Rochester Business Journal
November 20, 2009

The majority of respondents to this weekçÀs RBJ Daily Report Snap Poll favor Midtown Plaza as the site for Rochester Broadway Theatre Leagues new performing arts center.

The RBTL soon will complete its evaluation of site proposals for a new performing arts facility. Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy asked RBTL last week to add Midtown to the five sites the search committee has been considering.
The Clinton Crossings project in the town of Brighton, led by Anthony J. Costello & Son Development, received 15 percent of the vote, and some 14
percent favored the Medley Centre in the town of Irondequoit, owned by
SRC Development Group LLC.

RBTL says it needs a new venue to attract top-shelf shows, and it
maintains the cost of upgrading the Auditorium Theatre is current
home i prohibitive.

Roughly 975 readers participated in this weekçÀs poll, which was conducted
Nov. 16 and 17.

Which site do you favor for RBTLçÀs new performing arts center?
Midtown Plaza in Rochester: 55%
Clinton Crossings in Brighton: 15%
Medley Centre in Irondequoit: 14%
Canal Ponds in Greece and Gates: 7%
Former Xerox facility in Webster: 5%
Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack in Farmington: 4%
Over the past several years, how frequently have you attended RBTL
shows at the Auditorium Theatre?
I am an RBTL subscriber: 8%
Several times a year: 28%
Once a year: 31%
Less than once a year: 22%
Never: 11%


Here are some readers comments:
I really believe that a downtown performing arts center makes the most
sense for community development. If only our community leaders could
figure out how to make it simpler for the private development of the venue
without turning it into a circus act.
çéLou Calarese, Applied Audio & Theatre Supply

I am not certain that Midtown is the place for the theater, but somewhere
downtown is the place. A communityçÀs center city must be vibrant. If the
communityçÀs theater is located somewhere else, we have then made a
conscious decision to remove one of the great opportunities for rebuilding
Rochester.
çéRichard C. Rivers, The Rivers Organization

The Brighton site is more centrally located than the other sites. It has bus
access from the city, (is) right off of 590 and would allow for people on all
sides of the city to attend events.
çéJohn Esposito

I really donçÀt favor any money being spent on this project anywhere in the
area. Support for the project is weak because we simply donçÀt need it here.
We have plenty of usable venues as it is. The only reason this is being
perpetuated is that it is some political pet project. Use the money for
something that the community, and not just the few intellectual elite, will
benefit from.
çéScott Ireland

We need the site downtown to revitalize the city. I think having it anywhere
but downtown contradicts all the efforts being made to reinvigorate the city.
çéPeter Bonenfant, Fairport

If you want people to come, locate the center in a central, easily accessible
location. There is none more accessible or central than Clinton Crossings
in Brighton.
çéKen Frank, Adam Communications

Any performing arts center ought to be located centrally, both for access
from the entire community and for synergy with other arts facilities and
organizations. However, I do not favor construction of a facility dedicated
solely to RBTL, unless RBTL pays the entire bill without government
assistance. If there will be any level of public funding, this facility should
also accommodate other performing arts organizations çéespecially our
many talented community theater companies.
çéMartin Nott, president, Off-Monroe Players, and accounting director,
OçÀKeeffe & Co.

As wonderful as the shows are, I stopped going because the Auditorium
Theatre is so awful. The last time I went, before the show even started, the
womençÀs bathroom was flooded and only one toilet was working. Seats are
so uncomfortable and itçÀs so hard to see the stage; I cançÀt justify paying
$100 for an experience that bad.
çéC.M. Juby

While I appreciate and support the efforts of the towns that got engaged
and I know of examples where such venues have temporarily been
successful on the outskirts, visiting a performance there has always been
an isolated experience. Forgive me, suburbs, but the best economic
development in my eyes is to huddle and strengthen our city. With a strong
city, all community business and the suburbs will prosper, too. A Broadway
show belongs downtown - the theater must be imbedded in a geographical
area where maximum synergies are created. Entertainment is what makes
a city vibrant and creates quality of life. It's time to see Greater Rochester
as one and develop it with a clear focused vision (which needs work) or call
it game plan, where every player (town) has its key role in winning the
game.
çéHans von Gehlen, MindSetter LLC

