Kathy Turiano is the owner of Joe Bean. They've been on University Avenue for four years.
"When we went to move into the city, this was actually the neighborhood that I wanted to be in, and it has so many positive things about it that I love. But as in every neighborhood, there are things about it that you want to see changed."
For instance, Turiano says University can feel a little bit like a pass through, and it's not very pedestrian friendly, but she has an idea to change that.
"The idea would be that it would be public seating, so it would look more like elevated seating, like stadium seating, and it would include some type of greenery."
Turiano wants to build a little park in the defunct fire lane outside Joe Bean, called the Rochester Parklet. She says it will encourage more foot traffic, slow down actual traffic, and improve the quality of the neighborhood.
The park will draw customers to her business, she admits, but it will also just draw people who are looking for a space to bring their kids, their dogs, their books, their friends, and hang out.
"What I'd really like to see is for this to feel more like a neighborhood."
Turiano and her other partners have been collaborating with the city to use the space. Jim McIntosh is a city engineer. He says if this project is successful, it could be used in other places. He says it's aligned with a vision of making neighborhoods in Rochester more walkable.
"Those kinds of things add more vibrancy and opportunities for walkable communities, and make the city more of a place where people who want that urban experience want to be."
They even have a Kickstarter campaign to raise the $15-$20 thousand the project will cost, and they expect to have it built by spring of next year.
