ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The corner of Main Street and Clinton Avenue in downtown Rochester has undergone a major transformation. What was once a haven for pigeons with collapsing roofs and stairways is now a livable space ready for tenants to move in.

I have been covering this corner for years, and was able to tour the newly renovated space, which now looks livable.

The development, now called Harper’s Corner, connects four historic buildings into a cohesive space. Lindsey Allen, Development Manager for Home Leasing, led me through the first of 11 newly completed apartments.

Allen expressed her amazement at the transformation.

“Having been in these spaces before the construction began and seeing them now and envisioning a family or individual who gets to live in here, I mean I’m awe struck,” Allen said.

The project, supported by state tax credits, required maintaining the historical elements of the buildings. One of the things they had to do with this project is to save and maintain the historical elements of these buildings, including a stairwell.

They call it the stairwell to nowhere because the top is the bottom of the apartment above. But they had to do whatever they could do to save the stairs and the railing.

Dana Miller, Commissioner of Neighborhood and Business Development, emphasized the importance of the project.

“This is arguably the most visible corner in all of our downtown,” Miller said.

The apartments are intended for middle-class families, not market-rate or affordable housing. Home Leasing is currently accepting applications, with a lottery to select renters planned around Thanksgiving and move-in expected around Christmas. View the application here.

Harper’s Corner is named after Martha Harper, who came to Rochester more than 100 years ago and helped women by franchising 500 beauty salons to them.

The City of Rochester, Monroe County, ESL Federal Credit Union, BankOnBuffalo, Greater Rochester Housing Partnership, and the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation are among the many organizations that helped with the completion of this project.

See some photos below of what it looked like before renovations.

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