I believe a downtown location is essential for a revitalized downtown
Rochester, and I think it would be the best place for a theater. çÜ Locations
that are closer to the city are better than locations which are farther away, if
RBTL wants to encourage good attendance. So Webster and especially
Farmington are not good alternatives, whereas Brighton, Greece and
Irondequoit (in that order) are much better.
çéDavid S. Movsky, logistics consultant

The Webster site is easy-on and -off with minimum traffic considerations
and other amenities like shopping and restaurants are easy-on, easy-off on
Route 104 too! I think the Medley Centre would make a great MCC
campus! Downtown has just lost its appeal: Bad parking, few restaurant
choices and they roll up the sidewalk at dusk.
çéMyron Kowal, Response Care Inc.

We need to keep this wonderful asset in downtown Rochester, and the city
needs to listen to the people leading the RBTL in terms of their needs.
çéBill McDonald, Medical Motor Service
Putting this facility downtown is of paramount importance to the health of
the city, and with it the entire region. We need to provide more reasons for
people to go downtown, not fewer.
çéMatthew D. Wilson

Clinton Crossing rates the best balance in overall location accessibility,
parking and safety. We would definitely increase our patronage if such a
site is chosen.
çéCindy and Scott Hept

What is wrong with the Auditorium Theater?
çéTodd VanHouten

Whichever site costs the people of Rochester, Monroe County and New
York State the least money is my choice. In our current recession, with
more than 10 percent of people out of work and the state going bankrupt, I
don't want an extra dollar of city, county or state money going to build a
new facility, where we already have a serviceable facility at the Auditorium
Theater. The probability that the facility would be funded privately is most
likely at the Medley Centre. The first show should be about the Fast Ferry
and High Falls: "The Rochester Follies." In the words of Jerry McGuire,
"Show Me the Money.ç±
çéClifford Jacobson, WebHomeUSA.com

Excuse me, but why exactly are communities jumping through the hoops,
and why is the media reporting on, what is a non-event? Has the RBTL
ever outlined HOW they are going to raise an estimated $40 million to $50
million to build a new theater? They cannot even maintain the Auditorium
Theater in a first-class manner. From what I can tell, the RBTL always has
their hand out for more public dollars. No other development project would
be even considered without a financial commitment from the "developer", in
this case the RBTL. There are many, many Broadway show booking
groups. I say forget this nonsense and bring in another group that will
provide performance venues AND upgrade the Auditorium Theater!
çéWill Condo

Wherever it is located it needs to be accessible by expressway with plenty
of good free parking. It also needs to be secure and near restaurants.
Centrally located is another plus. All the other sites do not meet these
requirements.
çéBob Stein

Despite all of the negative press the city of Rochester receives, there is
plenty of evidence to support the notion of ççIf you build it, they will come.ç±
Frontier Field, the East End, the Jazz Festival, Corn Hill Landingçéall of
these are examples of cultural vibrancy in our great city that are supported
not only by people from within the city limits but by those from the greater
metropolitan area. No matter what the naysayers may claim, the majority of
people from Monroe County and the surrounding area yearn for a city that
they can be proud of and they have shown time and again over the past
decade that they will support institutions and cultural events within our
downtown core. With all due respect to those towns that are clamoring for
the RBTL to build in their own backyard, theater belongs in downtown
Rochester and a new performing arts center in the heart of the city will be
one more step in its slow but steady rebirth.
çéMarc Fleming

No taxpayer money should be used.
çéGreg Palis

The Medley Center would be a fantastic place to locate the new theater--
abundant amounts of convenient, free parking, a location that's super-easy
to reach from a major highway and almost carte-blanche for the RBTL to
create exactly the venue they need to maximize success. Seems like a
wonderful opportunity to me!
çéChristopher Burns, Rochester

The mayor did little or nothing to help make the previous deal why should
we believe that he'll follow through with support for a different city site?
çéBob Miglioratti
Rochester is our center. How often will Gates residents want to drive out to
Farmington to see a show? How often will Henrietta residents drive to
Webster? For a large venue theater to be successful, it will need support
from the whole community.
çéLawrence Jones

