Much of our region’s character can be found in its
architecture: The homes, industrial buildings, schools, office buildings, and
churches that were built when Rochester’s star was rising. Now many of these
buildings are abandoned or are facing vacancy or bankruptcy, while new
developments and building projects crop up all around. If these older
structures are not preserved, we could lose them; and along with them, we will
lose a part of history.
Some talented and devoted architects,
craftspeople, designers, and builders worked on these buildings. They were
built to last, with quality and beauty as the first priorities. But one and two
hundred years later, they need some help.
This is an updated list of some of our area’s most stressed
places. But these are only the highlights. As Peter Siegrist, Director of
Preservation Services at the Landmark Society, says, “the list is endless.”
Endangered
Academy Building, 13 South Fitzhugh Street, Rochester
So called because when it was built in 1872 it was the
Rochester Free Academy, the Gothic Revival Academy Building is now office
space. But as tenants trickle out to the suburbs, the building’s future is
uncertain. Designed by Andrew Jackson Warner.
Albion’s main street
While many of the area’s Erie Canal towns have historic
value, Albion is particularly special because most of its canal-era buildings
are still intact. The town center is in good physical shape and has a
consistent streetscape, but most of the buildings are empty. And now, zoning
for a Wal-Mart Supercenter just outside the village has been approved.
Armory, East Main Street
Together with the Eastman Dental Dispensary and the
Auditorium Center, the Armory cuts an impressive figure along East Main Street.
It’s now vacant, and though it is a very large space, there are no plans for
its use.
Eastman Dental Dispensary, East Main Street
The Italian Renaissance-style brick building, built in 1917
by George Eastman as a children’s dental clinic, inspired copies in Brussels,
Paris, Rome, and Stockholm. It’s been empty since 1977.
King Street houses, Susan B. Anthony neighborhood
Many of the older homes in this preservation district, in
particular a string along King Street, are empty, and despite some strong
efforts by the Landmark Society, are very slow to sell. The neighborhood, with
its ideal downtown location, small public square, and good housing stock, has
the potential to be a thriving urban village. The Susan B. Anthony House is
here.
Parazin Building, 208 Mill Street
The Parazin Building is one of the oldest buildings in the
High Falls district (it was built in 1826). After passing through several
owners’ hands, it now sits empty.
Sibley Building, 228 East Main Street
The Sibley Buildings is at the center of the debate over
downtown revitalization efforts. Built in 1905, it was once a major regional
department store and a downtown activity hub. Now, thanks to the owner’s debt,
vacancy problems, and planned downtown development projects, its future is
uncertain. The major tenant, Monroe Community College, will most likely move
when Renaissance Square is completed (an architect was just chosen).
Valentown Hall, Valentown Road, Victor
Valentown, built as a shopping plaza in 1879, is now home to
historian J. Sheldon Fisher’s eclectic collection and is a museum operated by
the Victor Historical Society. The museum has a plea out to the community,
asking for volunteer time and supplies for the effort to rebuild the giant wood
structure.
Updates
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Station, 320 West Main Street
Home to the one and only Garbage Plate, Nick Tahou Hots’
downtown location is also notable for its building: a former passenger terminal
for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The Tahou family, which owns the building,
has expressed the hope that a nonprofit group would take over the building and
secure grants for the necessary repairs, which include a new roof.
Bevier Memorial Building, 42 South Washington Street
Designed by prominent Rochester architect Claude Bragdon in
the early 1900s for the Mechanics Institute (later the Rochester Institute of
Technology), the Bevier building is now empty, but was recently bought by a new
owner. The Rochester City School District has been talking about the possibility
of moving its offices back into the building.
School #37
After extensive debate over school closings, it was decided
that the elementary school on Congress Avenue in the Southwest section of the
city will close in June. The question: How will the 88-year-old, recently
renovated building be used?
Seneca Park, St. Paul Street
The 297-acre park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in the
late 1800s, is home to the county’s Seneca Park Zoo. The zoo recently announced
the plan for an expansion, a hot-button issue for preservationists who have
opposed the zoo’s encroachment on one of the area’s most important parks.
Support was won because the zoo dropped its idea for adding on a parking lot. A
task force has been set up, including Landmark Society representatives, to make
sure the new elephant exhibit doesn’t take away from the park.
Sonnenberg Gardens, 151 Charlotte Street, Canandaigua
There’s good news for the 40-room Queen Anne mansion and
extensive grounds that makes up the Sonnenberg Mansion and Gardens: The
museum’s financial trouble was alleviated earlier this year when the NYS parks
office decided to acquire it as a state historic park. As part of that
transfer, NYS challenged Sonnenberg to raise $250,000 from the community. The
capital campaign closed January 26 with a total of $281,851.
Wehle Building, Webster Ave
With grants, the North East Area Development neighborhood
association successfully renovated this triangular building on Webster Avenue
and the nearby Dazzle Theater — important and resource-intensive investments
in a neighborhood that needed them. But the daycare center on the first floor
of the Wehle Building closed, and the building is now empty.
The Landmark Society will hold its 19th Annual Regional Preservation Conference,
“Maintaining Hometown Character in the 21st Century,” on Saturday, April 30, at
Trinity Episcopal Church, Fall Street, Seneca Falls, 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. $40.
www.landmarksociety.org, 546-7029 ext 10
This article appears in Apr 27 – May 3, 2005.
