Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Margy Meath on July 15, 2011 at 9:00am

Any updates on Boulder?? It looks very quiet in that 'new' space!

 

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Permalink Reply by Joan Roby-Davison on July 15, 2011 at 9:43am

I saw Lyjha a few days ago - they are planning to re-open at the end of July or beginning of August.  When I looked through the windows earlier this week, it appeared that they were still doing some work on equipment.

 

The tables appear to be in place, though, and they should be open soon!  As soon as I have a date, I'll post it. 

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Permalink Reply by Ken Maher on July 16, 2011 at 8:36pm

Unfortunately, Joan, the current state of things just increases the communal agita to see the place closed that was already a ghost of our hopes and still has the "Boulder" brand broadcast into the intersection and to see the promised new location still with the large "Available" sign in the window, as if anybody could just come along and rent the corner we'd been assured would be the new Boulder. It's been hard enough knowing that both of these corners had become only shadows of what we'd hoped, but now to spend  weeks driving by seeing no encouraging signs of promised change there is far more depressing than we deserve during this unhappy transition. Anything you can do to make this property transfer more joyful for the neighborhood would be greatly appreciated. Frankly, my anger about this is refueled every day of the week. That's not a criticism of you, Joan, so please pass it on to wherever I don't know. Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Marian Boutet on July 18, 2011 at 3:23pm

I hear via the usual mechanisms (hint, rumor, and innuendo) that the promised pizza restaurant is another ghost.   Is that true? 

 

What of California Rollin', whose sign was in the window for many  months? 

 

Any news at all of other businesses for that space? 

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Permalink Reply by Joan Roby-Davison on July 18, 2011 at 4:03pm

Subway has signed a lease.  Napa Wood Fired Pizza is not going in, but my understanding is that the building developer is still working on a pizza place.  And, California Rollin' is still planned (but I don't know the status of their lease).

 

I'll do my best to find out what other businesses have committed (as in signed a lease).  I promise - as soon as I know anything, I will share the information!  I believe that they may have one space still uncommitted - he was trying to get a service oriented business like computer repair, but I do not know how that's going.  If you have any ideas for the remaining spots, feel free to pass them along to me, and I'll get them to the developer!

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Permalink Reply by Margy Meath on July 18, 2011 at 6:03pm

Joan- the following comment is not directed at you, so please don't take any of it personally.......

EDITORIAL COMMENTS: So Mr. Boulder's (aka Elijah's) past statements of moving to a smaller space and supporting NAPA pizza didn't happen. As I recall from the 'community meeting' about the sale of the original Boulder building, Elijah accused 19th ward residents of being 'rigid' and essentially said he was moving across the street so he could 'fill up' (or words to that effect) the building including with Napa Pizza. He painted a 'win win' picture!  So, now - Boulder sits empty while the Park Ave Boulder is up and running.

And god only knows why we need another Subway..... there is one on Chili and one on Mt. Hope. Their food is marginal at best! 

It is very disappointing to see what has become of this corner!

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Permalink Reply by Judi Baker on October 20, 2011 at 7:05pm

Oops don't forget the Subway over on Scottsville Rd. by the 390 ramps.....Looks like we got Subway's like we had Rite-Aids a few years back.   Deja Vous They were popping up every couple of months with a bunch of promises they never kept either until some uncomfortable nudging took place.

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Permalink Reply by Marian Boutet on July 18, 2011 at 9:43pm

To reiterate and reinforce Margie's message, none of this criticism is directed at you, Joan.  You had the misfortune to arrive on the scene after the poop had begun to hit the fan.

 

The individuals to whom it is directed are quite understandably keeping a low profile!

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Permalink Reply by Ken Maher on July 19, 2011 at 7:23am

Very well put, Marian. That whole event of smoke and mirrors, during which we were accused of anti-Semitism and of not having the true interests of the community at heart, remains a sore memory. And none of these developments are soothing the ache.

 

PS--I think Great Northern Pizza would be a great addition to the space.

