The University of Rochester has had nearly five years to develop a prime piece of downtown real estate known as Block F on East Main Street, diagonally across from the Eastman School of Music.
But Rochester’s big-gun developers, the ones most likely to take on such a project, are tied up with other ventures, according to the City of Rochester.
The UR bought the 1.5-acre parcel from the Cultural Center Commission in 2011, and was given until July 1, 2016, to develop the land. But given the tepid interest from local developers, the UR asked the city for a three-year extension, with two optional one-year extensions afterward.
City Council was to vote on the extension on Tuesday, and Council member Elaine Spaull said prior to the meeting that she expected the measure to pass. Block F is currently a parking lot, and with all the development happening downtown, she said, it’s not a bad thing to keep the parking space, at least for now.
“We’re beginning to get a shortage of parking down there,” Spaull said.
UR spokesperson Sara Miller said that the university seeks to enter a long-term lease with a developer to create a mixed-used development that contributes to the overall quality of life in the East Avenue cultural district, for the residents of the nearby Grove Place neighborhood, and for the students of the Eastman School of Music.
“There are certain space needs of the Eastman School of Music that we asked to be considered,” Miller said, “but would be part of a larger project.”
The UR paid the commission $640,000 for the property, with the condition that if development didn’t happen by July 1, 2016, the commission could buy the land back. The commission dissolved in 2013, however, and the buyback option was given to the city, instead.
The land is valued at $640,000, according to Monroe County tax records.
This article appears in May 18-24, 2016.
A shortage of parking downtown means it’s time to start looking at better ways to move people around the area, not leave prime real estate as a parking lot.
Weird comment from a city council member about lack of parking downtown as the reason to extend a contract. Isn’t this national bike to work week? Let’s all acknowledge the UR wants to hold the parcel until the right price comes along to close. The city watches out for its top employer, just as it always has.
In keeping with the theme as “The Cultural District” that this area was designated, shouldn’t the new broadway theatre be built here?
Sure make a great place for the Jazz Fest! How about a green-flower park, designed to provide for continued use by the Jazz Fest?
Parking sounds practical. Ideal for green space or culture, but where will you park ? Bicycles a wonderful idea when it’s not snowing sideways.
People from the suburbs will stay away from the city in droves if they can’t find convenient parking.
downtown has a parking problem? Why is it that so many naive people are in positions of power in this city? There is NO parking problem in the city; there is a problem with people wanting to park DIRECTLY outside of the place they want to frequent. Main St. has THREE City owned parking garages within 0.5 mile of the parcel…developers are still in a 1960’s mindset of believing parking demand and supply will dictate their success. With the amount of residential units being added to this area, there will be enough people within WALKING distance, where they will not need to park. Just imagine if we supplemented this with ample pedestrian and bike infrastructure, instead of auto infrastructure, then we’d be worried about it be congested, and developers and city planners would elate in unison.
All I ever have seen for the last five years of knowing Rochester are promises that something awesome will be built, that great things are happening.
Yet nothing continues to happen.