4th Quarter 1999
Senior Housing Market in Rochester, N.Y.
by Kevin L. Bruckner, MAI
Over the past five years, one of the fastest growing segments of the Rochester, New York real estate market has been the development of various types of housing for senior citizens, i.e. Senior Housing. The two most prevalent forms of senior housing are the Independent Living Facilities and the Assisted Living Facilities, both of which are the primary focus of a study just completed by Bruckner, Tillett, Rossi, Cahill & LeGrett (BTRCL).
In 1999, BTRCL embarked upon a project to survey all of the major independent and assisted living facilities in the Rochester market. This study is intended to assist owners, operators, developers, lenders, real estate professionals, planners and local governments with development and financing decisions for both existing and future senior housing projects in the Rochester metropolitan area.
To our knowledge, this is the most complete and comprehensive study that currently exists on the senior housing market. The study focuses on the major senior housing projects developed within the past ten years and current projects under construction or nearing the final planning stage. Information on amenities, residency rates, occupancy rates, absorption rates and other pertinent market data is summarized in the study. Demographics data provided by Claritas and national comparative data provided by the American Seniors Housing Association is also analyzed and included in the study.
Over the past five years, seventeen new major senior housing projects have been constructed or are under construction in the Rochester market representing over 2,000 new independent or assisted living units. Demographics data indicates that there are over 11,300 households in the Rochester, MSA over 75 years of age which income qualify for market rate senior housing. This is expected to increase by another 800 households by the year 2004. The current market occupancy rate based upon 1,250 existing units surveyed is 98%. The median residency fee for independent units is $1,775 and for assisted units is $3,290. There are 569 units in six new projects on-line or coming on-line in 2000 in Monroe County and another 240 units in two new projects coming on-line in Ontario County. Three more projects totaling over 600 more units are in the final planning stages.
The cost of the 40± page study report is $500 and is scheduled to be updated annually. Information and a copy of the study can be obtained by calling Brenda Conover at BTRCL at (716) 383-4505 or e-mailing us at seniorstudy@btrcl.com.
ECONOMIC & BUSINESS
Bausch & Lomb Inc.-- The company announced that it would slash 850 lens-manufacturing jobs worldwide, including 600 in Rochester. The cuts, which are a quarter of B&L's local work force, represent the fourth major layoff announcement at B&L since July 1995. The company has laid off 4,085 people worldwide and more than 2,000 in Rochester during that time. Bausch & Lomb is aiming to reduce annual costs by $10 million in 2000 and $30 million in 2001 and beyond. A portion of the savings realized from the job cuts will be reallocated to research and development. The company plans to take a restructuring charge of $56 million, or 61 cents a share, against results in the fourth quarter. (12/2)
Paychex Inc.-- Paychex earnings rose 13% in the company's first quarter to $43 million. Service revenue totaled $166.4 million, compared to $139.3 million in the same quarter a year ago, an increase of 19%. The Penfield based payroll processing company matched analysts' expectations by earning 17 cents a diluted share, up from 13 cents in its first quarter of 1999. Paychex plans to roll out its Internet-based payroll services at the beginning of 2000. (9/17)
Assessments-- Figures complied by the city show that the top 12 downtown properties, which range from Bausch & Lomb Inc.'s recently constructed world headquarters to the aging and distressed Midtown Plaza complex, on paper have decreased 34% of their assessed value since the 1994-95 fiscal year. The properties' total assessed value dropped from $300.5 million to $197.8 million, a decline of $102.8 million. Showing the biggest declines in descending order were HSBC Plaza, the Midtown Plaza complex, the Riedman Building and First Federal Plaza, which respectively saw their assessed values drop 70%, 58.8%, 46.9% and 45.4%. The decline came during a time in which area property values as a whole were viewed as holding their own. The total dollars that the owners of these building have paid annually in city property taxes and payments in lieu of taxes have remained more or less stable over the five-year period, ranging from $8 million to $8.8 million. The rate of decline in assessments of top downtown properties has outpaced the rate at which other commercial and residential properties' assessments have fallen. The 34% assessment drop compares with an 8.8% decline in the assessed value of residential properties, a 10.5% decline for all commercial properties and a 9.5% drop in the city's assessed base. (11/12)
Bank Acquisition-- M&T Bank Corp. plans to close five former First National Bank of Rochester branches as part of a consolidation following its acquisition of FNB Rochester Corp. By years end the bank will have 42 branch offices locally, including a new branch under construction at 3208 Latta Road, Greece. The consolidation involves closing the former FNB branches and moving personnel and accounts to nearby M&T branches, which generally are larger and better equipped. M&T employs 576 people in the Rochester area. As of June 30, 1998, the combined banks had nearly 19% of the total market share of deposits in Monroe County. (9/24)
Area Construction-- According to the F.W. Dodge report, nonresidential construction was up 89% from one year ago to $63,642,000 in the Rochester area. Residential building is up 20% to $42,899,000 and total building construction in the area reached $106,542,000. Contracting for new construction declined 5% in July to an adjusted annual rate of $399 billion. The decline for total construction was the result of decreased contracting for housing and public works, outweighing moderate improvement for non-residential building. (9/2)