In my opinion, the only viable site is the Farmington location. Farmington
and the surrounding areas are rich in beauty. Minutes from the proposed
venue is one of the most top rated lakes in the country. Complimenting the
beauty of the lake is a country side whose majestic appearance is second
to none and whose attraction is magnified throughout the change of the
seasons. In addition to the allurement of the surrounding area is the fact
that the proposed venue is a very large campus that offers serenity as well
as easy access. The proposed Farmington area and proposed site is
already a destination for a large volume of people and with the addition of
the theater this site will truly represent a multi-functional location. The other
locations have their own qualities but they cannot provide the same
attraction value that destination type activities need in order to survive.
çéWilliam Nash, Ultrafab Inc.

To me, it has to be centrally located and that means Midtown/downtown. All
other locations suffer from geographic inconvenience (folks in Pittsford
won't want to drive to Gates, and folks in Chili won't want to drive to
Webster or Farmington, etc.) and even worse don't address the
revitalization of downtown.
çéDavid Lamb

With the objective of selling seats to theater shows, the selection criteria
must include: a) Ease of accessçéon an expressway is best; b) Ease of
parkingçéfree and perceived to be safe; c) Proximityçéas close to as many
customers as possible. Of the choices, only Medley Center and Xerox
qualify.
çéDave Kennedy

Having a performing arts center in the Medley Center would help to
revitalize that entire section of Irondequoit. It has easy expressway
accessibility and free parking. The only missing element would be to
increase security on the premises.
çéFJ Muto

The Brighton location makes the most sense. It's easy to get to, centrally
located, safe and has plenty of restaurants in the area.
çéRick Bradley

We've got some momentum downtown, let's keep it going. Once Paetec is
in place the area will be very different and even more appealing. If we don't
support downtown, not only will it crumble, but then the inner ring of
suburbs will also deteriorate and the Rochester area will be in real trouble.
çéDave Vanable

The RBTL should be able to locate wherever it feels it can make enough
revenue to pay off its investment on its new theater. No government
funding should be needed nor should any government influence the
location decision. Just like any other business the RBTL needs to stand on
its own.
çéPeter Short, Pittsford

Keep it in the city.
çéDaniel Mossien

Whatever location is chosen needs to have viable funding lined up and be
in a central location in our region to have the best chances of long term
success. Aside from that, it's my view that a downtown location could nicely
anchor a ççTheater Districtç± in the Main Street area with Blackfriars,
Downstairs Cabaret, etc. in a way that the suburban locations would not.
Although there doesn't seem to be a lot of energy around it, the money
being proposed for a new facility could do a very nice job of renovating the

Auditorium Theater and overcoming whatever shortcomings they feel they
need to.
çéMatthew McDermott, SPHR Employee Benefits Consultant, the
Landmark Group

To be successful, a professional theatre facility that wants to attract
national shows and sell-out audiences needs the synergy provided by
proximity to other like venues, to hotels, to daily walk-by pedestrian traffic,
and to an array of restaurants, clubs, and other amenities. Only a city
location offers this kind of concentration, a major reason why the Jazz
Festival is so successful. The RBTL should emulate this model.
çéBob Loeb, Robert Loeb Communications, Pittsford

A performing arts center for Broadway shows is somet
hing for all of the Rochester area, not just one community (Webster, Brighton, etc). Since Rochester is the focal point of our region, it only makes sense that something like this should be centrally located in an urban area, near a mass of housing, hotels, restaurants, offices, parks, etc. A strong citycenter makes a strong region. No one goes to a mall on Long Island or a
casino in Northern New Jersey to see Broadway shows. They go to
Broadway, 42nd Street, etc., in Midtown Manhattan.
çéAndrew Volpe

This project needs to be downtown to improve the core city center for
Rochester.
çéRick Brienzi, executive vice president and CFO, E-chx Inc. Payroll
Solutions

I think that the major performance venues should be in the city. Since it is
the center of our population and provides about equal distance for the
population around it, it is as good as it gets. It is time that the city and
county leaders make a joint plan to incorporate both the venues and
enough parking. An example is the Eastman Theater with the close-by
parking garage (unfortunately it was made too small for a full crowd at the
theater).
çéIngo H. Leubner, Crystallization Consulting

