Readers feedback #2 – 5.5.04

The state of Main Street:
treasures, problems

Jack BradiganSpula’s
article on Main Street
(April 14) is the first time I’ve seen our fine and historical Penguin
Restaurant (my “inn”) ever mentioned in an article. It’s a restaurant I recall
through many years and changes of ownership, as far back as when it was
frequented by the co-eds from the nearby old University
of Rochester Prince Street campus.

            One owner
used to commute all the way from Canandaigua to open it every morning. Today
you can find such bigwigs as Rochester
school heads and the owners of World Wide News downtown, having early-morning
breakfast there.

            Larry Farsace, North Union Street, Rochester

An old axiom in commercial real estate states that the value
of commercial property is a function of the quality and quantity of traffic
that passes by. This is why downtowns possess the highest value of property
within a region. Being a major transportation hub and the home of a region’s
most affluent corporate and legal entities creates high real-estate values.

            In downtown
Rochester, two developments over
the last several decades have drastically reduced the quantity and quality of
traffic (both foot and auto). First we decided to build a massive below-grade
inner loop system, which diverted traffic away from the center of downtown.
Second, the bus system became heavily used by a growing concentration
of poverty in the city.

            With poorer
bus passengers using Main Street
as a transfer point, our major downtown thoroughfare became flooded with
low-income traffic. As a result of less traffic due to the inner loop and a
major increase in low economic traffic via the bus patrons, property values in
our downtown core has plummeted.

            Our
community has finally moved forward in reversing the negative economic impact
of our downtown inner loop. But the negative impact of our downtown bus system
must be addressed before private-sector investors make a financial commitment
to downtown Rochester.

            Placing the
bus terminal below grade is better than what exists today, but the
astronomically high costs and logistical problems with such a facility makes
this proposal unfeasible and not cost-effective. The transfer point for bus
users should be at the perimeter of downtown, not the center. The cost of an
underground bus terminal is huge, with no economic benefit. An above-grade bus
terminal a few blocks from the center of downtown would be vastly cheaper than
digging a $70 million to $100 million hole at Clinton
and Main Street. Such a
system would be cheaper for our community and faster for city bus patrons.

            And placing
an up-scale performing arts center on top of an underground bus terminal would
be a financial disaster for the arts center. Mixing high-end art patrons with a
high concentration of poor bus patrons makes no economic sense.

            My
recommendation would be to quickly separate the Performing Arts Center from the
Renaissance Square project. Place the arts center nearer to the East
End cultural district, where there is already a high concentration
of upscale residents and restaurants. Place a much-lower-cost, above-grade bus
terminal a few blocks away from Clinton
and Main. This would free tens of millions of dollars
that could be diverted to the Performing Arts Center.

            Such
actions will create a more conducive environment for private investors to
develop both high-end residential and commercial developments in our downtown
district.

            Dennis Michaels, Elmwood Terrace, Brighton

“The State of Main”
(April 14) does not mention the possibility of building a subway system in Rochester.
But that is more defensible, to me, than building an underground bus terminal.
When in use, buses are above ground and run almost all day. Does any other city
successfully run a bus system based on an underground route?

            With both
Midtown and the Chase Square
building underutilized, does the proposed Renaissance construction of more
shops and space make sense? Wouldn’t it make for an inordinate amount of
rubble?

            Greg Stark, South Clinton Avenue, Rochester

The proposed Performing Arts Center connected to an
underground RTS transfer hub raises uncomfortable questions.

            Is the
underground bus terminal a racist construction? Is this design another attempt
to erase the city’s low-income residents-of-color from urban cultural zones? At
more than three times the cost, why bury the “problem” underground with toxic
bus fumes? (The “problem,” in this case, being poor minorities who depend on
public transportation for their livelihood and well being.)

            Doesn’t
this design “solution” effectively eliminate cross flow between 1) the
well-to-do, mostly white audiences and clientele of cultural institutions and
restaurants and 2) those who make them feel nervous and guilty?

            In Rochester,
there appears to be a pattern of architectural solutions that guarantee little
or no face-to-face contact among the affluent, mostly white members of our
larger community and the people whom they fear and disdain. Skywalks between
buildings allow people to walk over the “problem.” Silver Stadium was removed
from a source of the “problem”: a poor neighborhood.

            The city
plans to tear down residences for the “problem” — the “projects” on Mt.Hope that face the river — to use
that property for higher-income housing. And now there is a huge project
designed to be built on top of the “problem”: the beautiful designer shoe
squashing a cockroach.

            Most of the
people who go to the theater and who eat at the better restaurants do not pay
city taxes. By and large, the people who ride the buses do — although maybe
not a lot. Let us build a beautiful above-ground glass pavilion for bus riders
so that they can be protected from the elements, enjoy the panorama, and remain
an important and lively part of Rochester’s
streetscape as well.

            And do we
really want to bring our guests from Toronto
into downtown via a pit?

            When will
we stop segregating our community?

            Margaret Daiss
Hurley, Burwell
Road, Rochester

In response to “The State of Main” (April 14), I urge City readers and residents to see growth
even farther down the Main Street
strip. The Pirate Toy Fund, a not-for-profit organization that provides new
toys for kids in our community year round, was originally located in Village
Gate. Over the years our mission has expanded, and we had no choice but to
search for a larger, more conducive location to operate from.

            The Toy
Fund serves children with many issues but primarily dedicates itself to
programs that address medical, domestic violence, and financial need situations
(especially in the inner city). It seemed obvious that we should remain within
the city limits.

            We were
lucky enough to work with a real estate developer who helped us purchase a
location on East Main Street
near the RTS bus garage, close to Culver Road.
Since the move one year ago, our experience has been positive. Although some
consider this neighborhood of a lesser quality, we are working hard with the
help of many to revise that way of thinking.

            The city
has required that certain renovations be completed to obtain our permanent
Certificate of Occupancy, and corporate sponsors have lined up to help us.
Chase Pitkin, Pathfinder Engineers, RP Fedder, RW Dake, and Monroe
Insulation and Gutter have all contributed. Union help has been readily
available as well; the Roofers Union Local 22 and the Empire State Carpenters
Apprentice Program have proved invaluable. We have been able to show them the
viability of our mission as well as our commitment to our location and
neighborhood.

            There are
still some vacancies here (for example, the old Hometown Grocers building), but
places like TiLC Ministries and their fantastic new
playground as well as Auto Zone and the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 20
and Volunteers of America Thrift Stores have proved invaluable to the
development of this area. Even RG&E, with Light Works, its affordable
exterior lighting program, has helped make the neighborhood safer.

            There is
more to come, Rochester. Our
“vision” is still growing. We strive to be good neighbors, look out
for one another, and keep our properties clean and neat. It sure is a good
place to start.

            Don’t
forget us down here. We’ve got plans, too!

            Melissa SwaldCamman, executive director, Pirate Toy Fund, 1453 East Main
Street, Rochester

This article appears in May 5-11, 2004.