Project Strategy and Goals

• What is the City's economic development strategy for the site and what are the specific goals for this project?
• How will City and State leaders measure success?

Relocation/Vacating of Existing Tenants

• When will all the businesses be out of the buildings?
• How many businesses had to be closed as a result of this project?
• How will the new project support retailers on the site?

Money

• How will the $55 million be spent?
• How much will the total project cost and where are the funds going to come from?
• How will the City and the State make sure these funds go to local firms and local workers?

Site & Buildings

• What will the buildings look like and where will they be located on the site?
• Are any of the existing buildings on the site going to remain, such as the Tower?
• What are the plans for buildings surrounding the project site (Cadillac Hotel and Citizens Bank)?
• How will the project address the historic character of the site, and has State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) made a final determination on whether site is eligible for the National Registry?

Traffic, Garage, Parking & Skyway

• What is the future of the garage?
• Where will people park once the Midtown Garage closes?
• Where will all the PAETEC employees park?
• Will new parking be built on the site?
• Will Broad and Clinton switch from one-way to two-way streets?
• What is the future of the skyway system?

Dates & Schedule

• When will PAETEC begin constructing their Headquarters building?
• When is the first public meeting when the community can see renderings of the site alternatives (options) being considered?
• When will the garage reopen?

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)/Economic Development

• Has PAETEC picked its preferred footprint? If so, where is it?
• Is PAETEC receiving any funds from the $55 million from the State or the $6 million from the City?
• What are the terms of the deal with PAETEC?
• When will other developers have the opportunity to present proposals for site development?

Public Input

• What specific opportunities will there be for the public to be engaged in the decision making process?
• How will the public receive information about these opportunities and is the website the only means to receive information about the project?

Advisory and Stakeholder Committees

• What is the purpose of the Advisory Committee and how were the members selected?
• What is the purpose of the Stakeholder Committee? How were the members selected?
• When will these groups be meeting and are these meetings open for public participation?

Other

• What will we do if PAETEC decides not to do the project? Is there a plan B?
• What if the site takes longer to fully redevelop? What will the site look like during the transition period?
• What if Renaissance Square and Midtown Plaza begin construction at the same time?
  
  

Project Strategy and Goals

Q. What is the City's economic development strategy for the site and what are the
specific goals for this project?

A.The Midtown Project is part of a long-term strategy for re-creating Downtown Rochester as a place to live, a center of commerce and a center of arts and culture. It is Public/Private partnership among the City of Rochester, Empire State Development (ESD), and PAETEC Holding Corporation ("PAETEC").

Q. How will City and State leaders measure success?

A. Generally, we will look at how the redeveloped site and surrounding parcels generate measurable economic impacts to the City, County and New York State through job creation, private investment, increased tax base and return on investment. Specifically, we will look at the direct economic impact of the project:

PAETEC Holding Corporation

• $150-175 million/500,000 sq. ft. headquarters & operations building (estimated)
• Retain PAETEC's 750 Rochester employees
• Create 700-800 new jobs at the new location
• The Gilbane firm of Rhode Island is PAETEC's selected developer

Development of remaining parcels for a mix of uses:

• Residential
• Hospitality
• Office
• Retail
• Mixed Use

We will also look at the indirect economic impacts of "Re-Creating Downtown," such as by affording opportunities for private sector investment to:

• Support new residential projects in surrounding sites
• Support the value of the existing buildings, which have not been maintaining their tax assessment
• Develop new and retain existing corporate "center of commerce"
• Re-establish Main Street development opportunities for retail, arts, culture & education
• Create vibrant public space

Relocation/Vacating of Existing Tenants

Q. When will all the businesses be out of the buildings?

A. All tenants will be out of the main buildings by July 31, 2008 with three exceptions: Clear Channel, Trailways and Minute Man Press will be out by the end of the year.