Any theater site should be in downtown Rochester, designed by a local
architect and engineering team, and constructed by the local work force.
However, the best sites are not on the list. If the community can afford a
new facility it should be located at the "Rascalç± site on East Main Street
across from the Eastman Theatre. That location would put the East End
over the top. If the community cannot afford a new facility, then the
Auditorium Theatre complex should be renovated. In addition to the main
theater space, the Auditorium complex has a number of smaller spaces
that can accommodate a wide range of uses. Another plus would be the
"sustainabilityç± aspect of reuse of an existing facility. There are many
examples of successful renovation/restoration of old "grand" theatres
across the state: first and foremost, The Eastman Theatre here in
Rochester; the renovation of the Shea's Theatre in downtown Buffalo was
completed a number of years ago; and the restoration of the Proctor's
Theatre Complex in Schenectady was completed in 2008.Our firm was
involved with all of these projects, and they have received enthusiastic
support in each locality.
çéAl Casey, president, M/E Engineering PC

As a subscriber, I would be more excited about the RBTL if it was located
downtown, particularly for the dining options and that little extra bit of
excitement associated with coming into the city instead of just another trip
to the suburbs. However, I also understand the RBTL's reluctance given
the perceived willingness on the part of the city to nuke the Renaissance
Square project over the inclusion of a new theater.
çéKevin Halpin, DeltaPoint Capital Management, LLC

Anyplace but downtown.
çéRick Corey, Penfield

The RBTL must have criteria and specifications for the site search. Among
the requirements it must include public accessibility, safety, parking, and
cost. All are critical. I would like to see a focus on the center of the city.
Further, we must accept that nothing is permanent. Surprisingly, the other
locations have merit, although the Finger Lakes, Canal Ponds, and
Webster locations appear to have an accessibility issue. I hope the
selection committee approaches this task with more professionalism, and
less political accommodation than past public interest projects.
çéDennis Kiriazides, Xerox, retired

There is enough in the burbs; people, traffic, retail and shows. Let's put
some life back into our city. Rochester has the potential to turn itself
around, to be vibrant and welcoming. Increase the business and the police
and retail and people will come.
çéFran Leo

For an entertainment facility of this magnitude, it must be located in only
one place: Downtown Rochester. Imagine the message it sends, to have a
performing arts center of this magnitude, an entertainment Mecca, so to
speak, be located in an outlining suburban/rural location. We would be the
laughing stock of the nation. An image fortified by the fact that we can't
seem to understand that the core of our community (downtown Rochester)
is where activity, diversity, sociability and sense of community must reside.
If we are to truly become a vibrant mid-size cityçéa city that we all can be
proud of, a city that survives the challenges facing so many rust belt
citiesçéthe core must survive and activity must return to its origin. We
cannot continue to spread our resources outward. Poll after poll states that
downtown Rochester needs life, so why are we even discussing other
locations? Are we so complacent with the current state of affairs, that we've
lost sight of the greater vision?
çéTom Hack

This project should be part of the revitalization of downtown. Midtown area
is a perfect location that will keep people coming in to town to eat, to shop,
to live in the area.
çéCharles Kaplan, KCC Holding Inc.

I believe the Medley Center will be an excellent location because of access
via major expressways and plenty of free parking.
çéAlan Shaffer, Despatch Industries

I would go to RBTL more often if I could afford it. I would like to see the arts
organizations in our communities grouped in the downtown area as a part
of re-building commerce in the city. It is to the benefit of us all.
çéEmily Neece

I think the Medley Center site is ideally located. It's close to the city with
plenty of parking. It's also centrally located to the eastern and western
suburbs.
çéChristine Norris

Excellent idea: good utilization of existing space, great location,
underground parking that theoretically would be safe and desirable for
inclement weather, opportunity to add collaborative venues for dining
before theater and/or an after-theater cabaret. See what happens when
fresh ideas are able to surface rather than force-fitting a bad idea? So few
people thought the Renaissance Square with a bus garage plus theater
plus MCC was a good idea, the theater was not the right scale, and MCC
would not have had adequate space! Those who knew many of the
problems with the Renaissance Square concept kept quiet until the idea
solidly failed. Now we're thinking creatively!
çéKaren Kall, On Kall Marketing