Home Sales-- According to the Greater Rochester Association of Realtors, a total of 1,109 homes were sold in Monroe County last month, down from 1,404 in August and 1,215 in September 1998. The year-to-date total was 9,034 vs. 8,381 for the period last year. The median sale price last month was $92,500. (10/12) Year-to-date dollar volume of sales for the Monroe County region was $1.1 billion, 8.8% higher than at this time last year. (11/10) Home prices in New York were up 5% on average in the third quarter of the year over 1998. The survey by the state Association of Realtors found the average price paid for houses in July, August and September was $125,193, up from $119,348 a year earlier. The survey covers all of the state except Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx, where there's no formal multiple-listing system. (12/25)
Health Care Construction-- More than $250 million has been spent in Rochester over the last three years to build and renovate health care facilities and equip them with the latest in medical technology. Projects included in the CON report: a new three-story building under construction at Clinton Crossings, St. Ann's of Greater Rochester Inc.'s $22.5 million renovation of its anchor nursing home and assisted-living apartments, the $20 million emergency department project at Strong Memorial Hospital, a $24.3 million overhaul of St. John's Home, Unity Health System's $40 million project to consolidate Park Ridge and St. Mary's hospitals, and ViaHealth's multimillion-dollar outpatient centers in Henrietta and Perinton. Also included is the $31.8 million in construction and technology purchases. Not included in the report is the $73 million Arthur Kornberg Medical Research Building and the accompanying $40 million in laboratory space renovations at the University of Rochester Medical Center. (9/17)
Employment-- The New York State Labor Department announced that Monroe County's unemployment was down to 3.7% in August, up from 3.5% in August of last year. Statewide, unemployment totaled 4.9% in August while the national rate was 4.2%. Rochester labor market analysts stated that most of the area's new service jobs were in computer services, health and hospitals, and private education. The manufacturing sector, including Eastman Kodak Co., Xerox Corp. and Bausch & Lomb, Inc., lost 3,900 jobs during the past year. (9/17)
Transportation-- Oneida Airlines plans to spend almost $340 million to start a Utica-based, 10-jet carrier next summer that would serve dozens of major cities across the United States and connect to international destinations. Onedia has not yet applied for government approval to fly but airline officials said they have retained Avmark Inc., an aviation-consulting firm based in Virginia, to help with its applications. Oneida plans to file with the U.S. Department of Transportation in the next 30 days. Three daily flights between Rochester and New York City would most likely be part of the airline's first round of services. (11/9)
OFFICE
Henrietta-- Gallina Development Corp. has purchased two adjoining properties on Goodway Drive. The total built-out developments will cost nearly $2 million. The Rochester developer plans to build an 18,000 square-foot, multi-tenant building including office and warehouse space on the larger parcel, totaling 2.3 acres. The firm projects development cost of $1,023,000. Rosemount Inc., a process control instrumentation sales operation, is expanding, and will take up one-third of that space. The remainder will be available for lease. The 1.7-acre parcel will house a 15,000 square-foot building with development costs estimated at approximately $900,000. This building is 100% leased. SEA Consultants LLC, an engineering firm, and the distribution arm of Gannett Rochester Newspapers, a division of Gannett Co. Inc, have signed as tenants. The projects are expected to be completed by April 1, 2000. (10/29)
Henrietta-- DialAmerica Marketing Inc., a New Jersey based telemarketing company, is opening a state-of-the-art call center, creating positions for 150 teleservice representatives (TSRs) and 25 supervisors and administrators within a year. The new 6,021 square-foot office, located at 1225 Jefferson Road, The Commons, represents DialAmerica's 65th facility. DialAmerica posted sales in excess of $200 million in fiscal year 1998. (11/10)
Perinton-- The Planning Board is reviewing a request from Bernard Taillie, a local resident, to rezoned an acre of land south of Corporate Crossing Office Park on Sully's Trail from residential to restricted business, which allows for office use. Christa Construction, who owns the 20-acre office park, wants to buy the land from Taillie to build a 10,000 square-foot building. Members of a neighborhood association expressed concern over the rezoning. (11/29)
Pittsford-- Messenger Post Newspapers has moved into its new Monroe County headquarters, at 1 Grove Street in the village. The new site, located in the historic Pickle Factory, replaces the Fishers and Pittsford offices. The move coincides with the opening of the firm's new 28,000 square-foot production facility at 73 Buffalo Street in Canandaigua. The changes were made to consolidate some operations of the newspaper group, created in 1996 when the Canandaigua Daily Messenger acquired the Wolfe Newspapers chain of Monroe County. (11/25)
Rochester-- Pioneer Development Co., a Syracuse-based developer, announced preliminary plans to build a four- to six-story office building on a parking it owns at Chestnut and Court streets. Pioneer also owns the two office buildings surrounding the parking lot - Three City Center, at 180 S. Clinton Ave., and One City Center, at 161 Chestnut Street. The Pioneer building would add to the 9.5 million square feet of downtown office space. Approximately 1.3 million square feet has been added during the past 10 years. (9/29)
