Winter / Spring, 2009

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renaissance, n., ren-uh- sahns - a renewal of life, vigor, interest, etc.;
rebirth; revival

To those who know Rochester from years
back, Main and Clinton was the epicenter of
the community right up through the 1960s.
But like many cities in America, urban
sprawl has set in.

Today, our epicenter is practically
abandoned, and that attitude radiates
strongly throughout the area.

There is a solution. It has already been met
by community enthusiasm. It is the largest
development project in Monroe County’s
history. And here and now, we are bringing
a great vision into sharper focus…one that
will soon become reality.

An exciting joint development project that
combines a transit center, an urban college
campus and a performing arts center in the
heart of our city. It will recreate downtown
Rochester and enhance our community’s
economic, educational and cultural vitality.

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LEGAL NOTICE

ROCHESTER GENESEE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO BE HELD ON APRIL 22, 2009 PURSUANT TO SECTION 1299ii OF THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES LAW AND SECTIONS 201-204 OF THE EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEDURE LAW IN CONNECTION WITH THE RENAISSANCE SQUARE DEVELOPMENT.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing, open to all persons, will be held on April 22, 2009 at the Hyatt Hotel, 125 East Main Street, Rochester, New York, 14609, commencing at 7:00 p.m. (doors and registration will open at 6:15) by the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (“RGRTA”), pursuant to Sections 201-204 of the New York State Eminent Domain Procedure Law (“EDPL”) and Section 1299ii of the New York State Public Authorities Law, to consider the proposed acquisition by condemnation of certain property, as hereafter described, in furtherance of the construction of Renaissance Square, a joint development project with Monroe County, Monroe Community College and the City of Rochester that will include a transit center, a community college and a performing arts center (the “Project”) in the City of Rochester, County of Monroe and State of New York. 

The purposes of the public hearing are to review the public use to be served by the Project and the impact of the Project on the environment and residents of the locality where the Project is proposed to be constructed, pursuant to Article 2 of the EDPL, and to give all interested persons an opportunity to present oral or written statements and to submit other documents concerning the Project and the acquisition of property to be acquired.

The public purposes of the Project include: (1) allow RGRTA to efficiently manage its transit hub and satisfy the operational and administrative needs of RGRTA and other carriers; (2) enhance the experience of mass transit users by increasing safety, efficiency, connectivity and support services; (3) promote the Center City area of Downtown Rochester and act as a catalyst for new construction, economic revitalization and provide additional social and community benefits; and (4) improve facilities and programs for the MCC downtown campus.

Project Location and Description

The Project site consists of portions of the area in downtown Rochester bounded by East Main Street, Clinton Avenue, Pleasant Street and St. Paul Street.  The Project site consists of 21 separate tax parcels occupied by 15 buildings, as well as two surface parking lots.  It also includes two one-block long streets that cross the Project site – Division Street and Mortimer Street.  Portions of Division Street will be abandoned and demapped to allow development of the Project, and Mortimer Street will be closed to through traffic.

The Project includes the construction of a mixed use development known as Renaissance Square in the City of Rochester.  The Project will consist of a new, five-story multi-use integrated building that includes three major elements including a central transit hub for RGRTA; a new downtown campus for Monroe Community College, including classrooms, laboratories, library, learning/media center, faculty offices, counseling, career services; and a downtown performing arts center with approximately 2,800 seats, a box office, back-of-house, support space and administrative offices.  In addition, the Project will also include minor circulation improvements for local streets; restoration and repairs to two adjacent historic structures (the Granite and Edwards Buildings); and streetscape elements.

Proposed Property Acquisition

The proposed property acquisition involves the exercise by RGRTA of its power of eminent domain, either with or without negotiated agreements, to portions of the site described as follows:

Receipt of Comments

All persons having an interest in the Project are invited to attend the public hearing to give oral or written statements and to submit other documentation concerning this proposed publically needed project.

ACCORDING TO EDPL §202(C)(2), THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO MAY
SUBSEQUENTLY WISH TO CHALLENGE THE CONDEMNATION OF THEIR PROPERTY VIA JUDICIAL REVIEW, MAY DO SO ONLY ON THE BASIS OF ISSUES, FACTS, AND OBJECTIONS RAISED AT THE HEARING.

Comments on the Project and the proposed acquisition may be made orally or in writing at the public hearing on April 22, 2009, or presented in writing to RGRTA’s address shown below on or before April 29, 2009.  Comments received after the close of business on April 29, 2009 will not be considered.

Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority
Attn: General Counsel
1372 East Main Street
Rochester, New York 14609

                                                                        By:______________________________________
Harold M. Carter, Jr.
General Counsel

Dated: April 6, 2009

Project Partners Launch Next Phase of
Renaissance Square with Special Thanks

Project Partners Launch Next Phase of Renaissance Square with Special Thanks

(Mar. 10, 2009) -- A 48 feet long and 14 feet high sign marking the location of Renaissance Square downtown was unveiled in a ceremony today before project supporters and community officials.