Q. How many businesses had to be closed as a result of this project?

A. The City is working with 29 businesses currently looking to relocate within downtown. Approximately 15 additional businesses will be closing and the remaining businesses are undecided. In addition to the relocation benefits available to the Midtown tenants under the Federal guidelines, the City created a grant program to offer additional assistance to those businesses relocating within the City. A complete status of all the tenants can be found on the tenant status list on this website.

Q. How will the new project support retailers on the site?

A. We expect the site to support new retail opportunities and we are currently working on the market research which will help us understand how much new retail can be supported on the site. It will be measurably less than the existing mall, yet will be designed to compliment new and future development uses of the site. Further information or inquiries about these opportunities should be directed at Stephen Golding at the City's Economic Development offices at 585-428-6895.

Money

Q. How will the $55 million be spent?

A. The bulk of the funds (roughly $30 million) are budgeted for the environmental remediation of the site. Another $14 - $15 million is budgeted for the demolition and removals of the buildings. The remainder of the funds will go toward carrying costs for the buildings (i.e. water, security, electricity, etc.) and necessary consulting services for structural engineering, air monitoring, construction management or the garage.

Q. How much will the total project cost and where are the funds going to come from?

A. Total project costs are not known at this time. The plan for the entire eight-acre site is not yet complete and as such, the cost of related infrastructure improvements such as parking and utilities cannot be defined. There is a public process for making these development decisions. Opportunities are available for the entire community; taxpayers, city and state leaders and private investors to discuss the site plan and its associated financial considerations. Once a site plan has been agreed upon, its funding options will also be publicly presented.

Q. How will the City and the State make sure these funds go to local firms and local workers?

A. The City and Empire State Development are actively seeking interested firms to bid on this project. We strongly support and are committed to seeking qualified local firms, including women and minority owned businesses about opportunities related to the site. To inquire, please contact Mike Fitzner at 585-325-1944 or mfitzner@empire.state.ny.us.

Q. What will the buildings look like and where will they be located on the site?

A. The site will be planned to accommodate site configurations and buildings that may be developed in the future without specifying the exact locations and dimensions. PAETEC has expressed a desire to be on the northwest side of the property along Clinton Avenue with two buildings; a headquarters tower and a smaller operations center. The buildings' sizes, heights and footprints are not finalized at this time. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) will specify development parameters; however, it will not specify the exact locations and dimensions of the PAETEC buildings and the rest of the site. The DEIS will also present alternatives for the site based on the actual impacts of different development types, thus allowing for various building configurations to be developed.

Q. Are any of the existing buildings on the site going to remain, such as the Tower?

A. All properties will undergo environmental remediation. Although the expectation is that all the buildings will be removed, the planning process and including the requirement to consider avoidance alternatives under the State Historic Preservation Law, affords us the opportunity to consider feasible adaptive reuse options for the buildings.

Q. What are the plans for buildings surrounding the project site (Cadillac Hotel and Citizens Bank)?

A. There are no specific plans for these sites, but obviously the goal of this effort is to drive private investment and redevelopment where appropriate to all sites and buildings in the surrounding area. We will work with the owners of these sites to develop compatible development opportunities.

Q. How will the project address the historic character of the site, and has State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) made a final determination on whether site is eligible for the National Registry?

A. On June 9, 2008, SHPO informed ESD and the City of Rochester that Midtown Plaza is eligible for listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places pursuant to Section 14.09 of the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law. The agency's determination identifies the atrium portion of the site as the key character-defining element of the complex, and served as a symbolic "town center" and meeting place for many years. This designation requires the City of Rochester and ESD to consider the historic values of the atrium as the project proceeds. Specifically, ESD and the City will explore whether or not there are feasible design alternatives, considering economic, engineering, and design factors, that avoid or mitigate adverse impacts on the facility, particularly the atrium portion. ESD and the City will consult with SHPO and other interested parties to review these alternatives as part of the project analyses undertaken in support of the development of the Environmental Impact Statement.

Traffic, Garage, Parking & Skyway

Q. What is the future of the garage?

A. A recently completed engineering analysis suggests the existing garage, with about $2 to $10 million in rehabilitation, is in very good shape. What we don't know yet is what kinds of post-demolition repairs it will require or the kinds of improvements that will be necessary to support future development on top of the site. Once we know the full build out scenario, we will use a 3D structural engineering model to help us understand that impact on the garage.

