The number of people moving into downtown Rochester during the last decade has steadily increased, and proposals for more housing and other development haven’t slowed down. While downtown’s buildings were once largely devoted to retail and commercial uses, the focus has changed. Now the area is evolving into a patchwork of small neighborhoods, and some leaders from those neighborhoods have formed an umbrella organization they’re calling Center City Community Coalition: C4.
Organizers say C4 is for all of downtown’s residents, whether they live in a neighborhood with many residential buildings or in a more isolated apartment building. Like most neighborhood groups, C4’s mission is to press city officials on quality-of-life issues such as trash removal, noise reduction, and safety.
“We are a resident-focused organization,” says Suzanne Mayer, one of C4’s organizers. But downtown residents have some concerns that are different from those in city neighborhoods like Park Avenue and Corn Hill.
The development of Parcel 5, for instance, will have a direct impact on downtown residents, says Mayer. Similarly, she has concerns about proposals for the filled-in portion of the Inner Loop and for Block F, the vacant lot across from the Eastman Theatre. Block F is a prime downtown site, and the University of Rochester has an option to purchase it.
“We’re not anti-development at all,” says Mayer. “We welcome the development.” But there’s been considerable attention given to what city officials call the visitor experience – people coming downtown to visit the Strong National Museum of Play and the Fringe Xerox International Jazz Festivals, she says.
What about the many people who call downtown home? Shouldn’t they have an influence on development rather than simply be told what will be built next door to them, she asks.
The residents and neighborhood groups that C4 is trying to encompass range from well-established organizations and to new ones. The Grove Place Association, for instance, has been active for decades. It is now expanding its coverage to include Charlotte Square and the Sagamore on East Avenue, Mayer says.
The Midtown Community Association, which includes residents of Tower280, the Metropolitan, the Sibley building, and others, is just getting off the ground. Mayer, who lives in Grove Place, says the more established associations can help the newer ones grow.
Instead of traditional association meetings, C4 organizers are holding more casual social gatherings to promote its efforts and build support. The next event, which they’re calling “Festivals and Fun,” will be on Wednesday, April 11, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Studio 180, at 180 St. Paul Street. Information about the status of downtown projects will be paired with live jazz and food, says Mayer.
Organizing is the real issue, says Mayer, so that people living in Grove Place or an apartment complex like Andrews Terrace all have a voice in the future of downtown.
This article appears in Mar 28 – Apr 3, 2018.
This article highlights one of the most important and yet underappreciated topics in Rochester today. Our downtown in becoming a neighborhood and we have to start approaching it as such! Bravo City, and great stuff Jeremy and Suzanne!
All the focus is on the wealthy people in the city… Does C4 address helping their fellow city residents living in poverty? Or is it and exclusive club for those living high above the poor?
Is the City-Wide Tenants Union part of this association? Or invited?
I guess we can look at this as the beginning of the end of downtown. First there will be height restrictions, then the Jazz Festival will be an imposition on the new residents. Next, the bars will have to close at 9, and so on…. I’ve always been told that downtown belonged to everyone, not that these people shouldn’t have an opinion, but no more important than the other million plus of us.
Beautiful people addressing their beautiful problems.
With the new housing developments which have outrageously high rental charges who are these people that live in these developments? They are not for ALL renters only a select demographic in race and income. The new developments that are being proposed have majority of one selected group of tenants in business and in rentals.
Seems to me downtown is for City residents and ALL people, but all people are not welcomed. Theres a bigger issue regarding employment opportunities which relates to how these new tenants can afford the rent downtown. If they are trying to keep certain people out – you succeeded.
A performing arts center is not for all to enjoy, only a select and segregated group of people. Something that brings ALL cultures, races, ages, etc. downtown is needed.
Fifteen plus years ago with Sibleys, McCurdys and midtown brought a melting pot to downtown Rochester- lets bring that back instead of raising rent to keep certain people out which is so obvious.
Th downtown area is being built for the suburbanites. The first step was getting the “bus people” off of Main St. The busses and all the people added vibrancy to Main St. Now that is hidden a few blocks away. Main St feels dead.
This is actually a great idea… an informal coalition of all the various downtown neighborhood associations. It makes perfect sense for them to network, and to speak or advocate with a unified voice on certain matters that impact them all. I’m bothered by the negative responses to this article, which seem to presume what policies or limitations downtown residents will “impose” on the city or others. I’m not sure how anyone can criticize a group of citizens, regardless of class or income status, for organizing in support of their collective interests. Good luck to C4, and each of the respective downtown neighborhood groups.