Rochester, New YorkAdvisory Services Panel
June 5-10, 2005
AcknowledgementsCity of Rochester – Mayor William A. Johnson, Jr., City Council President Lois Giess, and Director of Planning Larry StidCounty of Monroe – County Executive Maggie Brooks and County Legislature President Wayne ZyraRochester Downtown Development Corporation – Chairman Dave Beinetti, Heidi Zimmer-Meyer, Sean Phelan and Karen Hite
SponsorsUS Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentCounty of MonroeHome Leasing, Inc.Bausch & LombWilmorite, Inc.Conifer RealtyPembroke CompaniesLeCesse Construction
Buckingham PropertiesJasco Tools, Inc.JPMorganChasePike CompanyChrista ConstructionDemocrat & ChronicleLeChase Construction ServicesCostanza EnterprisesRG&ESWBR Architects/Engineers
About ULI
Mission: To provide responsible leadership in the use of the land in order to enhance the total environment.
The PanelChairAlex Rose, Vice President,
Development, El Segundo, CA
PanelistsZane Segal, Project Director,
Zane Segal Projects, Houston, TX
David Slater, Consultant, Reston, VA
Ray Brown, President, Ray Brown Consulting, Memphis, TN
Chris LoPiano, Senior Vice President, Bank of America Community Development
Allen Folks, Principal, EDAW, Sacramento, CA
Ed Shriver, Principal, Strada Architecture, Pittsburgh, PA
Donna Lewis, Planning Director, Mercer County, Trenton, NJ
Alex Bond, Associate, ULI – the Urban Land Institute
ULI StaffJason Bell, Panel CoordinatorAlex Bond, Associate
Context
Re-creating downtown Rochester
Rochester – Ahead of the curve
Rochester – the challenge
The cultural, educational and entertainment center for
the region
Re-Creating Downtown Rochester
People and ActivityStrong base of entertainment, cultural and educational with fabulous architectureBold moves and routine onesWalkable urbanity
Market PotentialDavid SlaterZane Segal
Market Overviews
Manufacturing job lossStrong growth in educational, health, and professional servicesStagnant metropolitan population growth and loss in the city
OfficeAnnual Class A absorption: 70,000Midtown buildings not competitiveSibley Center well located and adaptable to new usesAnnual absorption:
* Present to 2010 – 30,000 to 40,000 sq. ft.
* 2010 – 2015 – 60, 000 to 80,000
Retail100,000+ square feet downtown occupied200,000 square feet former street level space vacantRelocate Midtown Plaza to street frontageDemand is 90,000 to 110,000 square feet
Hospitality
250,000 square feet convention centerHigh rate of utilizationOver 1,150 hotel rooms located nearby that require updating
Education
Nearly 4,000 students downtownCommunity college will become integral part of Renaissance Square
Multifamily Housing
2,052 market rate units downtown330 market rate units under construction or plannedRecommend goal of 5,000 – 7,000 mixed income rental and for sale units
The Double Edged SwordSprawl vs. disinvestmentBedroom communities vs. deserted downtowns
Heroic Projects
Stadiums, performance halls, cultural facilities, and casinosFail to revive a downtown aloneExcellent complement to other initiatives
Show me the magic!
Downtown housing leads the wayRetail follows rooftopsGuess what, rooftops follow retail too
Reimagining Downtown
Enlightened form-based zoning codeHeart of the city’s education, culture, entertainment, and recreationEvenings and weekends lively
Pre-Nestors, Empty Nestors and the Studious
Young professionals like the nightlifeDownsizing post parents no longer want to mowStudents study in cafes, not libraries
The Creative Class
Knowledge workers can choose where to live and workThey love the old funky stuffEntrepreneurs balance work and enjoying life
Cool housing but no houses
People are waking up from the American DreamUrban housing types for rent and for saleRenovation followed by new construction
This thing called urbanity
Interesting people doing fascinating thingsAppeal to creative, high-tech entrepreneursTime for reflection is becoming a time for action
Development StrategiesRay Brown
Chris LoPiano
Planning & Design
Allen FolksEd Shriver
Regional Context Constraints
Inner LoopGenesee River open spaceLack of public open spaceDistricts are not connectedMain Street lost retail focus
Regional Context Opportunities
Good historical building stockEast End new development
Study Area ConstraintsVery large development sitesBlank walls on Main StreetIron wallPedestrian unfriendlyLack of public open spaceConfusing street grid
Study Area OpportunitiesSibley’s buildingMidtown Parking GarageMidtown block is well positionedGood historical building stock
Renaissance SquareIncreases cultural amenities downtownAt grade transit solutionReintroduce Stone Street at midblockRethink one-way couplets of Clinton & St. Paul/South StreetPlace retail function on Main StreetPrimary entrance to performing arts at Main & Clinton
Reclaiming the public domain
Main Street as primary civic streetAdd cultural amenity within the midtown blockConnect cultural amenities outward from Main & Clinton
Midtown PlazaRemove indoor mall and other office buildings except Midtown Tower and the Euclid BuildingProvide for town square parkIntroduce streets & pedestrian ways into the blockAdd residential & mixed use buildingsRetain parking & service tunnelAdd winter garden as forecourt to Chase building on Main Street
Sibley’s Building
Adaptive reuse as residential & retail
St. Josephs PlaceCreate urban village15-40 dwelling units per acreNeighborhood parkLive/work incubator spaceNeighborhood retail including grocery store
General
Design guidelines reviewed for consistency with recommendations.WayfindingPublic art
ImplementationDonna Lewis
Alex Bond
Financial Strategies
Midtown, Sibley’s and Renaissance Square will require public subsidyPrivate sector cannot do it alone
Process
Several financial mechanisms existSome have legally approvalsUnified front to state and federal legislators
Local ProgramsTax Increment Financing (TIF)
Issues bonds, repaid with property tax increase.
Effective at raising funds without expenditureSuggest district encompass inner loopSupport target area
Local Programs Conversion Urban Exemption
Property Tax AbatementDedicated fees or taxesSmall fee earmarked for target areaIndustrial revenue bonds
State Programs
Historic Incentive Tax CreditsCan be used or soldSibley or St. Josephs rehabEmpire Zone Initiatives – package to exist end users
State ProgramsUrban Renewal DistrictsAllow assembly and resale below market rateNYSERDA Incentives – multifamily housing cash incentives.Competitive and use at Midtown
Federal Programs
Section 108 Loan GuaranteesBooked and repaid by future CDBG funds
Public/Private PartnershipSingle purpose development entityRochester Center City AuthorityInitiated by City and CountyMembers from city and county but majority from private sector
Public ImageQuality of life
Move a perception than a realityMust be addressed to make streets feel safeMarketingStreet vitality
StreetsAnalyze going ordinanceEstablish conversation with new downtownersBridge generational and racial gaps
Public Realm
ParkingSupply is adequateStudyEfficient parking
Pedestrians
Rochesterians don’t walk!Activity needed on the streetEncouraged to walkAgencies should encourage peopleExciting street lifeFeeling safeCirculator bus
Bus Transit
40 route converge downtownLots of bussesCrowds of people
Bus Transit
Transfer station above groundChange bus scheduling and/or routing
Urban FormGreen infrastructureHealthy communitiesFestivalsDowntown for holidays
Rochester, New YorkAdvisory Services Panel
June 5-10, 2005