Q. Where will people park once the Midtown Garage closes?

A. The City is reopening the Mortimer Street Parking Garage and surface lot on September 1. Customers whom are currently parking in the Midtown Garage will have first priority parking privileges at the Mortimer location. The City has prepared a parking relocation plan to help the Midtown Garage customers identity convenient parking alternatives. The plan is available on the Traffic/Parking/Pedestrian webpage at MidtownRochesterRising.com. The following garages have been identified as alternative parking locations:

Mortimer Street (monthly parkers only)
Garage - $78 per month
Surface Lot - $58 per month
Contact: John Szczesny, Allpro Parking, 263-1800

East End Garage
$66 per month
Contact: Karl Silas, Allpro Parking 325-7860

St. Joseph's Garage
$67 per month
Contact: Donna Fountain, Central Parking 232-1880

Q. Where will all the PAETEC employees park?

A. The specific parking spaces dedicated to PAETEC have not been finalized, but generally we expect most of PAETEC's employees to park in the underground garage.

Q. Will new parking be built on the site?

A. The full site plan showing future development opportunities and the supporting infrastructure (such as parking improvements) which may be necessary to support development is not yet completed. The site planning process and the identification of additional public costs to support it will be a public discussion and involve the community, city and state leaders, private investors interested in the site. With that said, it is likely that the project will need to consider additional parking to support a full site build out scenario.

Q. Will Broad and Clinton switch from one-way to two-way streets?

A. This will be considered both in the context of the completed site plan and SEQR planning, as well as within the transportation planning process for these roads. Transportation alternatives will be disclosed and analyzed in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

Q. What is the future of the skyway system?

A. The links and bridges of the skyway going and coming from Midtown will be closed during the remediation and development periods. The continuation of the skyway will depend on two things, whether there are structures to which it can connect and the willingness of property owners. The changes in the enclosed nature of the entire area will require new access points to the garage. Part of the site redevelopment plan will consider what changes, if any, are necessary to recreate these links.

Dates & Schedule

Q. When will PAETEC begin constructing their Headquarters building?

A. The City and State expect to deliver a cleared site by 2010. PAETEC plans to begin construction in 2010, with a projected completion in 2012.

Q. When is the first public meeting when the community can see renderings of the site alternatives (options) being considered?

A. The first public meeting will be July 29, 2008 at City Hall, followed by a late-September viewing of conceptual site alternatives. Much of the initial planning involves the site and footprint selection by PAETEC. Once that is completed, the remaining planning and alternatives will be organized around it. The final development footprint will identify the specific location and dimension of the PAETEC parcel, while allowing for a more generic plan on the remainder of the site using impact parameters to define the overall scale and density of future development.

Q. When will the garage reopen?

A. The City and State expect the garage to reopen in 2011. The garage could open earlier dependent on the degree of post-demolition rehabilitation and/or reinforcement needed for the structure or surrounding roads.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)/Economic Development

Q. Has PAETEC picked its preferred footprint? If so, where is it?

A. PAETEC has identified its preference for the northwest side of the site, facing Clinton Ave., where the Seneca and B. Forman Buildings are. However, a precise building footprint has not yet been determined.

Q. Is PAETEC receiving any funds from the $55 million from the State or the $6 million from the City?

A. No. The $55 million has been appropriated directly to Empire State Development to undertake the environmental/hazardous material remediation and the removal of the buildings. The City's funds will go directly to tenant relocation and acquisition costs.

PAETEC is entitled to certain benefits at the site such as, Renewal Community Benefits and Empire Zone benefits. Consideration of any economic development benefits for a project is a function of new job creation schedule, project costs, competing locations, demonstration of need, and economic impacts. PAETEC is currently finalizing these information items; and as with any company's request for public incentives, the City and the State will consider these factors in determining whether there is an adequate rationale for bringing additional incentives to this project.

