After several years of saying that he would not support Renaissance Square if it didn't include a downtown arts center, Mayor Bob Duffy said in an interview earlier this week that he could support the project without it.

The arts center would be a magnet to draw people downtown after dark, which would bring much-needed support to other entertainment and dining venues, Duffy said. But after assessing the situation - a $55 million shortfall - he said he could support the project with just a transit center for buses and a downtown MCC campus.

A massive project that does not seem to have the enthusiastic support of the RBA -area's CEO's were "cool" in their response to a recent presentation on Renaissance Square to the Rochester Business Alliance, Duffy said - the city's history of underestimating operating costs for big projects, and Governor David Paterson's push for extreme cost-cutting measures are among Duffy's biggest concerns with Renaissance Square.

Countering criticism for not attending the recent Ren Square theater fund-raising kick-off with County Executive Maggie Brooks, Duffy said that he is not trying to kill the project. But he wants a delegation to go to Albany and meet with state leaders. Calling it "the test," Duffy said he wants to know if there is still support for Renaissance Square at the state level and with US Senator Charles Schumer.

"What I committed to do is accompany the county executive to Albany to get a sense of how sure they are about the project," Duffy said.