News Release - Mayor Richards, Developer Break Ground on North Plymouth Terrace Project Downtown

City of Rochester

News Release

Plymouth-Terr-exterior(Monday, June 20, 2011)Mayor Thomas S. Richards and City Councilmembers Carolee Conklin and Dana Miller joined developer John “Dutch” Summers and Project Manager and architect Steven Trobe today to celebrate the start of construction of North Plymouth Terrace, a new townhome development on the west side of downtown at the corner of North Plymouth Avenue and West Main Street.

“This exciting project takes us closer to transforming West Main Street into a thriving, bustling gateway to downtown,” said Mayor Richards. “Combined with the Josh Lofton development and the Nothnagle Building just a few blocks away, North Plymouth Terrace will play an important role in the revitalization of the western edge of our Center City.”

In November 2009, the City issued a request for proposals for the redevelopment of this City-owned property, one of the City’s top priorities for downtown development. The selected proposal, which includes the development of North Plymouth Terrace, was submitted by Plymouth Terrace LLC. Plans include the development of 24 two-story townhomes and one- three-story commercial building. Each townhome is equipped with a small backyard and a detached two-car garage, making it unique from other downtown living options. The townhomes will be sold at market rate.

The project will improve 1.5 acres of land downtown, formerly used as a surface parking lot, and it will increase market rate owner-occupancy in downtown.

Plymouth-Terr-interior“We are pleased to have been chosen for this project, which we believe will be an economic driver and add a positive new dimension to downtown living,” Summers said. “Additional market rate housing in this area, combined with new tenants like Nothnagle Realtors, will surely be a catalyst to economic development. It’s one more step in helping to create the density in downtown for a viable community.”

Construction on North Plymouth Terrace will be done in multiple phases over the next three years. The first phase, which will include building six townhomes, will begin this year. Developers are pursuing a tenant for the commercial building to finalize design plans.

The $6.5 million project has received City aid in the form of a land cost write-down to $1 and $555,000 in infrastructure improvements. The project’s development will also benefit from the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency’s CHOICE property tax abatement program, which was endorsed by the City.

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News Media: For more information contact Neighborhood and Business Development Commissioner R. Carlos Carballada at 428-8801.