14621
Residential area named for the zip code that covers it. An ethnically diverse neighborhood that abuts SenecaPark, and the
zoo that shares its name.
Landmarks: Nearby SenecaPark Zoo, GeneseeRiver Gorge
19th Ward
Defined by its rallying cry, “Urban by Choice,” the 19th
Ward is one of the largest communities in Rochester.
Diversity is the strong point here, as well as its proximity to many Rochester
locations. The neighborhood has seen substantial development in the last
several years, including the newly renovated Brooks Landing.
Landmarks: Aberdeen Square,
Brooks Landing
Beechwood
A mostly residential area, Beechwood
doesn’t contain the bustle of other areas of Rochester.ย However, it is a quiet, affordable area of
the city with some history of its own.
Landmarks: ThomasP.RyanCommunity Center
Browncroft
Renowned for its array of sycamore trees, Browncroft is a charming residential area. It is also quite
a historical landmark to boot, as many of the houses within the district are on
the National Register of Historic Places.
Landmarks: Nearby EllisonPark
Charlotte
Surprise: Rochester
has beachfront property! Charlotte (shar-lot, not shar-lette) is home
to beaches, trails, and parks, all thanks to the area
being situated between Ontario Lake and the GeneseeRiver. It isn’t called the Harbor
District for nothing.
Landmarks: OntarioBeachPark,
Genesee Lighthouse, LakeOntario
Cobbs Hill
Home to CobbsHillPark
and WashingtonGrovePark, the neighborhood is a bastion
of natural beauty within the city limits. CobbsHillPark offers outdoor basketball
courts, hiking trails, tennis courts, and its reservoir affords one of the best
views of the city. WashingtonGrovePark is more on the nature side,
with 100 acres of undeveloped land and trails.
Landmarks: CobbsHillPark,
Cobbs Hill Reservoir
Corn Hill
One of the most historic neighborhoods in the city, Corn
Hill (and specifically its housing stock) is stunning year-round. Home to the annual
Corn Hill Arts Festival every July, as well as riverside Corn Hill Landing, it’s
an eclectic area with its own distinct vibe.
Landmarks: Corn Hill Landing, Clarissa
Street, Corn Hill Arts Festival, Landmark Society
of Western New York
Downtown
In addition to being a daytime hub for local businesses, the
center city also encapsulates smaller neighborhoods with their own unique
character, like Grove Place, St.
Paul Quarter, the East End,
the Cascade District, and Washington Square.
Interested in a concert, or just looking for a place to go out and get your
Lady Gaga on? As the time-old songs says, go downtown.
Landmarks: Water Street Music Hall, Montage Music Hall, Blue
Cross Area, Eastman Theatre, Midtown Plaza.
East Avenue
Back in the 19th century East
Avenue was the gateway to the city, and the
must-have address for Rochester’s
upper crust. Now it’s an anchor the city’s cultural district. Some of the
mansions that lined the route still stand — many of them converted into
multi-apartment housing — and it’s still a monument to the city’s proud past,
and one of the great walking-jogging areas in the city.
Landmarks: George Eastman House, RochesterMuseum & ScienceCenter,
Wegmans
Edgerton
Home to not one, but two parks, Edgerton is rooted in local
history: The 1951 National Basketball Association champions, the Rochester
Royals, called the Edgerton Park Arena home for many years. The EdgertonCommunity Center also houses the
Stardust Ballroom and the who-says-tiny-can’t-be-cool
Edgerton Model Train Room.
Landmarks: EdgertonPark, JonesSquarePark,
EdgertonCommunity
Center.
Highland
Park Neighborhood
Known for lilacs — both the flowering plants and the annual May
celebration that features their name — the Highland Park
is the defining characteristic of this primarily residential area. Legendary
landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted designed the park, and its outdoor
arboretum, featuring hundreds of amazing plant specimens, is a must-visit.
