Downtown Rochester
Encyclopedia
Downtown Rochester is the economic center of Rochester, New York
, and the largest in Upstate New York
, employing over 50,000 people, and housing close to 5,000. Several international companies are headquartered in downtown Rochester, some of these include Eastman Kodak
and Bausch and Lomb.
Following the Civil War, many post-war industrial companies were founded in Rochester including Kodak, Bausch & Lomb, Western Union
and Gleason Works. The city hall opened downtown in 1875.
At the turn of the century, Rochester was a thriving city. Street cars operated throughout the area and a subway
was opened in 1927 on the old Erie Canal bed that ran through downtown. The subway operated for 29 years until it closed in 1956. After the subway was shut down, a series of bus routes were opened and a new auxiliary Interstate Highway was opened that would become I-490
.
In 1962 Midtown Plaza
was constructed in downtown Rochester. Midtown was a major urban shopping mall and the first urban indoor shopping mall in the United States. Midtown Plaza brought many people downtown but it would soon become a victim of suburbanization
. In the 1980s, suburban shopping malls such as Eastview Mall
in Victor
and The Marketplace Mall
in Henrietta
opened up. McCurdy's and Forman's, closed in 1994. Their closing was quickly followed by the closing of the Midtown branch of Wegmans Food Markets
. Before long the mall's only tenants were Peebles department store, Radio Shack
, Payless Shoes, some downscale clothing stores, a dollar store, two jewelry stores, a gift shop and a US post office. The mall finally closed in 2007.
Downtown Rochester is currently entering a renaissance. For the first time in over 60 years, businesses are moving back into center city instead of fleeing it. Some of these businesses include ESL
in 2010, Nothnagel in 2011 and PAETEC in 2013.
, creating an urban setting. In the early 2000s the city of Rochester built new condos and other residential buildings to center city with huge success. Older buildings are being converted into lofts. The current vacancy rate downtown is less than the 5% average in most downtowns.
The downtown area is also home to several shops, bars, restaurants, parks and a few designated parking areas. Manhattan Square park, located downtown, changes seasonally. During the winter months, the park attracts ice skaters to its kidney shaped rink while in the summer the rink becomes a pool equipped with three fountains. Live music is also played at the park during the summer.
Some tourist attractions downtown include the world famous Strong National Museum of Play and the High Falls entertainment district located just north of the Inner Loop
expressway. There is also a boat tour on the Genesee River
. The Mary Jemison Boat Tour cruises the Genesee River overlooking the Rochester skyline giving a tour and history of the area.
There is also a high demand for housing in Downtown Rochester.
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, and the largest in Upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
, employing over 50,000 people, and housing close to 5,000. Several international companies are headquartered in downtown Rochester, some of these include Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak Company is a multinational imaging and photographic equipment, materials and services company headquarted in Rochester, New York, United States. It was founded by George Eastman in 1892....
and Bausch and Lomb.
History
Rochesterville, as it was once called, was founded in present day downtown Rochester by Col. Nathaniel Rochester, Maj. Charles Carroll, and Col. William Fitzhugh, all of Hagerstown, Maryland. After the Erie Canal was opened (which flowed through downtown Rochester until the early 20th century,) the area boomed as a result of the cities flour industry. By 1834, some 20 flour mills were producing 500,000 barrels annually, the population reached 13,500 and the city area expanded to 4000 acres (16.2 km²). Rochester was then re-chartered as a city, and Jonathan Child, son-in-law of Col. Rochester, was elected its first mayor.Following the Civil War, many post-war industrial companies were founded in Rochester including Kodak, Bausch & Lomb, Western Union
Western Union
The Western Union Company is a financial services and communications company based in the United States. Its North American headquarters is in Englewood, Colorado. Up until 2006, Western Union was the best-known U.S...
and Gleason Works. The city hall opened downtown in 1875.
At the turn of the century, Rochester was a thriving city. Street cars operated throughout the area and a subway
Rochester Subway
The Rochester Subway or Rochester Industrial and Rapid Transit Railway was an underground rapid transit line in the city of Rochester, New York from 1927 to 1956. Contemporary photos show it used single streetcars, like Boston's Green Line, as a light rail line, with a large portion underground...
was opened in 1927 on the old Erie Canal bed that ran through downtown. The subway operated for 29 years until it closed in 1956. After the subway was shut down, a series of bus routes were opened and a new auxiliary Interstate Highway was opened that would become I-490
Interstate 490 (New York)
Interstate 490 is an auxiliary Interstate Highway that serves the city of Rochester, New York, in the United States. It acts as a northerly alternate route to the New York State Thruway , leaving it at exit 47 in the town of Le Roy and rejoining the highway at exit 45 in the town of...
.
In 1962 Midtown Plaza
Midtown Plaza (Rochester)
Midtown Plaza was an indoor shopping mall in downtown Rochester, New York, the first urban indoor mall in the United States.-History:...
was constructed in downtown Rochester. Midtown was a major urban shopping mall and the first urban indoor shopping mall in the United States. Midtown Plaza brought many people downtown but it would soon become a victim of suburbanization
Suburbanization
Suburbanization a term used to describe the growth of areas on the fringes of major cities. It is one of the many causes of the increase in urban sprawl. Many residents of metropolitan regions work within the central urban area, choosing instead to live in satellite communities called suburbs...
. In the 1980s, suburban shopping malls such as Eastview Mall
Eastview Mall
Eastview Mall, located in Victor, New York and managed by Mike Kauffman, is an indoor shopping center owned and operated by Wilmorite Management Group, LLC ....
in Victor
Victor, New York
Victor is a town in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 9,977 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Claudius Victor Boughton, a hero of the War of 1812.The Town of Victor contains a village, also called Victor...
and The Marketplace Mall
The Marketplace Mall
The Marketplace Mall is managed by Wilmorite and located in the heart of the Rochester, New York metropolitan area on Hylan Drive, in the suburb of Henrietta....
in Henrietta
Henrietta, New York
Henrietta is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. It is a suburb of Rochester. The population was 42,581 at the 2010 census. Established in 1818, the town is named after Henrietta Laura Pulteney, Countess of Bath, daughter of Sir William Pulteney, 5th Baronet, a major British...
opened up. McCurdy's and Forman's, closed in 1994. Their closing was quickly followed by the closing of the Midtown branch of Wegmans Food Markets
Wegmans Food Markets
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is a family-owned U.S. regional supermarket chain headquartered in Gates, New York, near Rochester. Wegmans has more than 75 stores spread across the mid-Atlantic region, in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and Massachusetts...
. Before long the mall's only tenants were Peebles department store, Radio Shack
Radio shack
Radio shack is a slang term for a room or structure for housing radio equipment.-History:In the early days of radio, equipment was experimental and home-built. The first radio transmitters used a noisy spark to generate radio waves and were often housed in a garage or shed. When radio was first...
, Payless Shoes, some downscale clothing stores, a dollar store, two jewelry stores, a gift shop and a US post office. The mall finally closed in 2007.
Downtown Rochester is currently entering a renaissance. For the first time in over 60 years, businesses are moving back into center city instead of fleeing it. Some of these businesses include ESL
ESL Federal Credit Union
ESL Federal Credit Union is a credit union headquartered in Rochester, New York, chartered and regulated under the authority of the National Credit Union Administration . As of 2009, ESL had $3.8 billion in assets and approximately 298,000 members...
in 2010, Nothnagel in 2011 and PAETEC in 2013.
Community Profile
Downtown Rochester is showcased by several skyscrapers including the 450 ft (137.2 m) Xerox TowerXerox Tower
Xerox Tower is a skyscraper in downtown Rochester, New York standing at tall. When it was built in 1967, it was the tallest building made of poured-in-place exposed aggregate concrete. It is the tallest building in Rochester, as well as the third tallest building in New York outside of New York...
, creating an urban setting. In the early 2000s the city of Rochester built new condos and other residential buildings to center city with huge success. Older buildings are being converted into lofts. The current vacancy rate downtown is less than the 5% average in most downtowns.
The downtown area is also home to several shops, bars, restaurants, parks and a few designated parking areas. Manhattan Square park, located downtown, changes seasonally. During the winter months, the park attracts ice skaters to its kidney shaped rink while in the summer the rink becomes a pool equipped with three fountains. Live music is also played at the park during the summer.
Some tourist attractions downtown include the world famous Strong National Museum of Play and the High Falls entertainment district located just north of the Inner Loop
Inner Loop (Rochester)
The Inner Loop is an expressway that encloses downtown Rochester, New York, in the United States. Although the expressway is a continuous loop, only the portion of the loop north of Interstate 490 is signed as the "Inner Loop"...
expressway. There is also a boat tour on the Genesee River
Genesee River
The Genesee River is a North American river flowing northward through the Twin Tiers of Pennsylvania and New York. The river provided the original power for the Rochester area's 19th century mills and still provides hydroelectric power for downtown Rochester....
. The Mary Jemison Boat Tour cruises the Genesee River overlooking the Rochester skyline giving a tour and history of the area.
Future Developments
It was announced on October 16, 2007 that Midtown Plaza will be knocked down to make way for the new PAETEC headquarters via eminent domain. The new headquarters is expected to be about 4 stories high and will have a LEED-certified rooftop garden. The headquarters will be finished in Q4 2012. Demolition of the old Midtown Tower began on August 1, 2010.There is also a high demand for housing in Downtown Rochester.