News Blog

Upper Mt. Hope neighbors will get an update on the College Town project from Cleveland-based developer Fairmount Properties on Tuesday. The project, initiated by the University of Rochester, is a 16-acre mixed-used development targeting the west side of Mount Hope between Elmwood Avenue and Crittenden Boulevard.

Plans include a Barnes and Noble bookstore, hotel and conference center, office space, grocery store, and street-level retail with apartments above. The project’s site plan is currently being reviewed by the City of Rochester. The first phase of the project, set to begin next month, is the demolition of three older office buildings on Mount Hope and Elmwood. Construction should begin in the spring, a Fairmount representative says, with a grand opening targeted for late summer 2014. Tuesday’s meeting, which is open to the public, is at 6:30 p.m. at St. Anne Church, 1600 Mount Hope Avenue. — Christine Carrie Fien

The first presidential debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney takes place on Wednesday (October 3), starting at 9 p.m. and broadcast on all of the major networks. The debate site is the University of Denver; the moderator, Jim Lehrer, executive editor and retired anchor of the PBS NewsHour.

Obama leads in the polls heading into the debate; this morning, an average compiled by Real Clear Politics had Romney behind by nearly four percentage points. Obama also leads heavily in Real Clear Politics’ Electoral College projections, which may be a more important measure than the polls.

Organizers for Rochester for Obama 2012 will host a debate-watching party at The Merchants Grill, 881 Merchants Road in the city, starting at 8:30 p.m. Anyone planning to attend is asked to RSVP at this address.
— Jeremy Moule