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DOWNTOWN INVESTMENT IN

HIGH GEAR 

 

An array of transformational projects continues to change Downtown Rochester's landscape:  

  • Slated to open its doors in the fall of 2017, the new  MCC downtown campus received an additional $6 million in new funding, $1.6 million of which is slated for a green roof at the High Falls site. Campus renderings were released to the public in early March.
      
  • The Tower at Midtown secured the final piece of financing -- a $36.5 million dollar loan. M&T Bank Regional President, Dan Burns, called the tower "one of Rochester's most important development projects" and said that "its success could attract more investment to the city".
  • The Sibley Building will become a huge hub for innovative tech start up companies, as it welcomes the new headquarters for High Tech Rochester (HTR) and its recently announced HTR Business Accelerator facility.  Slated to open in early 2016, HTR will be located in the former Tea Room space on the 6th floor, and is projecting the creation of 1,000 new jobs in the first five years.
  • DHD Ventures continues its growing investment in downtown with the Hilton Garden Inn. Located next to the Hyatt on Main Street, the hotel plans to open its doors within the month. It features 110 rooms, a pub/restaurant facing Main Street, an indoor pool, central arboretum, meeting & event space, and more. DHD Ventures also purchased 88 Elm Street and and 50 Chestnut Street and is planning to invest $10 million in each property.

These are just six of the development projects currently underway downtown. Use the Investment Map on rochesterdowntown.com to view details about the 37 development projects RDDC is tracking in 2015.

 
MAIN STREET SIDEWALK & PARKING PROJECT DETAILS 
 
QUICK PROJECT SNAPSHOT:
  • Total development cost = $2.5 million
  • Developer:  City of Rochester
  • Replacement of the sidewalks on East Main Street between the Genesee River and the Liberty Pole
  • Expected to create as may as 50 new on-street parking spaces
  • Design process to begin in June 2015
  • Construction starts in late summer 2016, with completion anticipated by late summer 2017

For the Main Street Streetscape & Pedestrian Wayfinding Enhancement project, the City of Rochester anticipates significant public involvement in the design phase which will allow your voice to be heard.  Additionally, the Center City Pedestrian Wayfinding System will be installed on Main Street from Canal Street to Alexander Street.

 

RDDC is grateful for the generosity of a group of Main Street stakeholders who contributed $91,500 to give Rochester a leg up in a very competitive round for the Federal TAP funds necessary to help fund this project. 

 
 
GEVA THEATRE'S POSITIVE IMPACT 
 
Geva Theatre Center makes headlines and takes center stage with two exciting new developments!

 

Geva recently announced its ambitious Front & Center Campaign, most of which has already been secured. The $10 million being raised will fund major improvements that will protect the historic structure, and open the door to new ways to use the space.  Work will involve exterior renovations, game-changing interior alterations, and innovative program expansions. The campaign will also  establish an endowment fund to help secure Geva's financial future.


In a bold partnership, Geva Theatre and developer Patrick Dutton cut the ribbon on the Geva Lofts conversion project at Woodbury Place. These 11 apartments will provide cool, urban living spaces to  visiting actors, artists, and performers.  Click here  to view a photo album of the ribbon-cutting event, and a first look inside the new furnished lofts.

 

 
 
READ MORE:
 
 

ROCHESTER TWILIGHT CRITERIUM RETURNS DOWNTOWN 

 

On the evening of Saturday, August 15th, Full Moon Vista Productions is bringing the Rochester Twilight Criterium back to downtown for the first time since 2008!   

One of the most unique bicycle race courses in the world, Rochester was successfully added to the list of only 16 locations sanctioned by USA Cycling.  This national competition is expected to draw more than 20,000 spectators to Downtown Rochester. The fast-paced, mile-long race will have bike riders racing through the streets of downtown -- like NASCAR, only you are much closer to the action.

 

 The race is free to the public, and promises a festival experience with food, European cowbells, historic buildings, and high drama against the setting sun and night skyline.  You won't want to miss this one! 

 

Details of the criterium, event schedule, and photos from the 2008 event can be found on the Rochester Twilight Criterium website.  

  

READ MORE:

It's official: Rochester's Twilight Criterium Returns

Rochester Twilight Criterium to return in August   

 
ROCHESTER GETS HYPED FOR HALFTIME 
 
    
Pepsi was the talk of downtown earlier this year, as Rochester proved to be the most hyped hometown in America! This Pepsi contest made national news, and Rochester was treated to a free halftime show featuring hip hop duo, Nico and Vinz on East Avenue downtown. Buffalo Bills head coach, Rex Ryan, and wide receiver, Sammy Watkins also made an appearance at the outdoor concert. Over 7,500 people attended.

Prior t
o the concert, vending machines giving out free Pepsi cans could be found all around downtown.

Pepsi also treated Rochesterians to Hyped for Halftime mini concerts. These concerts "popped up" spontaneously in locations all across the city.

 

  

 

READ MORE:

  

Rochester wins Pepsi Super Bowl sweepstakes 

   

Nico & Vinz to perform in Rochester 

  

Hyped for Halftime nears 

  

Pepsi video makes Rochester look so beautiful 

  

This Pepsi costs $0! 

