University of Rochester Initiates Next Phase toward College Town Development on Mt. Hope Avenue.
The University of Rochester has selected Fairmount Properties of Cleveland as a development partner to move forward on the next phase of planning its College Town project along Mt. Hope Avenue, Ronald Paprocki, senior vice president for administration and finance, announced today.
The project area is the 16 acres on the west side of Mt. Hope between Elmwood Avenue and Crittenden Boulevard.
ÒWe hope to spark the development of a vibrant College Town neighborhood that will serve the University community, the neighborhood, the city, and the Greater Rochester region by providing enhanced amenities in an attractive setting that also will serve as a University gateway.
ÒOver the coming months, the University and Fairmount will assess in more detail the feasibility of the project. The developer and the University will work together with other potential partners in the project, including neighborhood groups and government agencies, to draft a more specific plan, develop a budget and draft a development agreement. If those elements come together, we will continue to advance this initiative with Fairmount. We expect to have greater clarity on our direction by the spring,Ó he said.
Paprocki explained that ÒWe selected Fairmount, in part, because of its experience with complex projects and its deep commitment to work with both the University and with the surrounding neighborhoods to develop a project that we can all be proud of.Ó
Paprocki emphasized that the University considers both the 19th Ward and the Mt. Hope corridor to be integral parts of its efforts to partner in enhancing surrounding neighborhoods, and that the University continues to work with Ron Christensen, the developer of Brooks Landing, on another project.
University President Joel Seligman hailed the progress to date. ÒOur College Town project has tremendous potential, not only to enhance the qu
