City of Rochester hopes to secure $10 million to finish Four Corners revitalization project

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The City of Rochester is looking to apply for another $10 million grant from New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative .

As it fills out the application, the city’s Department of Neighborhood and Business Development wants input from area residents and property owners.

The city hopes it can secure that $10 million to target the Four Corners section of downtown — West Broad Street, the Genesee River, the Inner Loop North, and North Fitzhugh Street.

The city received a Downtown Revitalization Initiative Grant in 2022 where $10 million went towards improving the East side of the river.

“So, from Clinton to the river, along East Main Street, you’ll notice some projects are already underway, and those were funded by that project,” City of Rochester Director of Project Development Anne Dasilva Tella told News 8.

Thursday night, building owners, employers, and residents were able to share improvements they’d like to see with the city.

“Often times, the community feels left out unfortunately,” Dasilva Tella said. “We’re constantly doing our best efforts to make sure that it’s not a top-down planning effort. So, we’re hoping to make it more grassroots planning effort.”

Any property owners and developers who missed Thursday’s meeting can submit a Project Interest Form through the City of Rochester’s website until October 2. An initiative and planning survey is also active for input .

Business owners left sticky notes for the city on what they love about the Four Corners:

“The river.”

“The history.”

“The feeling of community with the long-term workers and business owners.”

“We have substantially vacant buildings, lighting influences and hoping that we can research these buildings, revitalize it, bring in residents, bring the workers, restaurants, nightlife, just to really surge this area up again,” Dasilva Tella said.

According to the City of Rochester’s website , if City Council authorizes submission, the city will submit its application to the state. It would then be notified if it was awarded in the Spring of 2025, and applications for business owners and developers to request funding would open that summer.

Work would begin in 2026, if approved.

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