The sign reads:

Future Home of Renaissance Square
Special Thanks to Max and Marian Farash and the Farash Family
for Donating This Building

The sign is bolted to the Gateway Centre at 150 E. Main Street and will remain affixed to the building until demolition for Renaissance Square begins.

Today’s sign unveiling also included a special recognition of Max and Marian Farash for their generosity. Developer Max Farash donated the building to the county.

“We are very grateful to the Farash Family for its generous donation and support in what promises to be a dramatic transformation of this entire block," said County Executive Maggie Brooks. "This sign validates and signifies the realization that the construction of Renaissance Square is set to move forward and create jobs for the residents of our community."

The project has secured final environmental approval from the federal government and is now beginning final design.

Renaissance Square planners are in the process of surveying and appraising the properties at the project site. Most of the buildings are vacant and deteriorating. Renaissance Square will replace them with a $230 million transit center, Damon City campus for Monroe Community College, and a new Performing Arts Center.

Demolition is expected to begin in the fall.

RENAISSANCE SQUARE ‘TEMPERATURE’ GOING UP
Thermometer notes gain of $9.5 million

                                                                                         Contact:Mike Power
329-7158

(Mar. 6, 2009) – The Renaissance Square thermometer is rising. The thermometer tracks the progress of fundraising for the project.  In a ceremony today, project leaders conditionally added $9.5 million to it, increasing the total raised for the project to $184.5 million.

The fundraising thermometer is located in front of the Auditorium Theater, 885 E. Main St.  The Renaissance Square project includes a new downtown performing arts center at the corner of East Main Street and Clinton Avenue, a transit center, and a new Damon City campus for Monroe Community College.

The $9.5 million is in the process of being committed.  Half is in SUNY funds in Gov. Paterson’s Executive Budget for MCC.  That $4.75 million in the state’s budget awaits approval by the state Legislature.  The other half is in local funds already approved in Monroe County’s Capital Improvement Fund.

When the state budget is approved, the pink color added to the thermometer today will be changed to red.

“This continuing collaboration between the state and county will achieve construction of all three elements of Renaissance Square and generate thousands of jobs,” said County Executive Maggie Brooks.  “We thank the governor for his recognition that this and future investments by the state will provide jobs and an annual $15 million economic stimulus to Rochester.”

The potential $9.5 million total allows Renaissance Square to shift a like amount of federal project funds toward construction of the performing arts center (PAC).  A private fundraising drive is also underway in support of the PAC.  Total cost of Renaissance Square is $230 million.

Renaissance Square Finding of No Significant Impact
Notice of Availability

Summary
This Notice announces the release of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the Renaissance Square project in Downtown Rochester, New York  as required under the Council on Environmental Quality regulations, FTA regulations under 23 CFR 771.119(d), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969.FTA is serving as the Lead Agency for the purpose of NEPA review in conjunction with the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority’s (RGRTA) request for FTA funding of this project.

FTA based its FONSI upon the project’s Environmental Assessment (EA), which was published on December 8, 2008, as well as public and agency comments received during the EA comment period. Following publication of the EA, FTA and the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA), accepted written comments on the EA during the public comment period, which ended on January 16, 2009. FTA and RGRTA also hosted a public hearing on the EA on January 9, 2009, at which members of the public provided oral comments recorded by a stenographer. FTA has provided responses to relevant comments in Attachment A of the FONSI.  The FONSI also includes FTA’s finding of de minimis impacts under Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966.

The following links to chapters and appendices of the EA are in PDF format and requires the FREE Acrobat plug in. (Download FREE viewer here).

Cover letter from FTA to RGRTA dated 2-17-09
- Executed FONSI dated 2-17-09
- Attachment A to FONSI, Summary of Comments and Responses
- Attachment A1 Part 1 – Transcript of public hearing
- Attachment A1 Part 2 – Written comments
- Attachment A2 – Info about Project Revisions in Spring 2008
- Attachment A3 – Letter: Landmark Society of Western NY 8-26-08
- Attachment A4 – Supplemental Info on Analysis of Bus Operations
- Attachment A5 – Supplemental Info on Traffic Impact Assessment
- Attachment B – Programmatic Agreement executed 2-17-09

Availability
Viewing locations for the FONSI are listed below.  The document can also be downloaded from the project web site at www.renaissancesquare.net  or the RGRTA web site at www.rgrta.com.

RGRTA
1372 E. Main Street
Rochester, New York 14609

Federal Transit Administration, Region 2 Office
One Bowling Green, Room 429
New York, NY 10004

•  
• Rundel Library
• 115 South Avenue
• Rochester, New York 14604
•  

City of Rochester Department of City Planning
30 Church Street, Room 010A
Rochester, New York 14614

Monroe County Department of Planning and Economic Development
50 West Main Street, CityPlace
Room 8100
Rochester, New York 14614

Monroe Community College
Leroy B. Good Library
1000 E. Henrietta Road
Rochester, New York 14623

Rochester Downtown Development Corporation
100 Chestnut Street
Rochester, NY  14604

•  
• Andrews Terrace Association
• 125 St. Paul Street
• Rochester, New York 14604

Supplementary Information
RGRTA, in cooperation with the County of Monroe, Monroe Community College (MCC), and the City of Rochester, proposes to construct a mixed-use development known as Renaissance Square. The project site is located in Downtown Rochester and includes portions of the blocks bounded by East Main Street, North Clinton Avenue, Pleasant Street, and St. Paul Street. RGRTA would acquire 20 properties; demolish 15 buildings on the project site; eliminate surface parking lots that occupy five parcels; and construct a new mixed-use building with a central inter-modal transit hub to primarily serve the RGRTA’s Regional Transit Service (RTS) buses and intercity buses operated by Greyhound and Trailways, a Performing Arts Center, a downtown campus for MCC, public open space, retail space, and ancillary transit facilities. The project would also include minor circulation improvements for local streets, restoration and repairs to two adjacent historic structures, and streetscape enhancements.

RENAISSANCE SQUARE
MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND SECTION 4(f) EVALUATION

PREPARED BY
US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION

IN COOPERATION WITH
ROCHESTER GENESEE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

DECEMBER 2008

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) have released the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed construction of Renaissance Square in Downtown Rochester, as required under the Council on Environmental Quality regulations, Federal  Transit Administration (FTA) regulations under 23 CFR 771.119(d), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, the State Historic Preservation Act (SHPA) of 1980, and Executive Order 12898 for Environmental Justice.
RGRTA, in cooperation with the County of Monroe, Monroe Community College (MCC), and the City of Rochester, proposes to construct a mixed-use development known as Renaissance Square. The project site is located in Downtown Rochester and includes portions of the blocks bounded by East Main Street, North Clinton Avenue, Pleasant Street, and St. Paul Street. RGRTA would acquire 20 properties; demolish 15 buildings on the project site; eliminate surface parking lots that occupy five parcels; and construct a new mixed-use building with a central inter-modal transit hub to primarily serve the RGRTA’s Regional Transit Service (RTS) buses and intercity buses operated by Greyhound and Trailways, a Performing Arts Center, a downtown campus for MCC, public open space, retail space, and ancillary transit facilities. The project would also include minor circulation improvements for local streets, restoration and repairs to two adjacent historic structures, and streetscape enhancements.

This EA has been prepared in conjunction with RGRTA’s request for FTA funding of this project. The FTA is serving as the Lead Agency for the purpose of the NEPA review, and the RGRTA is serving as the Lead Agency for the purpose of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA).

Environmental Assessment
The following links to chapters and appendices of the EA are in PDF format and requires the FREE Acrobat plug in. (Download FREE viewer here).

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
Table of Contents
Notice of Clarification
Executive Summary
Chapter 1: Purpose and Need
Chapter 2: Project Alternatives
Chapter 3: Land Use, Zoning, and Public Policy         
Chapter 4: Socioeconomic Conditions
Chapter 5: Visual and Aesthetic Conditions
Chapter 6: Community Character
Chapter 7: Historic Resources
Chapter 8: Transportation
Chapter 9: Air Quality
Chapter 10: Noise and Vibration        
Chapter 11: Infrastructure, Solid Waste, and Energy
Chapter 12: Natural Resources
Chapter 13: Contaminated Materials
Chapter 14: Construction Impacts
Chapter 15: Indirect and Cumulative Effects
Chapter 16: Commitment of Resources          
Chapter 17: Safety and Security
Chapter 18: Environmental Justice
Chapter 19: Process, Agency Coordination, & Public Participation
Chapter 20: List of Preparers
Historic Resources Correspondence
Draft Programmatic Agreement
Natural Resources Correspondence
State Environmental Quality Review Environmental Assessment Form

APPENDICES
Appendix A: Planning Context
Appendix B: Socioeconomic Conditions
Appendix C: Historic Resources
Appendix D: Transportation
Appendix E: Noise and Vibration
Appendix F: Contaminated Materials

Public Viewing Locations
The EA can also be viewed at the following locations.

Public Hearing
FTA and RGRTA will hold a public hearing on:

Thursday, January 8, 2009
Hyatt Regency Hotel, 125 East Main Street, Rochester, NY
6:30PM to 8:30PM with a brief presentation at 7:00PM

A stenographer will record all public comments made on the EA at the public hearing. The hearing will include a brief presentation on the project and other informational materials.

Written Comments
Written comments on the Environmental Assessment will be accepted by RGRTA until 5:00 PM on January 16, 2009. Public comments regarding impacts to historic resources under Section 106 of the National Historical Preservation Act (NHPA) and the State Historic Preservation Act (SHPA) will also be accepted. Please send written comments to:

Renaissance Square Environmental Assessment
c/o RGRTA
1372 East Main Street
Rochester, NY  14609