Q. What are the terms of the deal with PAETEC?

A. All parties are still working under a Memorandum of Understanding and making substantial commitments to moving the project forward. We are working toward a formal development agreement that will embody the planning that is now being done and should be done by the end of this year.

Q. When will other developers have the opportunity to present proposals for site development?

A. Once the EIS portion of the planning process is complete at the end of this year, we will begin work on the Phase II (non PAETEC parcels) development sites. The City and the State welcome discussions with any and all developers interested in the site. Our decisions will be guided by a number of factors such as the site layout, the proposed uses, the market analysis, equity and financing proposed etc. We also expect to lay out a more formal invitation to prospective developers about this opportunity through a "Request for Proposals" or RFP.

Public Input

Q. What specific opportunities will there be for the public to be engaged in the decision making process?

Public involvement in the project will occur during three key points in time. During the processes for State Environmental Quality Review; Urban Renewal Plan Amendment Adoption; and Site Plan Approval.

The SEQR process will commence the first point of public involvement -- beginning with the first public meeting scheduled for July 29, 2008. The SEQR process will conclude in January, 2009. During that period, there will be at least one public meeting, three comment periods and one public hearing. Once the SEQR review is completed, the City Planning Commission and the City of Rochester will begin the process of updating the Urban Renewal Plan for the site. At least two public hearings will be associated with this process. Lastly, specific development projects on the site require site plan review by the Director of Zoning. The public will be offered an opportunity to review and comment on the specific site plans.

Q. How will the public receive information about these opportunities and is the website the only means to receive information about the project?

A. The website has been designed and will be managed by the City to be the most up to date source of information about the project. All EIS information and studies will appear on the website. The site will be updated as often as necessary. The public can sign up to be notified when changes are made to the website.

Anyone can contact the City and State Economic Development Offices directly with questions or comments. Carlos Carballada at the City Economic Development Office can be reached at 585-428-8801, and Merideth Andreucci at the State Economic Development office can be reached at 585-325-1944. Specific inquiries about the website should be directed to Stephen Golding at the City Economic Development Office at 585-428-6895.

Advisory and Stakeholder Committees

Q. What is the purpose of the Advisory Committee and how were the members selected?

A. An Advisory Committee, consisting of major policy makers and downtown stakeholders, has been appointed by Mayor Duffy to provide recommendations to the City and State on the project's major issues including:

• Project Goals
• Market Study & Economic Assessments
• Site Planning and Redevelopment Alternatives
• Public Infrastructure Improvements
• Regional Impact Analysis
• Real Estate Strategies
• Financing and Implementation Issues

Q. What is the purpose of the Stakeholder Committee? How were the members selected?

A. The City and State have also established a Center City Stakeholder Group who will be consulted throughout the actual site planning process, site alternative review, and impact analysis. This committee is comprised of neighboring property and business owners who are directly impacted by the project as well as organizations that have a vested interest in the site's redevelopment.

Q. When will these groups be meeting and are these meetings open for public participation?

A. This is an additional opportunity to provide direct and consultative advice to the project. Since the committee is not a decision-making body and is non-binding on the City/State, the groups are not required to invite the public. With that said, the City and the State will share any findings or recommendations that come from the Committee with the public. There will be opportunity for public comment at the various public meetings.

Other

Q. What will we do if PAETEC decides not to do the project? Is there a plan B?

A. It is important to recognize that the site is currently substantially unoccupied and contains asbestos and other conditions that prevent it from being developed. Much of what we are planning to do needs to be done in any case. The planning process and EIS will include an option/alternative in the event PAETEC does not occupy the site.

Q. What if the site takes longer to fully redevelop? What will the site look like during the transition period?

A. The current planning process will review alternatives for "temporary treatments" such as green space during the development periods for the site.

Q. What if Renaissance Square and Midtown Plaza begin construction at the same time?

A. This effort will be aggressively coordinated by the City (Midtown Plaza) and the County (Renaissance Square) to minimize traffic, business and other impacts to the site and surrounding areas.