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Permalink Reply by Doris Meadows on July 19, 2011 at 2:44pm

 

As most of the neighborhood knows I regard the Boulder fiasco as a major disaster for the community on so many levels. The history of it began with a community meeting to have a voice in development and a major consensus that a community coffee shop was a good start. That project was embraced by the community in connection with the restoration of the corner Carr's building and the vision of URBAN BREW.  Many funds were raised from our Community Association ($10,000), the City, Rochester Community Foundation and many others including 19th Ward families. The bricks were symbols of these donations. My family bought 4 ($400) which turned out to be the worst investment we ever made.  We thought we were investing in a community coffee shop not a bar ,bistro,  painfully loud music and ultimately a cash cow for a greedy entrepreneur who never had the slightest interest in or response to our vision of a community coffee shop space. I tried many many times to try to suggest ways the community could contribute to such a space but as we heard it was HIS business and he would do as he pleased which he did. I remember the contemptuous smile when I said I wanted my bricks and money back at the Columbus Day charade. For the record I went to the scene of the crime many times and the workmen said the bricks would be taken down. I asked that my 4 be returned to me since I did not want them in the new BISTRO which had nothing to do with Urban By Choice and will not be a place I patronize. In fact it has only proven that the community has had no choices beginning with the ill advised sale to an ambitious investor without the values of our community beginning with diversity(--were piercings, tattoos and resilient ear drums a job requirement?) I want my bricks back and  Dana Miller has not responded to my phone messages.

There are some much bigger issues here about the failure of community based planning and political representation.  We need to learn from this failure. We have had an empty store space for years because of developer greed. Many interested businesses have had to give up because of the outrageous costs of setting up and rent compared to other locations. It is more expensive than the investment locations chosen for the hundreds of thousands of dollars of profit made on the sale of our coffee shop. Think bottom line. It can be empty because the U of R space still brings in money. In spite of promises of a restaurant with the hotel we are now faced with a dorm building to even be considered for a restaurant. It appears that U of R is the only local  force to be served.

In the what went wrong analysis Sector 4 leadership is central. The initial sale was clearly a big mistake and the decision to let it become an exclusive and exclusionary religious place was catastrophic. Politics trumped community friendly policy. Most of the people who voted for the sale did not live in the ward.  In short the original vision for a community coffee shop was hijacked and wrecked.

I never saw and don't see now any community wins now or in the future.( Isn't there a Subway at U of R already?)

My current vision is to win the Lottery and to build a coffee shop/bookstore/community meeting place and maybe a restaurant across from St Monica's and owned by the Community.  We need a miracle.

 

Doris Meadows

 

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Permalink Reply by Diane Watkins on July 27, 2011 at 11:39am

Thanks for the smile Delores, if I win the lottery first, your plan is a go.

Joan, any hope for a national retailer? Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Mart, a Chico's for us ladies? or maybe a soup & salad spot. These companies are still growing despite the poor economy.

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Permalink Reply by Joan Roby-Davison on July 27, 2011 at 2:35pm

Diane :

 

We are certainly working to find either regional franchises or national franchises for Brooks Landing and other areas in the South West.

 

The location directly across from St. Monica's is part of a proposed new grocery & take-out restaurant that would be locally owned and operated.  This would be a tremendous win, as most of the south west (except for a small portion of the 19th Ward) is in what is considered a food desert without an adequate grocery with fresh produce & other products.  (Chico's would be high on my list, too!)

 

I met last week with a resident who would like to have an ice cream shop, and I suggested that she consider partnering with a soup & salad shop so that she would stay busy throughout the year (not my idea originally - I stole it!).

 

I'm happy to add any and all suggestions to my growing list!  And, we'll be putting in a proposal to the state soon, related to Bulls Head redevelopment.  Let me know if you have ideas for businesses to go there (a mid-sized grocery store like Aldi's, for example?).  

 

I can't change or undo past decisions, but am committed to move forward to see redevelopment where the community wants to see it, and to be sure that community involvement is incorporated into our work.  To that end, the board of directors of Sector 4 CDC now includes representatives from the neighborhoods it serves (we have one vacancy at this time that we are working to fill).  And I attend as many community meetings as possible to listen to concerns. 

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