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