There's a lot of development happening in downtown Rochester. That’s according to Buckingham Properties' CEO and Managing Partner Larry Glazer.
"The problem is things take time, big ships turn very slowly."
Glazer says there's about a half of a billion dollars’ worth of development projects being worked on in the city.
Buckingham Properties plans to renovate the old Midtown Tower into a mixed-use, residential and retail complex. Glazer says the Rochester area is on the “radar screen” of many national retailers.
"There is no shopping area between Greece and Pittsford that is significant - in terms of critical mass and the ability to put larger stores in with parking, with people around it. So this represents a very unique opportunity and it's one that we are trying to capitalize on."
Glazer says Buckingham Properties is scheduled to close on the acquisition of the Midtown Tower on December.
Glazer gave the keynote speech at the Rochester Regional Community Design Center's annual award ceremony on Thursday.
The event recognizes initiatives and projects that impact the Rochester community and region.
The organization presented 6 Reshaping Rochester Awards to local associations and organizations. They include the Centennial Sculpture Park at the Memorial Art Gallery, the South Wedge Planning Committee and Richard DeSarra for his advocacy for improving bicycling conditions in Rochester. The Rochester Schools Modernization Program, the Perry Project and the Joseph Avenue Business Association received honorable mentions.
The Regional Community Design Center also announced that it’s awarding $20,000 in grants to three Rochester organizations through its Development/Design Fund Program. They include Changing of the Scenes Neighborhood Association, Coalition of Northeast Associations and North Winton Village Association.
The fund was established to be a catalyst for revitalization in distressed Rochester neighborhoods