Gary Stern, a key figure in the redevelopment of Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts, died last night.
NOTA, once a decaying landmark to Rochester’s industrial past, has transformed since the 1990’s into the city’s artistic and cultural heart, characterized by the adaptive reuse of old spaces. Stern played a big part in that as the owner of Stern Properties.
The company developed Village Gate, a mixed-use community of offices, shops, restaurants, housing, and art studios that serves as a neighborhood anchor. And it’s expanding; three new buildings were recently constructed behind Village Gate plaza on North Goodman. The buildings will hold a mix of office, retail, and commercial space.
Stern Properties developed other commercial and residential properties in NOTA and Rochester, too, including the East End Lofts in the East End entertainment district.
Stern also owned the Carnegie Building at 247 North Goodman Street and was in the process of remodeling the former classroom space into office space when it was destroyed by fire in January, 2015.
Stern said that he would reconstruct the building, maybe for housing and offices, but that has yet to get off the ground. The property is currently overgrown and fenced off.
This article appears in Nov 2-8, 2016.
What a loss for Rochester. A sweet AND visionary man, who created something unique where there was dust.
As a 15 year business owner, constantly located at Village Gate, and the father of a son who now lives and works in the complex (at another company) I became fast friends with Gary. He was a kind, smart, funny and responsible man. His loss is a loss to the community of Rochester as a whole. He was a patron of the arts, a visionary, and had a vast understanding of the complex nature of building a community rather than a development. Rochester in general should be emulating the model of what he did at Village Gate throughout the entire downtown area.
I am so sorry for your loss Marcia, may Gary Rest In Peace and god bless the family, Gary was such a inspiration and will be greatly missed by a lot of friends and loved ones. Rochester will be forever grateful for all that was built by Gary and family. Love Laurie and Mike
TO FAMILY —SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. I LOVE VILLAGE. GATE & WenT TO THE original Building in the 1980’s.