An office boom began in the 1980's with the construction of Frontier's (then Rochester Telephone) new headquarters building, followed by Bausch & Lomb's World Headquarters tower, and then the regional headquarters for Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Add in the Xerox Tower and Clinton Square, and you see why this area has become the city's main corporate corridor.

In addition, Washington Square has some great attractions. Geva Theatre Center offers a two-stage, professional theater experience in a strikingly renovated facility that features traditional performances as well as avant-garde theater celebrating the newest playwrights. Dinosaur Barbecue cooks up authentic pit-smoked delicacies and live blues music in a renovated train station hanging out over the Genesee River. In addition, the grand, expanded two-building Rochester Public Library is the heart of the region's library system and offers a modern information center serving the three downtown college campuses.

To search for commercial office space, residential rental units, and a wide variety of service and amenities and entertainment options in the neighborhood, check out the
Washington Square entry in the Interactive Map.

History

The Washington Square neighborhood probably reached its first highpoint in the period before and after World War II when it was home to elegant theaters, plush watering holes, and fashionable shopping. With the urban flight of the 1960s, many of these buildings emptied out, resulting in a lovely park surrounded by vacant structures.

The rebirth of the Washington Square neighborhood dates back to the '80's with the conversion of a former armory building for Geva Theatre. This was followed by the construction of Frontier Corporation's headquarters, the major library addition, the Bausch and Lomb World Headquarters building, a substantial renovation of the Xerox Tower (originally built in the early '70s), and most recently, construction of the new headquarters for Blue Cross and Blue Shield. In a relatively short time period the area became one of the most desirable and attractive commercial locations downtown.

Future

While development of this area is relatively mature, the recent announcement of ESL's plans to build its headquarters on one of two major development sites remaining sparked great excitement.

Festivals

Any depiction of life in downtown Rochester would be incomplete without a reference (in this case a hyperlink) to the innumerable festivals enjoyed by our residents. They include: the Rochester International Jazz Festival; the Corn Hill Festival (arts, crafts, and foods spread throughout this historic, riverside neighborhood); the Rochester/High Falls International Film Festival (held annually at the George Eastman House's Dryden Theatre and the downtown Little Theatre); the Image Out/ Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (hosted annually at the Little Theatre); the Clothesline Festival (artists from the region and beyond on the grounds of the Memorial Art Gallery); the Park Avenue Merchants Festival (another local favorite that covers Park Avenue from Culver to Alexander); the Lilac Festival (world famous for its hills and dales of lilac bushes, this Festival also boasts top-shelf music and shopping); the Rochester Music Festival (a reflection of the changing music scene, the Music Festival is ever-evolving); and the Cold Rush Winter Celebration. (The Cold Rush highlights the wide range of activities available across four seasons in our region). Want to get an even closer look at what's driving the excitement about downtown living? Join this year's Inside Downtown Tour!