The Town of Henrietta is looking at ways of repositioning older retail buildings in the area to attract new types of investment.
Town Supervisor Steve Schultz says officials have been working on updating the zoning code to allow for more mixed-use development, and that was even before he learned of the possibility the University of Rochester may put in a new orthopaedic center in Henrietta.
Details are few at this point, but Schultz says he has heard that could create a significant number of jobs, and that Marketplace Mall and the former golf dome at Hylan Drive and Calkins Road are under consideration.
Schultz says a facility like that could attract related businesses, and other facilities.
“A lot of this older, commercial space, retail space that could be used, whether it’s for retail, office parks, medical, even in places where the infrastructure will support it, apartment complexes, mixed right in,” Schultz told WXXI News.
Schultz says Henrietta is working to re-zone parts of the town, including an area south of RIT, to help promote more mixed use development.
“One of the things that has always frustrated me is you have this incredible talent coming out of RIT and they set up shop elsewhere; I’d love to see these companies stay here in town.”
UR Medicine officials say that their orthopaedics work has seen significant growth in recent years, and they are exploring multiple options, but that it’s too early to make any further comment.
There have been rumors Ikea, the popular furniture retailer, might be interested in locating in Henrietta, maybe even at Marketplace Mall, but Schultz has heard that's not likely to happen in the near future.
