@round downtown - header

DOWNTOWN TO GET A GROCERY STORE

 

The news of downtown getting its first grocery store in more than a decade exploded last week as "Hart's Local Grocers" announced that it will open in May in the East End. Learn more about the new store at www.hartslocalgrocers.com, and on Facebook and Twitter. and find more details in news coverage from the Jan 10 press conference:

"New Grocery Addresses Downtown Need for Retail" - D&C 1/10/14

"Hart's to Open Grocery Store Downtown" - RBJ 1/10/14

"Plenty of Parking at Downtown Grocery" - Channel 13 1/10/14

The news follows serious talk by Tops Friendly Markets about locating a store downtown sometime in the future ("Tops CEO on Downtown Store: It'll Happen" - D&C 1/10/14). And in a recent article ("Downtown Development Outlook: Glass More Than Half Full" - WXXI 12/5/13), developer Larry Glazer indicated that downtown Rochester is on the "radar screen" of national retailers.

With an estimated 6,000 people now living downtown, it appears Rochester has reached a tipping point, jumpstarting the "retail follows rooftops" adage.

 

PATRIOT PROPERTIES SUCCEEDS AT TOUGH PROJECTS


Patriot Properties has been quietly growing its investment portfolio in downtown Rochester, as well as its reputation for taking on tough restoration projects that return buildings to their former glory.
 
The company just completed a $8.9 million renovation of the old East Avenue Commons apartment building, which it has renamed "One Eleven on East". Click here to view photos of the renovated foyer and apartment units, and visit their Facebook page. The building's 245 units are fully leased with a waiting list.
The foyer staircase at One Eleven on East
 
But the best may be yet to come. The company is also in the midst of a $16 million rehab of the Nation Clothing Co. building (shown below), where it will open a Hilton Garden Inn on the corner of Main & Stone Streets next year ("Hilton Hotel Planned Downtown" - RBJ 5/4/13).
 
 
Click here to view a presentation by Tom Masaschi, Co-Owner of Patriot Properties, who discussed progress on these two projects at RDDC's latest Member Briefing.
 

D&C KEEPS ITS STAKE IN DOWNTOWN

 

 

In October, the Democrat and Chronicle Media Group announced plans to move from the Gannett Building on the corner of Broad and Exchange, into a new facility it will build on the Midtown site at the corner of Main & Clinton.  ("D&C Announces Plans for New Downtown Home" - D&C 10/30/13).

 

Steve Simpson, Vice President of Market Development, discussed exciting plans for the new headquarters at a RDDC Member Briefing in November. Click here to watch a video of his presentation.  

 

DOWNTOWN MARKET REPORTS RELEASED


In October, RDDC released its annual downtown housing and office space market reports. The following  is a summary of what's happening in the marketplace:
 
-- In 2013, an estimated $755 million is being invested in downtown
-- The downtown office market is soft, but improving in all categories
-- 6,000 people are living downtown now, and 1,600 more are moving in over the next few years
-- New downtown housing projects are leasing up rapidly
-- Big, blockbuster projects are changing the downtown landscape
-- Two new business incubators are locating downtown
 
Click here to view a 4-page summary booklet of the survey findings and downtown development, and click on the links below to view the full reports.

 

2013 Survey of Downtown Office Space

2013 Downtown Housing Market Report 

 
Read more in news coverage of the reports release:
 
 

STEADY PROGRESS AT SIBLEY

  

 

WinnDevelopment's $200 million renovation of the historic Sibley Building on Main Street has begun in earnest. Inside, millions have already been invested in security upgrades, escalator repairs, and a new police substation.  Outside, recent improvements like new windows, awnings, flags, signs & holiday window displays make it apparent to the passerby that the building is being given new life.

 

"People have a very strong emotional attachment to the Sibley complex, and to see that come back in a way that is beautiful...these things are difficult to measure." 

    -Heidi Zimmer-Meyer, President, RDDC

 

Read more and keep track of progress: 

Www.thesibleybuilding.com

Sibley Building Facebook Page

Past and Present Photos

"Sibley Building Restoration to Begin in Earnest" - D&C 10/3/14

"Deep Inside Rochester's Big Old Sibley Building" - RochesterSubway 10/4/13

 

 
NEW LOCATION FOR ROC CITY SKATEPARK
 
 
Friends of RocCity Skatepark recently announced a new planned location for the future Park:  Genesee Crossroads Park along the river in the heart of downtown. Benefits of the move include a more central location, funding availability tied to another City project, and less red tape that might have slowed the project down (the new location will be on City-owned property while the old location under interstate 490 on South Ave. was New York State owned property). 
 
