According to the City, Rochester has seen slow but steady residential growth. While people still move out, the addition of new, quality apartments and condos has resulted in a 1% population increase in each of the last dozen years. While this isn’t earth shattering news, a steady improvement is important.

Perhaps, after this long period of gradual growth, downtown development may be poised to take off. There appears to be a flurry of development plans for the High Falls area which would prove invaluable in filling the inevitable vacuum caused by the vanishing Eastman Kodak company.

There are plans now to develop the building at 350 State Street at Factory Street (the old Plummer Supply building), a Frankfort Street warehouse (north of Kodak Tower), number 40 Jay St. and the Jackson Saw and Knife building at 517 State. In addition, the Button Factory on State st. anticipates growth of its tenant, ShoreTel Inc. ShoreTel intends to add 40 to 60 employees in the next six months and take over all remaining leasable space. It is reported that city officials are planning to announce a new tenant to fully occupy the Trolley Barn, the former Jillians. This comes on top of existing housing growth estimated at more than 100 units in recent years.

This is great news for the City of Rochester. Sometimes there comes a tipping point in urban development where the momentum of new ideas, plans and construction have the power to overcome old habits and prejudices. This broad, expansive array of development might just be that tipping point. While High Falls is a fair distance from the other center of prosperity and growth in the city- the East End- the fast expansion of commercial and residential construction might provide opportunity and motivation for other developers to begin to fill in the gap. Remember too, the center point between these two areas is the river. Riverfront development almost always ends up providing the best, most desirable commercial and residential development in any city.

Let’s hope these new plans are supported, funded, and succeed. They may be the tipping point for a rapid rejuvenation of the City of Rochester!