Landmarks: ColgateRochesterDivinitySchool, HighlandHospital, Highland
Park
HighFalls
Rochester has
its very own waterfall right inside of city limits, and this district sprouted
up around it back when water powered industry. After years of struggling as an
entertainment destination, HighFalls
is now transitioning into a business-slash-residential district.
Landmarks: Frontier Field, Genesee
Brewing Company, HighFalls
Lyell-Otis
Home to that fresh-baked taste that campus food just can’t
manage, the eclectic mix of Italian bakeries of this area will have you
smelling, and seeing, the strong Italian background that has influenced the
growth of this area in no time.
Landmarks: Lyell Avenue.
Maplewood
Maplewood’s beauty
and elegance speak to the great days of Rochester.
With parks designed by the famous Frederick Law Olmsted and a wide array of interesting
architecture, the area is sure to inspire even the most lackadaisical college
student.
Landmarks: MaplewoodPark, Maplewood
Rose Garden, LowerFalls,
Genesee Riverview Trail
MarketviewHeights
Many a college student becomes well acquainted with this
area without even knowing it. Home to the century-old (and
still going!) Rochester Public Market, where people flock to enjoy
fresh, affordable produce from myriad vendors. The neighborhood is also going
through a bit of a renaissance with new housing projects.
Landmarks: Public Market, Station 55 lofts
Monroe Avenue
You will probably spend many a college night on Monroe
Avenue. The neighborhood is filled with bars,
clubs, restaurants, and other fun exciting things to do on a night out on the
town. One of the premier entertainment districts in Rochester.
Landmarks: Bug Jar, GeneseeCenter for the Arts, many
independent restaurants, shops, bars
MountHope
This UR-adjacent area is packed with college and medical
students. The MountHopeCemetery houses many famous Rochester
residents, including the graves of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass, and
is worth strolling through. Several bars and restaurants line the college end
of the street.
Landmarks: StrongMemorialHospital, MountHopeCemetery
Neighborhoods of the
Arts
Home to the MemorialArtGallery,
Village Gate, the Auditorium Theatre, the city’s performing-arts high school,
and the outdoor art “museum” ArtWalk, this
neighborhood is aptly named.
Landmarks: Village Gate, MemorialArtGallery,
Main Street Armory, Auditorium
Theatre, Blackfriars Theatre, ArtWalk
NorthWintonVillage
A working-class neighborhood with lots of
turn-of-the-20th-century housing. The nearby 80-acre TryonPark is also a hidden treasure: no
signs mark the entrance to this sprawling and trail-ridden landmark, great for
hikers and nature lovers alike.
Landmarks: TryonPark
Park
Avenue
College-friendly street lined with quality
cafes, pubs, salons, shops, and restaurants. A popular
off-campus housing location for local students.Comes
especially alive during its annual summer festival each August.
Landmarks: Pretty much every shop and restaurant from Culver
to Alexander
South Wedge
A hip, artsy district that is home to a diverse population
that is very involved in its community. Many restaurants, bars, independent
shops, and a few entertainment venues, and even its own
bustling farmers market during the warmer months.
Landmarks: A whole slew of locally owned bars, restaurants,
and shops
Susan B. Anthony
Neighborhood
There are some names that Rochester
will never forget, and Susan B. Anthony’s is one of them. This neighborhood,
home to the Susan B. Anthony House and museum, as well as the FrederickDouglassResourceCenter, is a strong memorial to the
history that made Rochester what it
is today.
Landmarks: SBA House and Museum
Swillburg
Situated between Monroe Ave, South
Wedge, and Highland Park, Swillburg is a residential community with a cool identity
of its own. Home to a small selection of interesting shops
and historic businesses, plus college-friendly housing options.
Landmarks: Highland Park
Diner
Upper
Monroe
Close to both Park and Monroe
avenues, Upper Monroe is also close to Brighton,
an upscale suburb of Rochester that
you’ll probably visit during your college stay. A great in-between
area that connects several others, and features some of the bar-restaurant
trickle down from the other end of Monroe.
Landmarks: Monroe Ave
shops
This article appears in Aug 18-24, 2010.
