BY CAROLEE CONKLIN

After more than 40 years in a large house in Maplewood, where I raised four children, I moved into an apartment right alongside the Genesee River.

I never tire of looking at the Genesee. Some days it seems calm and serene, other days it appears cold and foreboding. Whatever its appearance, our river has been at the core of Rochester's history and has said a lot about our city.

For many years, the river was largely hidden from public view, and was often treated as a dumpsite for raw sewage and chemical waste. Symbolic of previous business needs, the river was lined with power plants, factories, an oil refinery, railroad lines, and other economic "engines."

In recent times, our perception of the river and its value to us has changed. This shift is partially the result of dedicated residents - such as the recently deceased Bill Davis, who encouraged us to "Re-discover the River" - and major economic forces that made many old structures obsolete.

With the assistance of design professionals who put on paper the visions of our residents, we've developed extensive plans for much of Rochester's riverfront. Much of that planning is now coming to fruition, and we're rebuilding neighborhoods and learning to enjoy the waterfront.

At the southern end, the Brooks-Genesee project is replacing several under-utilized buildings and has developed new linkages to the University of Rochester across the river. A new coffee shop, a hotel, and an almost completed commercial building will breathe new life into our southwest neighborhoods.

Farther north along the river, Corn Hill Landing, once home to freight lines and parking lots, now contains apartments, excellent shops, and beautiful public river frontage for biking, jogging, and enjoying concerts.

Still farther north, at what is now referred to as High Falls, the historic core of Rochester was home to several mills. Countless building owners and uses later, several of the structures were abandoned or near collapse. Today, with partnerships from thoughtful developers, state funding, and the Urban League, a whole "new old" neighborhood is emerging.

Nine residential projects - with about 255 units - are under construction downtown, and nine more, with about 260 units, are proposed. Many of these units are becoming home to empty nesters like me, or younger working singles or couples who enjoy the downtown experience. Smaller niche retailers will naturally follow a growing residential base.

In Charlotte, we have high hopes for the Port of Rochester. In the not-too-distant future, we may see additional waterfront residences, shops, marinas, a hotel, and public spaces.

All of this progress along our community's river didn't happen easily, without missteps, or overnight. If we've learned anything in City Hall about redeveloping the corridor and the rest of the city, we've learned to involve the community in community decisions.

Sometimes nationally rated design firms may lend prestige, but as we learned after a previous rendering of the Port was unveiled, the design may be unpopular with residents and may be wrong for Rochester.

Another mistake I hope we've learned to avoid is ignoring what the private market will support. Taxpayer money cannot and should not build everything along the river. City Hall may offer stimulus incentives, such as help with basic infrastructure or applications for federal environmental clean-up funding.

But much of the construction and operation - the shops, the residences, and the restaurants - must be market-driven and self-supporting. Market forces did not sustain an entertainment district at High Falls, and other uses are emerging.

Historic, long-term demographic trends may work in the city's favor. As the 75 million baby boomers age and retire, large numbers of them will choose a different lifestyle, in part based upon walk-able neighborhoods and smaller lawns. Within the overall plans determined by our community, we need to ask what developers think will work at a specific site. How much private money will be put into a project?

A third mistake we need to avoid is the occasional public bemoaning that "we can't get anything done here." As in every community populated by us mere mortals, sometimes things just don't work out.

But if our river experience has taught us anything during the past 175 years, it is to determine the best interests of our community and agree on the best means to get there.

Southern Tier native Carolee Conklin is an at-large member of the RochesterCity Council. She has been affiliated with Rochester city's government since 1974, serving previously as Deputy City Treasurer, Deputy City Clerk, and City Clerk.