Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Wendy Sullivan on April 2, 2009 at 11:22pm

I too am wondering about the commitment to rebuild the entire community - not just the predominately white east arty side of the community.

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Permalink Reply by Anthony Fasolo on April 3, 2009 at 3:42am

I'm beginning to feel that as long as things like this continue, there really will not be much serious change here. I think it is incredible after having been told for the past year that because funding is so short, that the city can only concentrate on one or two areas at a time. So now the stimulus funds come through and they throw it at an area that is already well established? That is not demonstrating commitment for the city on the whole.

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Permalink Reply by Glenn Fadner on April 3, 2009 at 7:26am

Unfortunately, traffic to the "arty east side" brings revenue into the City coffers (Park Ave Fest, Clothesline, Memorial Art Gallery, Eastman House, RMSC, etc). Traffic to the 19th Ward doesn't bring in that same level of revenue. It's not RIGHT, but from a purely economic view, when dollars are limited, "investing" there will produce the best ROI.

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Permalink Reply by Margy Meath on April 3, 2009 at 8:12am

So how does the decision get made to spend money in this way?? WHO was involved? What else did they consider in terms of spending money?
Yes, City funds are scarce but money DOES get spent and certainly there is supposed to be a PUBLIC process re: this. It's ridiculous - one neighborhood gets 4 M to improve ArtWalk while we are forced to hold 'sit in's' on a disgusting, crime ridden street as a last ditch effort to do something to make the neighborhood better!

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Permalink Reply by Mark Sweetland on April 3, 2009 at 8:18pm

Yes, Margy, I also wonder who makes these decisions and how and why. I suspect Glenn has part of the answer. Makes sense to me. Unfortunately.

However, why could not they get 3.5 million and we get .5 million? Or a more equitable equation. Even any portion of a million!?

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Permalink Reply by Anthony Fasolo on April 4, 2009 at 1:53am

Honestly, ROI? So the city will let the rest go down the tubes? That is not long term good economics, nor is it any real incentive to attract or keep people here. I don't like to see my home as and investment, because it's my home. However, if the city is not willing to invest in itself equitably when it has the chance, I don't see why I should either. I agree with Margy 100 percent. I made the same comment to Shawn about how ridiculous it is that we have to organize sit in's because we can't seem to get the city to focus it's resources in any meaningful way other than to shift crime elements from one part of town to another. Which now seems like it is Thurston Road's turn to be the catch all. This is disgusting, economics or not. I can't accept that reasoning nor should anyone else who lives in this neighborhood. If the city is only going to approach policy from that stand point, well then I can now understand why people feel the way they do and why they leave so readily.

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Permalink Reply by Shawn on April 6, 2009 at 4:28pm

PRESS RELEASE FROM CITY OF ROCHESTER:

Mayor Robert J. Duffy is pleased to announce that Rochester will receive $3,839,000 for the ARTWalk2 project. The funding comes from $81 million in federal money designated for non-traditional transportation.

“I want to thank Gov. David A. Paterson and the New York State Department of Transportation for designating funding for Rochester’s ARTWalk project, one of only 59 throughout the state,” Mayor Duffy said. “The federal stimulus dollars will go a long way towards creating needed jobs and enhancing the neighborhood.”

The money will be used to construct an extension to the popular ARTWalk urban art trail located in the city’s Neighborhood of the Arts, as well as make improvements to University Avenue. The project’s goal is to extend the success of the existing ARTWalk to the north, south and west, and create a nationally-known pedestrian-oriented cultural destination. It includes:

• Reconstruction on University Avenue to match the sections of the road to the east
• Extended sections of artistic sidewalk trails along University Avenue to the west and Goodman Street to the north and south
• A raised pedestrian crosswalk along South Goodman to create a safe connection between the artistic trail and Village Gate
• A new artistic bus shelter for RTS busses at College Avenue and Goodman Street
• A pedestrian welcome plaza at the corner of University and South Goodman adjacent to the Memorial Art Gallery grounds complete with seating, lighting, iconic public art and interpretive elements

The University of Rochester and Stern Properties, which owns Village Gate, will contribute financially to the project with the commissioning of major art works and artistic elements to enhance the project. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2010.

The project will serve as a major boon for neighborhood revitalization in the way of new businesses and job creation.

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