Some Brighton neighbors are organizing against a large development project proposed for Monroe Avenue, saying that it would compound traffic problems and alter the character of the area.
The Daniele Family Companies wants to redevelop approximately 10 acres along Monroe, including the sites of Mario’s Italian Restaurant and Clover Lanes, into the high-end Palazzo Plaza. The project would consist of four buildings, including a 90,000 square foot organic market — said to be Whole Foods — bank, coffee shop, and retail. The developer has submitted an application to the Town of Brighton for review.
“The process will take time,” Brighton Supervisor Bill Moehle says. “We want public input both pro and con, or in the middle.”
On the con side, a group of neighbors in the adjacent Clover Downs neighborhood will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, to discuss strategy to oppose the project. The meeting is at First Baptist Church, 175 Allens Creek Road.
“There’s going to be a change in the nature of the neighborhood,” says Ben Werzinger, a neighborhood resident who started an online petition against the project. The petition had 100 supporters as of Monday.
Traffic congestion is already a problem on Monroe Avenue between I-590 and Clover Street, Werzinger says, which is where the project would be built. Project critics worry that the plaza would draw more traffic to the corridor, making the area less safe and harder to navigate.
Neighbors also worry that access roads off of Clover and Allens Creek Road would become more congested.
Some critics also question the need for another grocery store on Monroe Avenue, which already has Wegmans and Trader Joe’s nearby.
Danny Daniele, president of Daniele Family Companies, says that the project would offer benefits, including a substantial increase in property tax payments. The company’s application to the town says that the project would also include a new traffic light on Monroe Avenue, pedestrian and cyclist access improvements, upgrades to a trail that passes along the property, and the protection of two acres of land as open space.
“Many neighbors have expressed their support in creating a new, refreshing shopping center in place of a very old, worn out bowling alley,” Daniele says.
As for Whole Foods, when Danny and Anthony Daniele announced the Palazzo Plaza project last month, they said that the market may anchor the development. The two companies are in talks, Danny Daniele says. Large retailers often withhold site commitments until local governments sign off and construction starts.
“At this time, we have no formal plans for a store in the Rochester area,” Whole Foods spokesperson Michael Sinatra said in an e-mail. “That said, since opening a store in Albany and announcing plans for a store in the Buffalo area, we do feel like there are incredible opportunities for Whole Foods Market in Upstate New York, including the greater Rochester area.”
This article appears in Apr 1-7, 2015.
A sprawling parket lot that houses a dated bowling alley and a behemoth Italian restaurant that is circled by the expressway and traffic laden Monroe Avenue. But, Whole Foods will tip the scale and alter the character of the area. Puhhhhlease!
As someone who recently moved to Boston from Rochester, I have to question the need for Whole Foods in Rochester. My Whole Foods experience has been that the food is overly expensive and the variety is lacking. Frankly, Rochester has a great grocery chain in Wegmans, as well as additional natural food options in Trader Joe’s and Lori’s Natural Foods. I can’t understand how that corridor needs another grocery store, and the navigation in that area is already awful. My advice to Rochesterians from Boston: appreciate what you have. Wegmans is awesome – and try Lori’s or Abundance Food Cooperative if you want a change of scenery.
If the congestion is going to be added to:
Whole Foods – no.
IKEA – yes.
I agree that Monroe Ave. cannot handle the alleged increase in traffic in that area despite the millions of dollars spent to make that section safer. However, here is the way it works in any given town in the already wealthy areas of said towns. Prelim plans are presented; informational meetings without comment at town hall; town board introduces a referendum by motion of two board members; public hearing is scheduled; public hearing: all opposed and in favor weigh in to the town board; 50 people show up and complain; a few brave ones show up and praise the concept; town board approves the plan; plan goes in front of the planning and zoning boards. So… to increase the tax revenue base for said town.. it usually gets approved. Now if 200 or 250 people show up to the meeting and complain the board may listen. 2015 is a local election year this November. So.. if you are unhappy then vote accordingly or run for office in Brighton and get on the town board. Easier said than done but “it is what it is”. Just an idea !!!
Ikea is not coming to this area. I wrote to them and begged, but this area does not meet their population criteria.
Forget about Whole Foods for a moment and think about what the redesign of Monroe Ave has already done. South of 590, Monroe Ave southbound lost one lane. Just north of 590, Monroe Ave gained a traffic light and a left hand turn to 590 south. I thought current road design was trying not to have left hand turns, especially when there is a ramp to 590 south just north of Westfall Road that does not require a left hand turn.
Many times that new traffic light on Monroe causes southbound traffic to back up north of Westfall Road, The new Daniele family traffic light can only make the traffic situation so much worse.
The real issue that would affect most commuters and residents is the added congestion; especially at the intersection of Westfall/AllensCreek Rds and Monroe Ave.
The Department of Transportation needs to study that intersection because it is already one of the most dangerous and congested in the area; and, to further add to the problem will be the proposed use of the current service road off Allens Creek Rd for entering/exiting the project.
Adding a traffic light or two will not solve the congestion or safety issues; the DOT should determine that.