While I support the concept of RBLT not only doing well and moving
forward both as a business and a major arts organization in the Greater
Rochester Community, one cannot emphasize enough that this is a
business which has only become profitable under the great leadership of
Don Jefferies in the past couple of years. For this business leadership, we
citizens of Rochester owe Don a debt of gratitude for leadership and better
performing arts in our city. But before as a community we go hog wild
inventing locations for a "New Theater" one should ask the question who is
paying for this extravaganza? The overheads created by the type of
investment suggested is not sustainable at current levels to amortize this
new structure and also make a profit for the RBLT in my opinion. One
should look at the reality of this in addition to "public opinion" for where
such a structure may or may not be built. The current Auditorium location (if
cooperation with the University of Rochester and the City could be
arranged) is still the very best location for a public driving from East, West,
and South of the City of Rochester to attend a performing arts event. All
one need do is look at the "War Memorial," the Geva Theater, the Eastman
Theater, the Blackfriars Theater and the current Main Street location of
RBLT at the Auditorium to realize there is synergy and a sense of city in all
these performing arts locations. Nazareth College has added and adapted
its performing arts center to me more user friendly and accessible and its
East Avenue Location is well-received, but other suburban locations are all
dismal. All one need do is look to RIT's Great Stages to realize the public
just does not drive there! Downtown is still the heart of the artistic world in
Monroe County. All the money and glamour in the world will not change this
unless or until Rochester adds another million people population. Based on
the past 30 years, our city should be the same size as Jacksonville, Fla. It
was bigger than Jacksonville in 1980. So suburban locations for the Artsçé
Neeeeeeeeeeee. However, a thoughtful partnership with the University of
Rochester and the Auditorium Theater and perhaps even some eminent
domain between Pike Co. and the Auditorium could make a real positive
impact going forward for all. Midtown is well located, but I prefer working a
team work with Rochester's School of the Arts, The University of
Rochester's Memorial Art Gallery Campus and the Auditorium Theater.
This could be a bright spot for the future of performing arts in Rochester.
Best wishes for the future to RBTL, I pray they are not foolish enough to
believe "If you build it they will come." Rochester is not a "Field of Dreams."
çéR. Bruce Lindsay, VP Marketing, RE/MAX Realty Group

My opinion is that the Medley Center would make a terrific place for RBTL.
The central location makes it an attractive place with ample parking as well
as access by public transportation. Furthermore, the surrounding area can
accommodate additional businesses such as restaurants and pubs which
will allow attendees to RBTL a place to have dinner prior to enjoying an
evening at the theatre. Two thumbs up!
çéSjoerd Stoffelsma, RBC Wealth Management

Midtown would be absolutely perfect. Plenty of indoor and convenient
parking; the opportunity to develop other entertainment options and
amenities (restaurants, cafå“s, gift shops etc.) in the area and a wonderful
anchor and magnet for our downtown Center City area. It's the perfect
enhancement for that area and a win-win for both the city and RBTL. None
of the other locations have nearly as realistic an opportunity to develop
corollary business and loss the opportunity to become a destination.
çéAlan Ziegler

If the RBTL will not continue to use the Auditorium Theater, and state that it
is "impossible" to renovate, then I believe they should build their new
theater anywhere they would like, preferably on the Midtown site, but like
most of these projects, the RBTL will come to the taxpayers with their hand
out looking for the people to pay for their private theater, with little or no
prospect of the taxpayer even receiving a discounted ticket to one of the
performances.
çéJoe Wierzbowski, Plymouth Photo Studio

I live in Brighton, but in my opinion it would be a mistake to build a new
performing arts center anywhere but downtown. Renovating the existing
Auditorium Center should still be under consideration also.
çéJohn Osowski

Probably irrational, regardless Midtown represents another opportunity
downtown. Clinton Crossings is a better site for RBTL but not for the
region.
çéPeter Brizee, T. Peter Brizee Realtors

I'm not sure it should be at Midtown, per se, but it definitely should be in
downtown Rochester. This is too important a cultural asset to be built
anywhere that doesn't reinforce this region's core. çéAndy Vaughan

(c) 2009 Rochester Business Journal.

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