News Blog

Leaders of the EMMA neighborhood association say that they expect to see a new concept for what has been a controversial housing project slated for East Main Street at a meeting tonight (Tuesday, July 26). The meeting is at 6 p.m. at the RGRTA building, 1372 East Main. 

Home Leasing originally proposed a 76-unit apartment complex on East Main between Mustard and Palmer streets in Rochester's East Main, Mustard, and Atlantic Avenue neighborhood. But many EMMA residents didn't like that 57 of the proposed apartments would've been one-bedroom units; the struggling neighborhood needs families, owner-occupancy, and stability to turn itself around, they said.

EMMA has its own plans for the project site that include development more fitting to a major thoroughfare that's an important gateway to downtown, they said. EMMA President Dorothy Parham cited clothing and shoe stores as examples. 

The original concept was unanimously rejected by the city's Planning Commission in June, but Home Leasing said it'd be back with a new design. Earlier this month, Home Leasing development manager Megan Houppert said that the new concept may consist of three buildings with townhouses. And there would also be more two- and three-bedroom units, she said. 

EMMA's leaders dropped off the following letter to CITY on Tuesday morning, prior to the meeting. This is not the entire letter.  

EMMA Doctrine