Comment

Comment by Marian Boutet on November 14, 2012 at 11:49pm

Here are a couple of online petitions you can sign:

http://www.change.org/petitions/help-susan-b-anthony-save-westminst...

http://www.change.org/petitions/the-zoning-board-city-of-rochester-...

Comment by Marian Boutet on November 4, 2012 at 2:22am

If you need inspiration, here are some arguments for the rehabilitation rather than the demolition of this church.
* The church is irreplaceable.
* The church is significant for the Susan B Anthony Historic District.
* It’s preservation is crucial to the fate of the 1878 owner-occupied Victorian residence next door at 644 West Main. The owners are unlikely to stay if they find their home surrounded by stores and parking lots.
* Tax credits for historic preservation are available both from New York State and the Federal Government. Refer to the NYS Historic Preservation Office : Tax Credit Programs http://www.nysparks.com/shpo/tax-credit-programs/ (includes Federal Investment Tax Credit Program for Income Producing Properties).
* There are five dollar-type stores nearby; one only approx. 1200 ft (1/3 of a mile) from the site.
* Chili Avenue is the western gateway to Rochester. Rows of boxy, poorly maintained cookie-cutter stores do not make a great impression, and these stores do tend to become poorly maintained.
* West Main Street and Jefferson Avenue are in the early stages of a renaissance – public money, private money and volunteer hours. The City would be shooting itself in the foot to allow this kind of "development."
* The City should be protecting structures like this one, not allowing them to be torn down for an individual's short-term gain.

Comment by Marian Boutet on November 3, 2012 at 2:41pm

Regarding who represents this neighborhood, I'd have to say  no one, since both of the South District representatives live on the east side of the river.  I don't know if Dorraine Kirkmire and Gary Kirkmire are related, but that would be the way to bet.

Comment by Margy Meath on November 2, 2012 at 8:32pm

I just checked the link you provided Marian. I don't know much about how this group functions but am wondering WHO on the board represents this neighborhood?? I'm also curious as to whether the person listed as the Manager of Zoning is related to the person who holds the title of Director of Inspection and Compliance - they have the same last name.

Current Board Members 

Joseph O'Donnell, Chair	East District
Roseanne Khaleel, Vice Chair	South District
Eric VanDusen	Northeast District
Current Vacancy	East District
Patrick Tobin	South District
Current Vacancy	East District
Current Vacancy	Northwest District
Dorraine Kirkmire (City Staff)	City of Rochester, Manager of Zoning
Zina Lagonegro (City Staff)	City of Rochester, Sr. City Planner
Johanna Brennan (City Staff)	City of Rochester, Municipal Attorney

Comment by Marian Boutet on November 2, 2012 at 6:09pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Zoning Board of Appeals will consider the proposed demolition of the Westminster Presbyterian Church on November 29:

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
NOVEMBER 29, 2012
HEARING TO BEGIN AT 9:30 a.m.
(RESCHEDULED FROM NOVEMBER 15, 2012)
CITY OF ROCHESTER
30 CHURCH STREET

File Number: V-039-12-13
Case Type: Area Variance
Applicant: Marvin Maye
Address: 660-668 W. Main Street
Zoning District: C-2 Community Center District
Quadrant: SW
Purpose: Demolition of a designated building of historic value and construction of a building that exceeds the maximum building size of 6,000 sq. ft.

Contact Zina Lagonegro, Sr. City Planner, at (585) 428-7054 to speak at this hearing.

If you're interested, you can download the complete agenda here: http://www.cityofrochester.gov/zoningboard/

Comment by Marian Boutet on October 30, 2012 at 10:10pm

Below is a map showing the number of dollar-type stores (5!) in southwest Rochester plus the location of the Walmart Supercenter as well as the Tops Market. I haven't made any attempt to map the ubiquitous corner stores.

The message is that we have more than enough of this kind of retail, and that bulldozing an historic church to build yet another dollar store is not in the best short- or long-term interest of the people who live in these neighborhoods.

Once more, here are the officials to write (all are at City Hall, 30 Church Street, Rochester, NY 14614):

* Tim Raymond,AIA, Architect, Bureau of Buildings and Zoning, Room 125 B tim.raymond@cityofrochester.gov
* Tom Richards, Mayor, Room 307A, info@cityofrochester.gov
* R. Carlos Carballada, Commissioner, Neighborhood & Business Development, Room 223B, carlos.carballada@cityofrochester.gov
* Michael Warfield, Chair, Rochester Preservation Board, Division of Zoning, Room 125B, 428-7238 (no e-mail)
* Marcia Barry, Director, Planning & Zoning, Room 125B, barrym@cityofrochester.gov

Comment by Dawn Noto on October 27, 2012 at 10:34am

T.W. Jones Development has filed a major site plan application with the City Zoning that includes the demolition of the church and home at 660 -668 W Main St. The plans are to construct a new 13,800 sf single story retail structure. The church is a Designated Building of Historic Value.

Comments are to be made before NOVEMBER 16, 2012 to Tim Raymond. Email: tim.raymond@cityofrochester.gov or call # 428-7770. 

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