DOWNTOWN SPECIAL SERVICES, INC.

Making Downtown Safer and Friendlier

Safety Services

On behalf of visitors, workers, and residents, the Downtown Safety Services team makes downtown safer and more accessible. Safety Team members cover 13 distinct downtown neighborhoods, making their rounds on bicycles, on foot, and even driving an alternative, fuel-electric "GEM" car. All team members are retired and off-duty law enforcement personnel, bringing experience and a high degree of training to the job. Approachable and helpful, the Safety team serves as ambassadors and public information resources.

You'll find them throughout downtown on Monday - Friday, 1:30 - 9:30 p.m. and on Saturday-Sunday, 5:00 - 9:30 p.m. The Team will also be available on an "as-needed basis" for special downtown events and activities.

Information Services

The Information Services specialists provide directions and information to downtown visitors, workers, and residents at the Downtown Information Center located in the heart of the Convention and Hotel District at the corner of Main and St. Paul Streets. The Information Center is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.

Building on their relationship with literally all of the downtown street-level businesses, the Information team updates information on hundreds of downtown restaurants, nightclubs, retailers, and services and amenities for the popular www.RochesterDowntown.com website.

Downtown Information Center

The Downtown Information Center is located at 120 East Main Street, at the corner of Main and St. Paul Streets in the heart of the Convention and Hotel District.Stop in Monday – Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and you will find..... activities, entertainment, shopping, and services - “Everything Downtown”.

For quick information call us at (585) 232-3420.

Downtown Special Services, Inc.

The program was developed in 1994 in response to business community concerns about the perception of safety downtown. The program is operated by Downtown Special Services, Inc. (DSSI), a not-for-profit organization created by the Rochester Downtown Development Corporation. DSSI is governed by an eleven-member Board of Directors and a 20-person Membership.

The Rochester Downtown Development Corporation manages the day-to-day program operations and donates the administrative office overhead as a show of support for the economic development benefits of the program.

Click here for leadership list

Funding

Funding for the Downtown Special Services Program is provided through a special assessment district involving more than 800 downtown properties. Property owners located within the Inner Loop, High Falls, Kodak Office, and Frontier Field areas are assessed an annual service charge on their July property tax bills. Each annual budget is approved by the DSSI Board and Membership and authorized by the Rochester City Council.

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