What's the DOT's pushback against painting the 4.5 foot lanes with cycling designations? Seems like a pretty minor thing to put its foot down about, especially if the community wants it.
What a great article. Good to hear from someone with a holistic vision for Rochester.
What has become clear to me since I left the city I love, and have not only lived in but visited countless other cities, is that Rochester needs to stop with the divisiveness and actually DO something. I get it: we're afraid to make the wrong decisions and later regret them. I'm not saying to act without doing due diligence. But Rochester spend so much time spinning its wheels and dickering back and forth about projects that nine times out of ten they stall. And nothing happens.
Meanwhile other cities with similar histories - like Cleveland - are making changes for the better. The Gallina proposal looks promising, and could add a lot to downtown. Stop expecting any one project to solve every problem Rochester has - poverty, racism, classism, income gaps, lack of enthusiasm, subpar downtown destinations, etc. If this proposal can begin bridging any one of these problems, without causing dire harm elsewhere, isn't it a good bet?
I expect a little more from City Newspaper on this one. What's your assessment? Is it worth it? Is there any justification? Can Rochester effectively compete with places like Orlando and Vegas that are routinely bringing in huge tradeshows and conferences? Or, can Rochester compete with the next tier? As someone who has been to tradeshows in those cities (particularly Orlando) - blech. We can do better. If you can become a business conference destination city (maybe), there's money to be made - but travelers need a reason to come to Rochester NY. Is a big convention center enough? Doubtful... is there any plan to market Rochester as a "package deal" convention city? With attractions, family-friendly activities, history, etc.? Doubtful. City, give us more than the announcement, here. What's the value? What's the outlook? What's needed to make this successful, and can it happen?
As someone who recently moved to Boston from Rochester, I have to question the need for Whole Foods in Rochester. My Whole Foods experience has been that the food is overly expensive and the variety is lacking. Frankly, Rochester has a great grocery chain in Wegmans, as well as additional natural food options in Trader Joe's and Lori's Natural Foods. I can't understand how that corridor needs another grocery store, and the navigation in that area is already awful. My advice to Rochesterians from Boston: appreciate what you have. Wegmans is awesome - and try Lori's or Abundance Food Cooperative if you want a change of scenery.
At first, I thought this headline said "Porsches." And I had less sympathy.
Re: “Mt. Hope braces for big build”
Man, Rochester. Five stories is too high? This is a big reason why economic development is so difficult in this city. We have to be a little more open-minded about development/growth or nothing will change.