 
AIRIGAMI CREATES UNDERWORLD SEA ADVENTURE AT SIBLEY'S  

Wow! 40,000 balloons all in one place - downtown! World-class balloon artists at Airigami returned to the Sibley Building's atrium for a one-of-a-kind experience! This year's
Balloon Manor featured a 5-story balloon sculpture with an underworld sea adventure theme. Although the build and popping party are over, the Balloon Manor website has tons of pictures and videos of the build and behind-the-scenes looks from this year and last year!

Missed the action? You can also check out the photo gallery.
 
 
 
READ MORE:
 

RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT: EAST/WEST KITCHEN  

 

Have you checked out East/West Kitchen? Located at 337 East Avenue, East West Kitchen offers Asian Fusion Cuisine and is one of downtown's newer restaurants. Known for their Pho, Cheeseburger Eggrolls, and Sake Bombs - you'll definitely want to try them out!

P.S. For dessert, we recommend the Apple Pie Eggroll with vanilla ice cream that comes with cinnamon and sugar sprinkled on top! (pictured below)

 


Check them out on facebook

  

 
RDDC WELCOMES NEW STAFF 
 
At the beginning of the year, RDDC welcomed two new staff members.

Laura Fox, Vice President

Laura is a Rochester native who returned to her hometown after receiving her Master's degree in Urban Planning from Tufts University.  Since her return to Rochester, she worked for Bergmann Associates as an urban planner, and has become involved in several community-based organizations within the city.  In her role at RDDC, Laura is working to enhance RDDC's membership base, perform community outreach for the business improvement district process, and will track the downtown housing market, among other duties.

Nathan Moynihan, Information Specialist

Nathan graduated from the SUNY University at Buffalo in Spring 2014 with a Finance degree and a minor in Environmental Design. Prior to being hired in January, he completed an internship with RDDC during the summers of 2013 and 2014. In his role at RDDC, he will track downtown news and development, update the downtown events list, and work closely with RDDC and DSSI on various projects.

We're happy to have them on board! We hope you continue to call on all of us for your downtown-related needs.

Contact RDDC
 

SPRING 2015 EDITION

 

IN THIS ISSUE:

-Downtown Investment in High Gear 

-Main Street project details 

-Geva's Positive Impact  

-Twilight Criterium Returns 

-Pepsi's Hyped for Halftime Show 

-Balloon Manor 2015 @ Sibley's  

-Restaurant: East/West Kitchen

-New RDDC staff  

Social Media

 

 


Get real-time, daily news about
what's happening downtown on

Links & Resources 

 

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 downtown market reports

Check out our online Events Calendar for all there is to "Go & Do Downtown"! 

Stay tuned to downtown news & projects

Track projects on our investment map

 

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

Downtown in the News

 

Glimpse Inside MCC's New Downtown Campus (3/3/15)

 

Innovation Zone Signals New Era for Center City (2/27/15)

 

Buffalo Firm Opens Office in Downtown Rochester (2/26/15)

 

Plans for Inner Loop Redevelopment Coming Soon (2/25/15)

 

City Passes on Two Midtown Proposals (2/25/15)

 

Twilight Criterium Bike Race Returning to Rochester (2/23/15)

 

World of Inquiry School re-opens after Renovations (2/22/15)

 

Midtown Tower Secures Final Piece of Funding (2/3/15)

 

Urban Art Exhibit 'Pops Up' in Sibley Building (1/14/15)

 

Sibley's Tea Room to Serve Tech Startups (12/15/14)

 

Visions of Retail in Downtown Aqueduct  (12/14/14)

 

Alexander Park Seeks Rx for Success (12/13/14)

 

Downtown Housing Boom Continues with Bevier (12/12/14)

 

Local Leaders Discuss Economic Development (12/10/14)

 

Click here for a complete archive of downtown news articles

UPCOMING DOWNTOWN
FESTIVALS & EVENTS!  
 
Johnny's 17th annual Runnin' of the Green
March 14
 
St. Patrick's Day Parade
March 14 
  
Disney Junior Live!
March 15

Greentopia Film Festival
March 17-21
Rochester Bridal Fair   

March 29

 
Ned Rorum's "Our Town" Opera
April 9-12

Red Wings Home Opener
April 11

The Road to Where
April 23-May 10

 

Flower City Challenge

April 26 

flowercitychallenge.com

 

Run for the Falls

May 16

greentopia.org

   

The Color Run
May 23
6x6x2015 Art Exhibit
June 6 - July 12

Rochester Jazz Festival
Jun 19-27
-----------------------------------------------------------
For a complete listing of downtown events, 
visit our events calendar at rochesterdowntown.com

Don't see an event listed on our calendar? Submit an event here.
DOWNTOWN RESTAURANT AND ENTERTAINMENT
OPENINGS
 
 

Vive Bistro & Bakery

130 East Ave.

Neighborhood: East End

vivebistro.com  

 

The Pizza Stop

(Has moved to new location)

131 State St. 

Neighborhood: Four Corners

www.pizzastop1.com  

 

El Flamboyan Cafe (Coming soon!)

35 Chestnut Street

Neighborhood:  East End 

About RDDC

 

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The Red Shirts Safety Team provides a "Walk You to Your Car" Service. Call 732-8808 during these hours of operation:

Mon - Thurs:  1:00 - 9:00 pm
Friday:  1:00 - 10:00 pm
Saturday:  5:00 - 10:00 pm
Sunday:  5:00 - 9:00 pm  

 
RDDC logo
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 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!

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