The third phase of the Brooks Landing project gets underway next week.
The Flats at Brooks Crossing consists of a 12-story mixed-use building near the corner of Brooks Avenue and Genesee Street. A second 4-thousand square foot, single-story building, that will face Genesee Street, is also included in the plan.
"This is a complete transformation of this neighborhood,” says City Council member Dana Miller, who's been a long-time advocate in getting the project off the ground. “From something that was challenged to something that was, quite honestly, an outstanding example of how a community, government, neighborhood and university partnership can and should work to make our neighborhoods better."
The University of Rochester plans to lease the first 10-floors of the riverfront building to house 170 students. U of R president Joel Seligman says the nearly $19-million project is a good way to integrate the community, housing and retail.
"Every time I come back to this neighborhood, there's more retail, there'll be more housing, there'll be more restaurants. We’re doing this the right way. We’re not done yet.”
The Flats at Brooks project is projected to create 200 construction jobs and 40 permanent ones - once the buildings are finished.
County, city and community leaders broke ground on the project on Friday.
The Flats at Brooks Crossing is slated to open its doors by August 2014.