothnagle Home Securities.
Complete information about this year’s program can also be obtained on the City Living Sundays Web site at www.citylivingsundays.com.
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News Media: For more information, call Kathy Sheets, the City’s Director of Real Estate, at 428 7449.