Learn more and keep keep up with developments:

 

AIRIGAMI TO BUILD MASSIVE BALLOON MANOR AT SIBLEY

  
Another new, one-of-a-kind event is coming to downtown Rochester! From February 1 - 9, world-class balloon artists at Airigami are planning to build Balloon Manor, a five-story, 50,000+ balloon structure of Jack and his Beanstalk, in the atrium of The Sibley Building Viewing of the construction and finished product will be free and open to the public. They have planned the event to coincide with a Convention that will bring 400 balloon artists from all over the world who will assist with the project.
 
Learn more:
 
FLOUR GARDEN IN HIGH FALLS TO BECOME REALITY
 
Friends of the GardenAerial, a non-profit group dedicated to creating a world-class tourist site at High Falls, recently got word of funding through the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council that will allow them to move forward with the FlourGarden this spring. The group also recently purchased a piece of land property adjacent to the Falls that is key to their plans for future development of the site.
  
 
A schematic of the planned sunken "FlourGarden" to be built along Brown's Race in High Falls
 
Learn more:
 

FULL STEAM AHEAD ON A DOWNTOWN BID

 

Since 2011, RDDC has been leading an initiative to explore a Business Improvement District (BID) for downtown Rochester. A BID is a defined district with a self-imposed "common area maintenance fee", which underwrites enhanced services that property owners and businesses want and that city government is unable to provide.

Learn more about BIDs and background on the initiative to establish one in downtown Rochester:  

"Business Improvement District Could Bolster Downtown" - RochesterSubway 10/22/13

Video Presentation: Downtown BID Update - RDDC Member Briefing 11/13/13

This past fall, RDDC implemented a public input phase that featured an online "Downtown Satisfaction Survey" survey (completed by 1,859 people), as well as focus groups with key constituencies (attended by over 100 people). The goal was to understand the level of satisfaction with the current state of services, and to garner ideas for what downtown needs. 

This input is currently being analyzed and will inform the development of a District Plan that will spell out the proposed services, budget & governance of a potential downtown BID. Stay tuned!

 

 

FROZEN FRONTIER A WILD SUCCESS

 

There are no better words to describe Frozen Frontier than "wild success." Rochester's first ever outdoor hockey festival was held at Frontier Field in mid-December and drew tens of thousands of fans during its 10 day run. Here's hoping this will become an annual event!

Over 11,000 people attended opening game night

 

Read more coverage:

"Frozen Frontier to be a Sports Spectacle" - RBJ 12/6/13

"Frozen Frontier Turns Baseball Field Into Hockey Haven" - D&C 12/8/13

"Frozen Frontier Organizers Pleased With Event" - D&C 12/23/13

 

FOOD TRUCK PILOT EXTENDED

 

 

At its Dec 17 meeting, City Council voted to extend the Food Truck Pilot Program through March 31, 2014 while the City decides whether and where to expand the Program. In the meantime, downtown workers, residents and visitors can continue to enjoy the mobile cuisine offered at these three locations: 

  • Andrews Street Bridge 
  • Corner of South Ave & Broad St
  • Corner of State St & Platt St
 
 

DOWNTOWN INFO CENTER CLOSES, FUNCTION RE-DEFINED

 

DSSI LogoDowntown Special Services, Inc. (DSSI) Board of Directors made the decision to permanently close the Downtown Information Center as of 12/31/13 after 13 years of operation at the corner of East Main and St. Paul Streets.  The primary reason for this decision is that fixed-location information centers around the country are being increasingly replaced by alternative vehicles such as mobile apps, Facebook, and Twitter.  People are increasingly relying on social media and hand-held devices to get local information when they travel.  As a result, use of the Information Center by walk-in visitors has been waning over the past few years.

A re-energized Information Team will be pursuing new, more aggressive ways to make getting information on downtown venues and events easier. You can reach the team at 585-232-3420 or [email protected]. Questions about DSSI's services and programs can be directed to Executive Director Heidi Zimmer-Meyer at 263-6950 or [email protected].  

 

SIGN ON TO SPONSOR URBAN NIGHTS SERIES

 

Urban Nights header

 

 

Get on board to sponsor the 2014 Urban Nights series showcasing new and unique downtown restaurants and event venues! A $500 sponsorship for the entire event series includes:

  • Your company logo and website link on the electronic invitation sent to our email list of 3,000+ downtown stakeholders for each of the 6-8 events in the series
  • 6 complimentary tickets to use at any of the Urban Nights events throughout the year

Urban Nights events are  promoted throughout the year on www.rochesterdowntown.com (which gets tens of thousands of unique visitors a year), as well as Downtown Rochester on Facebook and Twitter.

 

For more information about sponsoring Urban Nights, contact us at 546-6920 or [email protected].

