Double Jeopardy for Historic Rochester Church

This article was scraped from Rochester Subway. This is a blog about Rochester history and urbanism has not been published since 2017. The current owners are now publishing link spam which made me want to preserve this history.. The original article was published July 14, 2014 and can be found here.

   "Double Jeopardy" wasn't invented by Alex Trebek. It's actually a procedural defense in our system of justice that forbids a defendant from being tried more than once for the same (or similar) charges. Unfortunately this rule doesn't seem to apply with historic preservation in Rochester. Because the very same owner of this     historic church    at     660 West Main Street

will, for a second time, ask the Zoning Board for permission to demolish the structure to make way for a discount store.

Dawn Noto is president of the Susan B. Anthony Neighborhood Association. She was concerned about the demolition plans in March of 2013 when the Zoning Board blocked them the first time. This time Dawn says the conditions are no different and the City should be working with the owner on a plan to rehab the church building instead of entertaining his plan for a second time...

   This time the site plan needs three variances.

1. Demolition of a DBHV - Designated building of Historic Value needs a variance - proposed is demolition for "discount grocery store". Tenant and a business plan remains a mystery.
2. To build a 17,922 sq. ft. commercial building (6000 sg. ft. is current code)
3. To build set back behind parking lot (0'-5' building setback from sidewalk is current code)

The zoning board will first vote on the demolition variance.

In an online message to Susan B. Anthony neighbors, Dawn Noto said:

Our concerns are the same.    The historic church is structurally sound confirmed with our engineers report done in 2013. It should be re-used.    The SUPER SIZED square box [store] design will permanently impact this historic neighborhood. The 19th century streetscape is largely intact but this [proposed development] would begin a destructive building model that would forever be a detriment to the community.    Traffic patterns and daily delivery vehicles to a very large store will negatively impact the community. A traffic study should be done prior to any approvals.    The property owner owns many commercial properties in the SW and he neglects them. The business model at some of his plaza's are detrimental to the health of the neighborhood (i.e. Liquor Store at Zebs Plaza, 626 W Main St, opened last year has had a negative impact).    The owner also owes over $40,000 in taxes including a $2,000 water bill. He does not have a Letter of Credit from a bank to show he can even financially pay for demo and rebuild. The City could request one under a Major Site Plan review.    Join us on the 17th to speak you opinion on how this will impact you and your neighborhoods. The SW has come so far, we cannot loose our intact 19th century buildings on W Main St. It's our gateway and a better plan that reuses the church is needed. The City's southwest neighborhoods have come so far, we cannot loose our intact 19th century buildings on W Main St. It's our gateway and a better plan that reuses the church is needed.

In related news, RocSubway has attained the following conceptual drawings from an anonymous source who says they were submitted to the City of Rochester sometime last week...

The drawings show what could be a residential adaptive reuse plan for the church and surrounding property with 20 apartments ranging from 700 to 1200 sq. ft.

   This concept would also put new housing at the rear of the property on New York Street.

   With ample parking in the middle of the property.

   Whether residential, or mixed use with some commercial, this plan could allow the developer to take advantage of a significant historic tax credit to rehab and re-use the church -- and he did admit to the     D&C recently

that he would need help with his taxes.

Attend the Zoning Board Public Hearing

The Zoning Board public hearing is this Thursday (7/17), 12:00pm/noon at     City Hall

room 302A.

If you would like to speak at this hearing please call      (585) 428-6526     ahead of the meeting ensure your spot.

If you can't make the meeting, written comments may be submitted by July 16th, 2014 via email to      [email protected]    or:

Jill Symonds
   City of Rochester
   Bureau of Planning & Zoning
   30 Church Street, Room 125B
   Rochester, NY 14612