Rochester-- Owner Ben Kendig is putting $2 million into the former Gorsine Building, a 45,000 square-foot space he has renamed the High Falls Building. His company, Kend Enterprises Inc., bought the building at 4 Commercial St. from the city for $1 in March 1998. FM Technologies/Pearce Basingr Group, a facilities management, design, and space planning firm, plans to occupy roughly one floor of the 1840s building. Kendig also owns the building on the opposite side of the Upper Falls - a 3,000 square-foot former power plant building. (10/1)
Rochester-- The Wolf Group will move its Rochester office from Midtown Plaza into 192 Mill St., as the principal tenant of the six-story building. Forty-four employees will move into the renovated building on Commercial Street in the High Falls district. Wolf will get naming rights to the 1880s building, located across from Jillian's and the High Falls garage. The company expects to move into the building in May and occupy 15,000 square feet of space on the top two floors. The Wolf Group is a marketing communications network with a total staff of nearly 500. (11/12)
Rochester-- Citigroup Inc. will move its downtown Citibank office from East Main Street, near Stone Street, to First Federal Plaza on East Main near State Street. The move was approved by state regulators. The branch will open in early December and include space for the bank's area commercial loan group. (9/24)
Victor-- An undisclosed buyer paid $1,495,000 for a 28,000 square-foot office/flex building located in the Canning Industrial Park at 7931 Rae Boulevard. The one-story, pre-engineered steel and masonry building was built in 1990 and is situated on a 3.9-acre site zoned for Light Industrial use. (12/99)
RETAIL
Fairport-- Fairport Village Coffee will open at the Village Landing in mid-January. It will be located in the spot previously occupied by the Hunting Horn Tack Shop. The owner, resident Michael Ferrante, will offer gourmet coffees, pastries, muffins, bagels, cookies, and cakes. The coffee shop will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. There will be a limited seating area. (11/24)
Farmington-- Private developer, Don Simmons has submitted a proposal to the Planning Board to build a 36,000 square-foot truck stop on a 21-acre lot at the corner of Route 332 and Collett Road. The Petro Travel Center would include a 24-hour restaurant, computer store, movie room, showers, and laundry facility for truckers and motorist. Plans also call for fueling stations, a convenience store, and maintenance shop for trucks and recreational vehicles. An Ontario County Sheriff's office may also be included in the project. Representative for Eastman Kodak Co. and The Farash Corp. oppose the plans. (11/18)
Gates-- An Imax Theater has opened in the new building next to the Tinseltown USA multiplex located at Buffalo Road and Interstate 490. The theater screen stretches 50 feet tall and 70 feet wide, 17 feet wider than the largest screen at Tinseltown. Seating at the new theater is steeper-than-normal- stadium style, putting the audience closer to the projected image. An Imax film invigorates the senses with state-of-the-art sound, larger-than-life images and dizzying views. Both theaters are owned by Cinemark. (10/28)
Gates-- The Planning Board has approved plans for a 28,000 square-foot shopping center to house Westgate Plaza businesses. Benderson Development Co. will build 5 separate building to replace Westgate Plaza. Once the 17.5-acre complex is completed, Westgate Plaza will be torn down so a 200,000 square-foot Wal-Mart super-center can be built. In exchange for Westgate Park, a new 15-acre park will be built across from Westgate Plaza. (10/27)
Greece-- Developer Anthony Comparato, president of Compson Development Co., was given permission to start preliminary construction on the site of the old Town Hall. Comparato currently leases the property at 2505 W. Ridge Road from Munipro. The site still houses the Mitchell Road Library. Under the lease agreement, Comparato has the option to renovate the library or demolish it. The developer plans to build a retail complex, which could be open as soon as next spring. The project calls for a 24,000 square-foot building and a 3,000 square-foot building. The two buildings would house a total of three businesses, including a bank. (9/30, 11/25)
Greece-- Staples Inc., based in Framingham, Mass., opened its third area store at 1370 West Ridge Road. The 27,730 square-foot store is at the site of the former Lowe's theater; Stoneridge Theater permanently closed its door in December. Staples plans to open a fourth store in Victor early next year. The 24,300 square-foot store will be located in Eastview Commons, adjacent to the Target store, near EastView Mall. (9/24, 12/16)
Henrietta-- Best Buy Co. Inc. has opened a new 45,000 square-foot store at 2345 Marketplace Drive. The store is expected to employ about 150 people. Best Buy has approximately $10 billion in annual sales from its 337 stores in 36 states across the country. The company is projecting sales of $20 billion within five years and plans to add more than 200 outlets in the same time period. (10/13)
Henrietta-- Bill Gray's just opened its newest restaurant in the former Cohoes Plaza on Jefferson Road. This is the chain's largest and most modern store, and Bill Gray's seven other locations are being updated as well. Its newest location includes 11 televisions, a game room and an outside deck. (12/15)
Rochester-- Benderson Corporation announced plans to build a 13,000 square-foot Eckerd, with a drive-through pharmacy, at the corner of Lake Avenue and Ridge Road. Construction would begin in the spring. Benderson has purchased the 1 ˝ -acre site now occupied by an old funeral home on Ridge Road, the Dunn Tire Store at the corner of Lake and Ridge roads, as well as Lee's Oriental Foods and Wub's Tavern on Lake Avenue. The corporation also plans to purchase, and later demolish, three houses on the north side of Parkdale Terrace. (11/9)
Rochester-- West & Co. Jewelers of Webster plans to open a second store at 45 East Avenue. The East Avenue location will be similar to the existing store, except it will lack the manufacturing facility here all West & Co. products are made. The new location will not be open during the evening. (9/17)
Rochester-- Two buildings in the High Falls entertainment district, including the building that houses the Empire Brewing Co. restaurant, have been sold to a group of local businessmen. LLD Enterprises purchased the buildings located at 298 and 300 State Street and will renovate them for potential retail and restaurant tenants. LLD declined to disclose the sale price of the buildings. The deal also included two nearby parking lots. (11/19)
Rochester-- The owner of Gerry's Rochester Club plans to sell his restaurant to the current owners of Portobello Ristorante restaurant on West Henrietta Road in Brighton. The Rochester Club will reopen as Aria, an upscale Italian eatery in the fashion of Portobello. Aria is slated to open in mid-October, along with the ballroom above the restaurant, newly renamed Villa D'Este, which will be marketed for weddings and corporate events. Each occupies 4,000 square feet of space. The two parties declined to disclose terms of the deal. (9/17)
Victor-- Borders Books, Music and Café will open its second area store at EastView Square, the newest plaza in the EastView Mall area. Borders will be one of three retailers at the 75,000 square-foot plaza at the north-east corner of Route 96 and Turk Hill Road. The store will offer more than 200,000 book, music and video titles. (11/18)
Victor-- Benderson Development, a Buffalo-based developer that also owns EastView Square has submitted an application for a 24-hour Wal-Mart superstore. The proposal also includes plans to build 11 other buildings, totaling 570,000 square feet. Those details include: three restaurants, five office buildings, two additional retail buildings, a three-story 20,000 square-foot hotel and parking spaces for up to 2,780 vehicles. Benderson hopes to begin construction on Wal-Mart in the spring of 2000 to open in 2001. The project promises to be a controversial one because the 95-acre project sits within 100 feet of an upscale housing subdivision. Benderson purchased the property for $4.25 million in 1998. (11/10, 11/24)
Victor-- McDonald's wants to open a restaurant at 236 High St. Extension - a private residence since 1940. The building is part of a 30-acre historic area that includes another cobblestone home (built in 1835), Valentown Hall, and the Fisher homestead. The town has rejected informal rezoning requests from McDonald's representatives to have it rezoned for commercial use. McDonald's Corp. had an option, now expired, to buy the property for $625,000. According to town records, as a residential property, the four-bedroom home with a garage and apartment on 2.3 acres of land is assessed at $129,000. (11/15, 11/17)
Webster-- Bruce Hegedorn has proposed building a strip mall on 48 acres near his Ridge Road supermarket. The proposal calls for two main building of 180,000 and 140,000 square feet in size and includes 433,000 square feet in all. Hegedorn has requested approval for the creation of a progressive development district at the site, east of Five Mile Line Road and south of Route 104. If approved, creation of the district would firm up the size of the site's exterior buffers and allow it to be developed in stages. Hegedorn would still need Planning Board approval to actually build. (10/27)
INDUSTRIAL
Gates-- Rotork Controls PLC is expanding is U.S. operations at the Elmgrove Crossings industrial park. The manufacturer plans to construct a $3 million facility in order to increase production and boost its work force here. The new facility will allow the company to move its U.K. subsidiary Rotork Gears to Rochester, headquarters of its U.S. operations. Rotork purchased more than seven acres of land from Gallina Development Corp. (9/24) Gal-Son Development, Inc. commenced construction of a 60,000 square-foot office/manufacturing facility on the 7.4 acre Lot R-16 of the subdivision, to be known as 725 Mile Crossing Blvd. The project will be ready for occupancy in April 2000 and includes office area and manufacturing space. Owner, Rotork Controls, Inc., is a leading manufacturer of electric and pneumatic valves and actuators for the energy, water treatment and paper industries. (12/13)
Gates-- Danka Services International is vacating its 30,000 square-foot space at Elmgrove. The company will move its 250 local employees into roughly the same amount of space in Brighton's Canal View Office Park. DSI expects to move out of Elmgrove by the end of the year. It signed a five-year lease at Canal View with an option to obtain more space. Plans to relocate were set in motion after the parent company laid off or relocated 400 employees who worked at the Elmgrove plant. At one time, the company occupied 217,000 square feet of Building 14. (9/17)
Gates-- Heidelberg Digital, which bought the Eastman Kodak Co.'s former copier business, is in negotiations to buy space at Kodak's Elmgrove site. Heidelberg Digital, a wholly subsidiary of German parent Heidelberger Druckmanchinen AG, is also part owner of a joint venture with Kodak called Nex-Press Solutions LLC, located at Kodak's Hawkeye site on St. Paul Street. The two local ventures employ 1,200 and lease more than 800,000 square feet. Heidelberg is looking to buy approximately 17% of the 5 million square-foot Elmgrove complex or build a new facility in the area. The company expects to complete the project in the first quarter of 2001 and spend $60 million to $70 million on it. (11/12)