JANUARY  2014 EDITION

 

IN THIS ISSUE:

 

-Grocery Store Plans

-Patriot Properties Projects

-D&C to Stay Downtown

-Market Reports Released

-Progress at Sibley

-Roc City Skatepark Re-Lo

-Balloon Manor at Sibley

-FlourGarden Project

-Downtown BID Update

-Frozen Frontier Wows

-Food Truck Pilot Extended

-Downtown Info Ctr Closes

-Urban Nights Sponsorship

 

Social Media

 

 

Get real-time, daily news about what's happening downtown on Facebook and Twitter!
  
Downtown in the News

 

Click here for a complete archive of downtown news articles. Here's a sampling of the latest news:
 

Academy Building Earns Preservation Award (12/28/13)

Progress on The Tower at Midtown (12/26/13)

Center City Master Plan: Q&A (12/16/13)

Downtown Development "Glass More Than Half Full" (12/6/13)

Planning a Downtown: Rochester Pictures Its Future (12/4/13)

Blue Cross Arena Naming Rights Secured (11/27/13)

Inner Loop Project: Building Momentum for Future (11/22/13)

Editorial: Results Beginning to Show at Midtown (10/4/13)

Fringe Festival Attendance Tops 50,000 (10/3/13)

New Plan to Reduce Students Downtown (10/2/13)

Inside Look at Downtown Living Spaces (9/28/13)

YWCA to Add 14 Apts to Downtown Campus (9/25/13)

High Falls Visitor Center Re-Opens (9/16/13)

Links & Resources 

   Www.rochesterdowntown.com is the source for everything downtown!

 

Search for office spacelofts and apartments

 

Locate restaurants, entertainment, shopping, and services & amenities

Explore downtown neighborhoods using our Interactive Map

Find where to go using our maps & walking tours

Make business decisions using our Marketplace Resources

Stay tuned to events, festivals, news & projects

 

Learn how to reach thousands of potential customers, tenants & clients by  advertising on www.rochesterdowntown.com !

SAVE THE DATE FOR  DOWNTOWN FESTIVALS & EVENTS IN 2014!

 

High Falls Film Festival
April 25 & 26 ("mini-fest") 
 
Flower City Half Marathon
April 26 & 27
 
The Color Run
May 24
 
East End Music Festival
June 13
 
Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival
June 20-28
 
Greentopia Festival
September 9-14
 
First Niagara Fringe Festival
September 18-27
 
ImageOut Film & Video Festival
October 10-19
 
High Falls Film Festival
October 23-26
UPCOMING RDDC EVENTS

 

Urban Nights - Havana Cabana
Tuesday, January 14
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
$12 - RDDC Members
$15 - Non-members
 
Urban Nights - Fraiche
Tuesday, February 25
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
$12 - RDDC Members
$15 - Non-members
 
Urban Nights - Tavern 58
Tuesday, March 11
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
$12 - RDDC Members
$15 - Non-members
DOWNTOWN RESTAURANT OPENINGS

 

Aunt Rosie's

350 E. Main St.

Neighborhood:  Midtown District

www.auntrosies.com 

 

Harvest Coffee Shop

298 Exchange Blvd.

Neighborhood:  Corn Hill

www.harvest-cafe.com 

 

Havana Cabana

289 Alexander St.

Neighborhood:  East End

www.havanacabana.com 

 

Sapori Caf� & Catering

16 W. Main St. (Powers Building)

Neighborhood:  Four Corners

www.sapori-rochester.com 

 

Shui Asian Fusion

236 University Ave.

Neighborhood:  East End

www.shuirochester.com 

 

The Grill at ONE

One Ryan Alley

Neighborhood:  East End

www.oneryan.com 

 

Torres Caf� and Catering

One HSBC Plaza

Neighborhood:  Manhattan Square

 

Jimmy John's

330 Monroe Ave.

Neighborhood:  Alexander Park

www.jimmyjohns.com 

 

State Street Bakery (re-location)

36 W. Main St. (Exec Building)

Neighborhood:  Four Corners

www.statestreetbakery.com 

About RDDC
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About DSSI
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Rochester Downtown Development Corporation
100 Chestnut St., Suite 1910, Rochester, NY 14604
(585) 546-6920 | [email protected]
Downtown Special Services, Inc. Administrative Office
100 Chestnut St., Suite 1910, Rochester, NY 14604
(585) 263-6950 | [email protected]
 
About @round downtown
 
@round downtown is an e-newsletter resource jointly sponsored by Rochester Downtown Development Corporation (RDDC) and Downtown Special Services Inc. (DSSI). In this bi-monthly publication you will find news and information about everything downtown, including:
  • Development projects and trends that are changing the face of downtown
  • Useful links to downtown news and resources on our website and social media
  • Safety and security from our Red Shirts Safety Team
  • Upcoming events and festivals and business comings & goings
  • RDDC business and social events
  • And much more!

Invite your friends and colleagues to join this email list by clicking here: