Community Name & Location:
Rochester, New York, Monroe County
Challenge:
Renovation of deteriorated industrial buildings into multiple use destinations.
Vision:
Build on the natural and historic assets of the High Falls by revitalizing a complex of abandoned mills and factories as an entertainment and commercial district.
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Revitalization efforts began in the early 1980s, when the City prepared a management plan outlining development of a New York State-designated Urban Cultural Park along the historic Brown’s Race. Building on the heritage area management plan, the City initiated a series of public improvements and established incentive programs to stimulate investment by private developers.
Assisted by funding and in-kind contributions from the City, Urban Cultural Park/Heritage Area System allocations, Environmental Protection Fund grants, and other public and private sources, these projects included street reconstruction and infrastructure improvements along Brown’s Race and Mill Street including a replicated 240-foot raceway; streetscape improvements to develop an identity and create gateways into the High Falls area; acquisition of Rochester Gas & Electric’s maintenance and operation facility through a land swap and ensuing redevelopment of the site into Brown’s Race Market - featuring a 40-foot high atrium, two restaurants, conference and meeting facilities, and terraced decks overlooking High Falls; restoration of the adjacent Rochester Waterworks Building into the Center at High Falls, the heritage area visitor center (the visitor center includes an actual sluiceway visible through an opening in the floor, a replica of the High Falls and Genesee River Gorge, and a plexiglass raceway); redevelopment of the Gorseline Building at the edge of the falls to include office space, a parking garage, and plaza to accommodate parking and public space needs related to High Falls’ revitalization; and converting a historic highway bridge, which traverses the Genesee River and provides spectacular views of the High Falls, to a pedestrian bridge linking parks on both sides of the Genesee River. Financed by federal park grants, the bridge was formally rededicated and improved as a public park, with seating and pedestrian walkway.
Designation as a New York State Empire Zone enabled the City to offer a number of incentives critical to the redevelopment of key properties in the High Falls area. One of the earliest buildings to benefit from these incentives was the historic Rochester Button Factory. Underutilized as a record storage warehouse, this six-story masonry building is being redeveloped into commercial and office space. Empire Brewing of Syracuse established a microbrewing facility and full service restaurant on the first floor, several upper floors have been rehabilitated into office space, and other floors remain warehouse space. Empire Zone incentives have also helped the City attract five other restaurants to the High Falls area.
The City has also developed prospect packages providing detailed information about High Falls redevelopment projects, available properties, building condition, square footage, and available incentives to attract additional investment. One such package has led to the redevelopment of the Gorseline Building. Located at the edge of Genesee River Gorge, this historic shoe factory was rehabilitated in partnership with the City. Partial demolition enabled construction of additional parking and factory space was rehabilitated into new offices. Public improvements sponsored by the City included construction of a terrace and plaza overlooking the river, which is used for special events and festivals. |
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Improvements ongoing. |
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Evaluating feasibility of expanding festival marketplace at High Falls Brewing. |
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With early successes in finding viable uses for abandoned buildings, Rochester's High Falls is becoming a thriving tourist destination by building on its assets.
How/why is this a success?
With sound planning as a guide, the City used creative partnerships, Urban Cultural Park/Heritage Area System allocations, Environmental Protection Fund grants, and other public and private funds to effect change. The city took the lead in redevelopment by completing infrastructure improvements and by restoring some abandoned buildings - setting an example for the private sector to follow.
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City of Rochester, Rochester Heritage Area (NYS OPRHP); Rochester Gas & Electric; private developers; NYS DOS; NYS DEC.
1980s - present
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Larry Stid
Planning Director, City of Rochester
City Hall
30 Church Street
Rochester, NY 14614
(716) 428-6953
stidl@cityofrochester.gov
Kevin Millington
NYS Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources
41 State Street
Albany, NY 12231-0001
(518) 473-2479
kmilling@dos.ny.gov
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