Posted by In 2014, downtown Rochester’s urban revitalization was just beginning. The East side of our Inner Loop expressway was being filled in, a project designed to create 800,000 square feet of developable space where there was none before.
But in the heart of downtown, change was also abundantly afoot. Midtown Tower, formally a part of Midtown Mall (which was demolished in 2009) was being completely re-imagined as luxury apartments in an effort to create renewed interest in Flower City living. Part of the project included the construction of Elm Street, which did not previously exist.
Fast forward to today, Midtown Tower is now Tower 280. The space at the foot of this tower is now known as The Grove, which features a host of high-end restaurants and a wine bar. Thanks to the Google Maps feature where anyone can “look back in time,” this is what The Grove looked like 11 years ago from Elm.
On the left, the former Midtown Tower stands empty. In the middle, the former headquarters for Xerox and the tallest building in our city stands out. The construction of Rochester’s downtown future is evident throughout this image.
This is The Grove today. Home to Branca, Patron Saint, Unwine’d and Dice Versa, this pedestrian-only stretch of downtown Rochester is thriving. During the warm weather months, the outdoor seating creates a buzz that makes this formally barren stretch feel alive. The establishments themselves cultivate unique dining experiences that tantalize the senses.
Eleven years might seem like a long time, but in the urbanist world, it is an eyelash. The Grove is an example of how thoughtful space planning can elicit a new vibe in a space that was once derelict. Sometimes we can forget the progress we’ve made, but Google Maps give is the ability remind ourselves of how far we’ve come.