Rochester is looking more like Detroit every day, and these goofballs are arguing over saving a falling down building no one wants. When the history books are written, the Enviromental Commission and their ilk will be the modern day Neros fiddling while Rochester fell.

The Environmental Commission made the correct call here. 13 Cataract is far too valuable to be thrown away. The Brewery still refuses to acknowledge that there are in fact viable offers on the table from reputable developers who are still interested in this unused property. The brewery has the option to do their brewhouse project while 13 Cataract is restored and put to use by someone else. But they'd prefer to see it raised so they can have 27 extra parking spaces. That's simply unacceptable; morally and also according to our zoning code.

You can find the offers the brewery received, and read why 13 Cataract should not be torn down... http://bit.ly/ytr6jC

This is one of those cases where both sides make a valid statement. Our city's history should be preserved, but it's development should also be a priority. Isn't there a way to do both at the same time?

Also, it's obvious to me that "b sarbane" has never been to Detroit, at least not recently. As a transplant from Michigan, there is really no city in America dealing with the myriad of Detroit's problems. It's literally turning into a ghost town. So sad.

I agree. Both sides have a valid argument here. And we certainly need more help to make High Falls work. So, compromise is the answer. After all, that's what reasonable people do when they can't fully agree. Can we keep the facade and still demo the back to avoid the cost and have parking? If done well, we should have both the historical look and cost-effective development.

Really? This is what we're going to do - stand in the way of companies who want to help us move forward as a city and instead get behind a building that no one wants to buy and sink money into. (It's not like it hasn't been offered.) Really sad, Rochester. I'm disappointed in you! This could be a great thing for our city and you're going to let the few squeaky wheels who have their arms up over one building stop you? God - we're sounding more and more like Buffalonians every day!

There is definitely a way to preserve Rochester's history while still redeveloping it. In this case, the brewery can complete its project as-planned, but without demolishing the building. The money to be spent on demolition can be used to stabilize the building until a viable reuse plan can be put in place. The brewery wants this building demolished so they can add a few parking spots - but they don't need to demolish it in order to open the restaurant/visitor's center. There is absolutely no "need" to demolish this building.

13 Cataract St. could become the centerpiece to a visitor's center that people actually want to see because it celebrates and incorporates the brewery's real history. Or, 13 Cataract can be hauled off to a landfill and we'll be left with a theme restaurant surrounded by a parking lot.

There are plenty of restaurants in Rochester that serve beer. I'm not sure why I'm supposed to want to go to this proposed Genny vistor's center - perhaps so I can look at pictures of 13 Cataract Street and pretend I'm in a "historic brewery"? How stupid do they think we are? This ill-wrought plan should be hurting Genny's brand-image. If people don't seem to care that they are planning to tear down the historic brewery in order to market themselves as a historic brewery, then perhaps we are precisely as stupid as they think we are. In which case, yes - we get the parking lots we deserve.

This is funny! We have an ugly building in a lousy neighborhood in the middle of an industrial site that has been vacant for a couple decades. Some one wants to tear it down -FREE - and build something (anything) with no government hand out and what do we do? P*ss on them. Well, I guess they can let it sit there for a few more decades until someone wants to convert it into high end condos or up-scale retail or...ummm...that other thing that it would be good for...

For gg's info. Genesee Brewery has been receiving significant tax breaks from the city for years. The city was the first to step in and lend a helping hand when the brewery was faltering. There are no plans to build something in its place. Thus, they are spending over $1,000,000 for 20-30 parking spaces. Does that make any sense? In addition, there was a design drafted up for a visitors center and museum placed in the 13 Cataract building, with no problems from the "odd layout". Unfortunately this proposal was timed uncannily with the start of Genesee's current financial problems.

It is the inherently short sited people that led to the wide spread destruction of urban renewal of the 1950s that still plagues cities like Rochester to this day. Do you really enjoy waiting for a train in our miserable little Amshak?

Not to beat a dead horse at this point, but ROCrktec says "Genesee Brewery has been receiving significant tax breaks for years". Are you referring to the tax settlement that the new owners negotiated with the city when taking over Genesee? Do you consider NAB to be in dire straits? NAB's owners have fairly deep pockets. They are not a public company, so we really have no way of knowing, but all signs - employment, invenstment in facilities and equipment and new/expanding product lines and markets do not point to "current financial problems". Regardless, my point was that this is not a situation where NAB is proposing to create 10 jobs and in return is asking COMIDA to provide sales tax and other tax benefits in return and/or ask for public assistance specifically for this project. Secondly, if NAB wants to spend $1,000,000 for 20-30 parking spaces...well, this is their money. Let their directors and shareholders decide if it "makes sense". As far as building somehting in its place...we will never agree on that. I think a parking lot is an improvement over this building. If it were in a different location, I could perhaps see value in doing...something with it, but not where it presetly sits. In fact, I question NAB's success with a visitors center/bewpub in that location. Not high visibilility - more of a destination and, like the soccer stadium, not "suburbanite - friendly". Considering the failure of all the attempted restaurants and nightclubs in High Falls over the years, I don't see a stand alone restaurant doing very well on hte opp side of the river. Again, not my problem. If NAB is willing to take a chance on this, then good for them.

As far as the train station...well, yes, it is ugly, but functional. Have you sat in the waiting area by a gate at our airport...or any airport? It's a large waiting room.