Gates-- Gallina Development Corp. and its general arm, Gal-Son Development, Inc., have contacts in place for five building projects, totaling over 145,000 square feet and $7.2 million in total construction cost. In addition, the site improvements for the 140-acre Elmgrove Crossings industrial subdivision are underway. Elmgrove Crossing will consist of 23 industrial zoned lots, ranging in size from 2.7 acres to 6.8 acres, on a total of 89 usable acres. Gallina began construction of a 33,200 square-foot, multi-tenant flex building in July, 1999, on the 3.68 acre Lot 3, to be known as 700 Mile Crossing Blvd. The facility is 50% preleased and will accommodate 3 to 4 tenants ranging in size from 4,400 square feet to 17,000 square feet. The facility will be ready for occupancy in early December, 1999. The estimated cost of the project is $1.7 million. (11/30)
Genesee County-- B.R. DeWitt has been sold to an international construction supplier. The price was not disclosed but Hanson PLC, based in London and Neptune, N.J., paid $72.7 million to buy a group of businesses in the Northeast: privately held B.R. DeWitt Inc.; two DeWitt subsidiaries, and Superior Products Co. of Cleveland and Philadelphia. Hanson's domestic building materials division had $1.28 billion in revenues last year and $212 million in operating profits. B.R. DeWitt was founded in 1923 in Pavilion. (11/18)
Henrietta-- Monroe Tractor has moved into its new two-story, 25,000 square-foot facility at 1001 Lehigh Station Road. The company's new corporate headquarters is east of its previous site at the corner of Lehigh Station and West Henrietta roads. Monroe Tractor does approximately $60 million in business and has 150 employees throughout seven locations in western New York. (10/27)
Henrietta-- Eldre Corp. has received approval for tax-exempt bonds from the County of Monroe Industrial Development Authority to help fund a $3.1 million expansion of its manufacturing plant. The company will receive $181,000 in tax exemptions. COMIDA estimates the 21,000 square-foot expansion will bring about a $328,230 increase in real-estate tax revenue during the next 10 years. The company also plans to add 89 people to its payroll, which currently totals 289. In addition, Eldre is buying 3.5 acres of land behind its Jefferson road plant for added parking and green space. (11/17)
Henrietta-- ADT Security Services Inc. has completed construction of its 44,000 square-foot Customer Care Center. Construction of the $14 million ADT monitoring center began in March. The nine-acre site is located in Thruway Park, a commercial development between West Henrietta and Erie Station roads. Staffing of the regional monitoring center will continue through June 2001 with the eventual hiring of 700 ADT professionals. ADT has operated an existing facility since 1991, which currently employs ~ 300 people. ADT anticipates the new facility will be open and operational by June 2000. (11/24)
Macedon-- A new road within the Monroe-Wayne Industrial Park has been completed allowing the park's owner, Robert Murphy, to open up 153 more acres of the portion of the park on Wayneport Road to businesses. Sixty-one acres on the corner of Wayneport Road and Route 31 have already been developed since the park was created approximately 15 years ago. According to the Wayne County Industrial Development Agency, the road was a joint venture of the town and Wayne County, with the county contributing $100,000 and Macedon contributing another $100,000 worth of services. (12/9)
Rochester-- Pfaudler Inc., a unit of Robbins & Myers Inc. that makes glass-lined equipment for industrial uses, plans to lease 20,000 square feet at the former 3M film-making complex at 1999 Mt. Read Blvd. Pfaudler, who currently employs 320 workers at its 1000 West Avenue plant, will move one division to Mt. Read. 1999 Mt. RB LLC, a new company run by David DelMonte, plans to spend $5 million to redevelop the 350,000 square-foot infrastructure at 1999 Mt. Read Boulevard into an industrial park. (11/5)
Rochester-- Rochester Gas and Electric Corp. plans to begin demolition of its former operations center at Front and Andrews streets within the next few weeks. The complex, which abuts the Genesee River has been vacant since 1994. The site will be converted into a parking lot, but RG&E intends to use to be temporary. In a 1992 memorandum of understanding between RG&E and the city, the utility agreed to demolish the Front Street structure and, at some later point, build a riverfront promenade. The agreement also calls for a land swap in which the city would trade Front Street for a comparable stretch of land directly abutting the river. (11/5)
Rochester-- Genesee Corp. is working on a deal to sell the Genesee Brewing Co. to Platiunum Holdings. Platinum Holdings bought the former Heileman brewery in La Crosse, Wisconsin for $10 million last summer. If Platinum Holdings takes over Genesee, it would move some production of its high-end products to the Wisconsin plant. The brewery employs approximately 470 workers here. It is unclear how many jobs, if any, would be lost if the sale is completed. Pabst Brewing Co., the nation's No. 4 brewer, announced it has reopened discussions to buy parts of the brewing operations. Genesee Corp is the nation's fifth-largest brewer, with sales of 1.5 million barrels last year. Net sales for the company's core Genesee Brewing Co. were $103.3 million in 1998, down 11.9% from the prior year. (12/2)
Victor-- Ontario Design Inc., a local exhibit marketing specialist, has been purchased by Exhibitgroup/Giltspur for an undisclosed amount of money. By the first of the year, the 16-year-old company, located at 580 Fishers Station Drive will move its operations and approximately 70 employees into Giltspur's Rochester facility at 1143 Lexington Avenue. Exhibitgroup/Giltspur currently employs approximately 50 people. No jobs will be lost as a result of the sale. (9/27, 10/13)
RESIDENTIAL
Canandaigua-- Thompson Health is building a $18.5 million senior living complex. The 132-unit complex called Ferris Hills at West Lake is located between West Lake and Middle Cheshire roads. It is slated to open in the first quarter of 2001. In addition, Chrisanntha Inc. is building a 108-unit senior complex called Quail Summit on Parish Street Extension near Routes 5 and 20. The construction company plans for residents to move into the apartments in fall 2000. The complex also includes units for early stage dementia and Alzheimer's patients. (11/19)
Fairport-- The Fairport Baptist Homes, located at 4646 Nine Mile Point Road, is requesting 1.4 acres on East Whitney Road be rezoned from single-family residential to the multifamily residential zoning needed to build senior apartments. Fairport Baptist Homes hopes to build three duplexes on the site. The proposed apartments would house independent seniors 65 or older and would include 2.5 bedrooms, kitchen, living room, dining space, bathroom, attached garage and small patio space. Rent would range from $1,500 to $1,700 a month. The Village Board has scheduled a public hearing to give residents a chance to comment on the proposed project. (9/29, 11/10) The application to rezone the parcel on Whitney Road received Planning Board and Village Board approval. As part of the approval, the Village Board voted on a conditional law, stating that the rezoning is only approved for the development planned by Fairport Baptist Homes. (12/15)
Farmington-- Oakwood Companies received Planning Board approval to build a proposed 104-unit complex with a low-interest loan from the Geneva Housing Authority. Oakwood obtained the loan to build Fairdale Glens Apartments, an affordable housing for low to moderate-income families at the 45-acre site off Route 96 near Hook Road. (11/5, 12/7) The Town Board turned down funding approval for the Fairdale Glens Apartments. The Board decided Oakwood Companies should develop the land with other developers, without financial incentives. In addition, they questioned the need for more rental housing in the Farmington area. (12/8)
Farmington-- Farmington Builders has submitted an application to the Planning Board to build a new golf course and senior housing on approximately 285 acres of farm and open land. The land is located on Route 96 between Payne Road and County Road 8, and borders the Lehigh Valley Railroad tracks to the north. Plans indicate that there could be up to 100 senior housing units. In addition, golf course features included a driving range, pro-shop, future pavilion area, snack shop, and parking spaces for more than 400 vehicles. Farmington Builders want to use cluster zoning, which requires giving back something to the town such as open space. (12/9)
Farmington-- A purchase offer has been accepted for the two-story home at 246 Mulberry Drive. The proposed group home for men with developmental disabilities is one of 10 residences the Ontario ARC plans to open over the next two years. Ontario ARC, a nonprofit organization that serves over 700 developmentally disabled people and their families in Ontario County, will open five homes this year with grants from Gov. George E. Pataki. State funding is a $30,000 grant for each resident to be used toward the purchase price of the home. Between $150,000 and $175,000 is available to open the Farmington home. Ontario ARC will also apply for additional grants to open five more group hones by April 2001. Each home will provide housing, meals, companionship, and 24-hour supervision for four to six adults. (11/5)
Greece-- Lifetime Assistance Inc., has submitted a proposal for turning an existing house at 70 Brandon Circle into a home for six developmentally challenged adults. According to the plan, a clinical staff would offer 24-hour services to the residents. Currently, approximately 20 group homes are in Greece. This is the fourth group home proposed in the town in the last two years. (12/16)
Henrietta-- Providence Housing Development Corp. broke ground on affordable housing for seniors called West Town Village. The center will be located between Thruway Park Drive and West Henrietta Road and will be a two-story building with 43 one-bedroom and 16 two-bedroom apartments. The building will also offer consultation rooms, a lobby and lounge area, management office, meeting room, a small public kitchen, library, laundry room, and a crafts room. West Town Village will serve seniors age 55 and older at 50% of the area median income. The maximum income for an individual would be $17,700 and $20,250 for a couple. Construction is expected to be completed by October 2000. Providence has obtained a low-interest, 30-year loan of $1,770,000 from the New York State Housing Trust Fund. The New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal has approved low-income housing tax credits for the project. Monroe County is providing a $350,000 loan to the project. The Greater Rochester Housing Partnership and Chase Manhattan bank are providing construction financing. (11/10)
Penfield-- Chrisanntha Inc., developers of Ellison Heights Senior Apartment complex, have received Planning Board approval to build their proposed 8-story towers between Penfield and Old Penfield roads. The revised plan calls for building one seven-story and one eight-story structure, with a total of 199 units and 24 townhouses. Debate over the project dates back to 1997. (10/20)
Penfield-- The Planning Board has received the recently -completed environmental impact statement of the proposed Mayer Farm subdivision. Plans for the subdivision, located on the east side of Five Mile Line Road, just north of Plant Road, call for 170 homes on the 110-acre site. The main concerns regarding the development are drainage and traffic. The draft was only one of many steps needed to obtain Planning Board approval. (12/1, 12/15)
Perinton-- The developer, Michael Kieffer of Blackwatch Trail, has submitted plans for a 13-lot subdivision on 7.4 acres, called Farm View, located just south of Mill Road. Pending Planning Board approval, Kieffer plans to buy the 7.4 acres of property from Anthony Cerame. (9/15)
Pittsford-- The Town Board is recommending that a group home for developmentally disabled adults be located at 148 Mendon Center Road. The group home would be operated by the Easter Seals Society of Monroe County and would house six developmentally disabled men. Due to the increase in the number of group home applications, officials have instituted a new policy of asking agencies to make a PILOT (pay-in-lieu-of-taxes) payment totaling what would be paid in town, school and county taxes. According to the town assessor, the taxes paid annually on the Mendon Center Road home are $2,355.99 for school, $372.50 for town, and $786.20 for county. (12/15)
Rochester-- The apartment building, located at 615 Clarissa St., is ready for occupancy. The three story, 50-unit senior citizen complex is part of the $7 million Frederick Douglass Village. The village also includes 23 single-family homes. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $3.7 million to the senior citizen complex, including $800,000 to subsidize the rents. Unity Health Systems will mange the complex for two years, after which the Frederick Douglas Housing Fund Development Corp. will take over. To qualify to live in the complex you must be at least 62 years old and have a yearly income of no more than $17,700. Residents must also be self-sufficient. Each apartment contains one bedroom, a living room, kitchen, and a large bathroom. (11/29)
Sweden-- Residents are concerned over Crystal Ridge Development, a proposed $100 million planned community to be built on nearly 300 acres of Lake Road. The 800-unit residential complex would boost the town's population an estimated 2,200 people or 25%. The development would comprise 456 apartment units, 116 townhouses, 193 single-family homes, and 38 senior citizen duplexes build over a 20-to-25- year period. The developer, Al Spaziano, submitted plans to both the Planning Board and Town Board for approval. Construction is at least one year away. (11/18)
OTHER
Brockport-- Ralph and Joyce Dollinger received approval to open a 40-room Holiday Inn Express on South Lake Road. The County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency granted the project $57,854 in sales and property tax abatements. The county anticipates the hotel will generate $327,638 in property taxes during its first 10 years in operation. The hotel will cost about $1.8 million to build and could bring 10 full-time and 10 part-time jobs to the county within three years. Brockport has one other hotel, a 39-room EconoLodge on Route 31. (10/20)
Canandaigua-- The city has received state approval for $24,400 in easement for Steamboat Landing restaurant project on the north end of Canandaigua Lake. The easements, for water, sewer, and electrical lines, needed the OK from state lawmakers because the work will be done at Kershaw Park, which is public land. Developer, Chris Iversen is part owner of Royal Lines Ltd., which operates the Canandaigua Lady tour boat. The conference center, to be built on land east of the Canandaigua Outlet off Lakeshore Drive, will be 12,600 square feet with an additional 1,300 square feet of deck space. The restaurant will set 135, and the Steamboat Landing kitchen will cater meals for Canandaigua Lady passengers. Ivensen has received $2.1 million in financing help from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (10/7)
Canandaigua-- The Board of Supervisors approved the long-range planning process for a new jail for Ontario County and bonding for the first $1.5 million. The 240-bed project will become part of the county's Capital Improvement Plan, with a cap of $25 million. Including principle and interest, the total cost with 20 years of bonded payments would be $47 million. County finance officers stated it would cost more money to not build a new jail because of renovations needed at the main jail on Ontario Street and the cost of housing out inmates to other jails. The architectural contract for designing the jail has not been awarded. (11/19)
Greece-- Plans to build the new 35,000 square-foot library on the Town Hall Campus, 1 Vince Tofany Blvd., are on schedule. Construction of the building will begin in March 2000. The $3.5 million facility will replace the Mitchell Road and Patty Hill libraries, which are scheduled to close in June and October, respectively. (11/18)
Irondequoit-- Lockport Savings Bank has filed applications with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the state Banking Department to open a branch in Georgetown Plaza, 1000 East Ridge Road. The Niagara County-based bank expects to open the office in December in space formerly occupied by First National Bank. It will be Lockport Savings' first Rochester-based branch and its 20th overall. (10/13)
Mendon-- The Town Hall restoration project was delay by stipulations from the Planning Board and the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to reconstruct a retaining wall between Honeoye Creek and the 108-year-old building. The delay & added demands raised the cost of the project from $82,470 to $120,470. The total amount of the contract for the Town Hall restoration project is $160,000, and federal funds will pay for ~ $90,500. The state Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation will pay ~ $6,500 and the town will pay $63,000. The restoration project completion date is set for December 31. (9/28)
Perinton-- Canandaigua National Bank & Trust will open a branch in the former M&T Bank location in Perinton Square Mall the second week of January. The branch will be the fifth one opened in the last year. Canandaigua National is the only local full-service commercial community bank in the region, with 750 to 800 shareholders throughout the county. (12/1)
Perinton-- Construction of the new retail post office at the former location of Perkins Family Restaurant, on Route 31, is expected to start in December. The Postal Service originally had intended to add 11,000 square-feet to the existing 6,000 square-foot Ayrault Road site, but town officials stated it was too much for that location. Once the former Perkins site is renovated, the Ayrault Road site will close to the public and will serve primarily as an in-house facility for letter carriers. (9/29)
