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F11Roch
Jan 25, 2007, 8:32 PM
This is very good news and is a sign that they are finally going to start to push housing for the High Falls District. The city for years has subsidized attempts at turning the historic district into an entertainment corridor. But without a local cache of residents it failed to really take off. Hopefully this is just the starting point.

Plans for $17 million High Falls project unveiled

Brian Sharp
Staff writer


January 25, 2007 2:42 pm — While housing is the main thrust of a $17 million development proposed for High Falls, the project architect said the plan also is to replicate the trendy, revitalized Gibbs Street along what today is a barren entrance to the historic district.

The Mills at High Falls, set to rise on an Eastman Kodak Co. parking lot on the east side of State Street, includes 80 apartments and townhouse-style units. Rents would range between $700 and $1,200. But a number of commercial shops are also planned along Platt Street.

"If you want a comparison, we want to see if we can make it like Gibbs Street, with a Java Joe's on either side," said architect Roger Brown, who previously worked on the mixed-use Corn Hill Landing development on Exchange Boulevard.

Brown and other officials unveiled the project during a news conference today at the Center at High Falls. The development is a partnership between Kodak and the Urban League of Rochester.

Plans show both underground and interior surface parking as well as a courtyard, surrounded by three buildings. There are 48 one-bedroom and 14 two-bedroom flats in an L-shaped, three-story apartment building that will face State Street and rise atop the commercial space along Platt Street. Filling out the remaining space is a mix of 18 two- and three-story townhouse units.

Some units will have fireplaces and balconies. Kitchens will include stainless steel appliances. Two-bedroom units will have washer-dryer hookups. The building will be wired for high-speed internet access, documents show.

Brown said the building design is meant to reflect the historic buildings of the area as well as the warehouse-style, urban feel of the neighboring Button Factory building.

Designs unveiled today also included a concept for the commercial block immediately north of The Mills project. That property also is owned by Kodak. No further details were released today. Kodak spokesman John Richardson said only: "We're not finished yet."

BDSHARP@DemcoratandChronicle.com

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CBBC
Jan 25, 2007, 10:11 PM
very nice. :tup:

Halovet
Jan 26, 2007, 10:36 AM
High Falls is looking up!:)

F11Roch
Jan 26, 2007, 4:22 PM
Living the 'High' life downtown

Projects to bring about 90 units to Falls district

Brian Sharp
Staff writer

(January 26, 2007) — Local dignitaries celebrated the unveiling of designs for The Mills at High Falls Thursday, then left the news conference and walked past two other properties that are being redeveloped for housing in the district.

For an area that has only a handful of apartments, the prospect of more than 90 new units in the next few years is dramatic.

The Mills — at $17 million and 80 units — is by far the biggest. Construction should begin this fall and be completed in the spring of 2009.

Renovations of the other two buildings, the Parry Machine Building and the neighboring Parazin Building, both on Mill Street, will add at least a dozen more lofts and $2.5 million more in investment.

But that is only scratching the surface of downtown-area housing development, said Heidi Zimmer-Meyer, president of the Rochester Downtown Development Corp.

The downtown area currently holds about 2,400 housing units with 210 or more under development.

"Downtown has now become a funnel point for suburbanites moving back into the city," Zimmer-Meyer said. "We're so excited we can hardly stand it."

The Mills is a partnership of Eastman Kodak Co. and the Urban League of Rochester. Kodak donated the 1.3-acre property, which has served as its visitors parking lot on the east side of State Street between Platt and Factory streets. The Urban League's economic development arm will develop and manage the property, using any profit to help support the nonprofit group's various community programs.

Plans show an L-shaped, three-story apartment building fronting State and Platt streets, offering 48 one-bedroom and 14 two-bedroom flats. A mix of 18 two- and three-story townhouse-style units front Mill and Factory streets. Rents would range between $700 and $1,200.

The interior of the block would include a private courtyard for residents and surface parking, adding to underground parking for a total of 140 spaces.

Street-level commercial space along Platt Street could become several shops or be leased to a single business. The idea, said project architect Roger Brown, is to replicate the trendy, revitalized Gibbs Street on the East End. Brown was the architect on Corn Hill Landing.

He said The Mills' design is meant to reflect the warehouse-style, urban feel of the Button Factory building to the south as well as the turn-of-the-century buildings just to the north. Designs unveiled Thursday included a concept for revitalizing that existing commercial block to the north. Most or all of that block also is owned by Kodak. No further details were released, however. Kodak spokesman John Richardson said only, "We're not finished yet."

Getting The Mills financing and expenses to line up has been challenging enough, officials said. Richardson said he first got involved in the project about five years ago when then-Kodak CEO Dan Carp asked him to "do something" with the visitors parking lot. Not long after, Richardson said, he met his friend Sal LaBella for lunch and brought up his challenge.

"This is across from Kodak's world headquarters," he recalled thinking. "This has to be good."

LaBella, he said, barely hesitated before sketching a housing plan for the block very similar to what is proposed now, even though he was not involved in the project. LaBella is president of the LaBella Associates architecture and engineering firm. He said Richardson's predecessor had come to him as well, about three to five years earlier, and he already had a file developing.

"When we met with John I said, 'Yeah, I've got something I have to show you,'" LaBella said.

BDSHARP@DemocratandChronicle.com


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buffalo716
Feb 6, 2007, 4:34 PM
Its nice to see that Rochester has some new housing going up. Here in Buffalo, I'm still waiting for something newer than 1983 to be developed (rather than old building renovations). Too bad those townhouse style apartments aren't going to be condos, but its an excellent development.

gripja
Feb 12, 2007, 7:33 PM
yea good news, not bad looking either. Now maybe Kodak can do some real good and start hiring people for a change. Maybe they can turn the Corporate headquarters tower into condos. I'm joking, this is very good news, I like how the street level is going to be commercial -- That is exactly more of the kind of development that I believe Rochester needs, a good mix of commercial and residential. Now if Spitzer comes to save the day and bring some more good jobs in... well we'll wait and see.