ROCHESTER – Work is underway to reimagine downtown Rochester with plans to demolish a building and create a new entertainment corridor.
The demolition at the vacant storefront at 170 and 172 Main Street is scheduled to start this spring in late April or early May and will take about eight months to complete.
Redevelopment is already underway next to the site at 150 East Main St. to create 132 apartment units. The city’s deputy commissioner of neighborhood and business development said that project will make way for the Main Street Commons.
“That’ll result in affordable apartments as well as ground floor commercial space that will activate this space that we’re looking to create through the demolition,” Erik Frisch said.
The city’s senior landscape architect said the demolition will require extra care since the building shares walls with two other structures.
“We have to be very careful and make sure as we’re restoring the site that we’re leaving the other buildings in good shape and are going to stand for another 100 plus years,” Jeffrey Mroczek said.
Renderings of the finished Main Street Commons show a gathering space and landscaped walkway. One person on Main Street said the project would be good for the community.
“I think it’s pretty cool for the community,” Naomi Liddell said. “I think we need something like this down here, you know, something different.”
Another person said the Main Street Commons would make downtown more appealing for anyone spending a night out with family.
“Something like that would probably be a welcome sight, and it would help as far as the businesses and stuff that are down here now,” Naeem Curry said. “Economically, I think it would make sense.”
Frisch said people are looking for new ways to gather downtown. He pointed to Parcel 5 as an example of a spot that has become a popular event space.
Design work for the Main Street Commons is expected to begin late this summer and will take about a year.
The $1.3 million project is being funded through New York State, and construction is expected to be finished in 2028.
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