The City of Rochester is starting its search for developers for the Inner Loop East project.
Baye Muhammad is the Commissioner of Neighborhood and Business Development. He says they have an idea of what they want for the area, including mixed use buildings with housing and retail.
"We also want to focus on the element of play, to complement the Strong Museum. And really the focus is to strengthen neighborhoods and create jobs in the community."
Muhammad says they are holding public meetings within the community, because they value the input.
"All the ideas that we come up with in the city, are not necessarily totally driven by city hall or our staff. It's important that we always involve the public in everything we do."
Residents, business owners, and developers attended a public meeting on Tuesday at noon to give feedback about the project and see renderings of the area's possible development by two consulting firms.
Wanda Buggs says she's not convinced that using the space for housing will spur economic development.
"Because its not really employing anyone, a significant amount. It's employing maybe 10 people and that's not going to help the poverty in Rochester.
Ken Greene has his own ideas about the project. He's a developer.
"I ask myself, What would have happened if the Inner Loop was never built, and this property had been developed over the last 60 years naturally and organically? How do you develop something that would feel as if, if you were driving through it, that it was always here?"
The inner loop is still owned by the New York State Department of Transportation so there's no telling how much the parcels of land might cost or what the exact time line will be, but the city is putting out a request for qualifications to attract developers in late February.