Rochester-- Mark IV Construction's plans to build an upscale complex of apartments, extended-stay hotel suites and retail shops in the East End cultural district have stalled. The company has yet to secure financing for the seven-story building, estimated to cost $10 million to $12 million. Cultural Center Commission has declined to further extend a contract with the developer that included the East Avenue property and a $1.5 million low-interest loan. The Commission is reviewing other proposals for development at the site. The site is adjacent to the East End parking garage and is within walking distance of the Eastman Theatre and a collection of popular bars, restaurants, and shops. (11/2)
Rochester-- The University Club building at 26 Broadway is undergoing renovations to become a 25-room inn and restaurant with conference-room accessibility. Upstate National Bank is working with several investors to develop the project. Plans call for more than $1 million to be invested in renovations that include building a second kitchen and a handicapped-accessible entrance. The inn will offer 25 overnight rooms on the top two floors of the tour-story, 30,000 square-foot building. LeCesse Construction Co. is doing the first phase of the renovation project. (10/15)
Rochester-- City Council approved a $350,000 proposal to create a water sports center at Genesee Valley Park. The preliminary plans include new boat launch ramps and docks, bike paths and walkways, and the conversion of a maintenance facility into a waterway center. The city will take on debt of $250,000 to finance the largest portion of the project. It will also use a $100,000 grant from the state Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. Council also approved a $45,000 contract with Cavendish Partnership for the design of the project. The plans are expected to be completed in October. Construction is to be completed by May 2000. The project is part of an effort to revitalize the city's Genesee River waterfront. (9/16)
Rochester-- Lake Ontario Fast Ferry Inc., the venture hoping to launch two vessels linking Rochester and Toronto in 2001, plans to form a U.S. corporation and move its base from Toronto to Rochester once a launch date for the ferry service is secure. LOFF would employ approximately 300 workers, including crews for the two ferries, on-shore personnel to man facilities in Rochester and Toronto, and support staff at the Rochester headquarters. (11/2)
Rochester-- The old Rochester Hotel, a 91-year old building at West Main Street and Plymouth Avenue is scheduled to come down on December 18th. The former hotel is being demolished to make way for a parking lot. (12/17)
GENERAL
Farmington-- The state Department of Transportation has begun a $26.4 million expansion of Route 332 from a two-lane country road into a divided, four-lane highway. The project involves the relocation of gas and oil lines, and electric, telephone and cable utilities. All utilities that use the road's right-of-way, which is owned by the state, must be moved at the expense of the utility company. The relocation of phone lines alone will cost Frontier Telephone of Rochester more than $3 million. The reconstruction project along the 7-mile stretch of land is expected to take two years to complete. (7/21)
Henrietta-- The amount of commercial space currently vacant in the Henrietta is down approximately 100,000 square feet from two years ago, when the figure peaked at 569,000. About 10% of land - or approximately 12 million square feet - is developed for commercial or retail purposes. (9/15)
Henrietta-- The Monroe County Fair and Recreation Association has agreed to sell 28 of the 78-acre fairgrounds site in an attempt to increase revenue and remain at the corner of East Henrietta and Calkins Road. The group hopes to net $1.4 million for the land. Money has been a major concern for the Association, a nonprofit organization. Selling a portion of the fairgrounds is only part of the bigger plan. The Association is trying to raise money through government grants and private donations to rebuild the fairgrounds. (11/17)
Phelps-- An $80,000 study to find out whether adding a Thruway interchange in the northwest corner of the town off Route 88 should be completed by June 2000. The Federal Highway Administration is covering $40,000 of the study costs. Ontario County and Wayne County are also paying $15,000 each, and the town of Phelps and villages of Phelps, Arcadia, and Newark are collectively pitching in $10,000 for the study. If the study shows an additional interchange can be supported, a more detailed study, including design, possible funding sources, and environmental issues, must be conducted before a final decision is made. (10/11)
Rochester-- The New York state Department of Transportation has decided to build a steel arch bridge to carry Interstate 490 over the Genesee River, part of an I-490 reconstruction project form the Erie Canal on the city's west side to the Genesee River. The project, which will begin in the summer of 2001, is projected to be complete by 2005. The total length of the $85 million Western Gateway Project is 3.5 miles and includes the replacement of the present bridge over the river. (12/6)
Rush-- The Town Board has approved the purchase of 10 acres of land owned by Frontier Corp. for $39,900. The land, on East River Road just north of Route 251, includes two baseball fields. The acquisition will not affect town taxes. The town will pay for the fields with money from a recreation fund, which has accumulated approximately $53,000 in new-home construction fees over the years. The town had leased the fields from Frontier for $1 a year with an option to buy the property when the contract expires in December. (9/29)
Victor-- The Town Board approved development guidelines designed to protect the Valentown Museum and the historically significant buildings in the High Street Extension. The 19th century museum and the Fisher homestead are on the state register of historical places. Two other buildings sit on the 14-acre site. The plan provides developers with specific guidelines for any project proposed in that area. (9/15)
