New Partnership for St. Joseph’s Park
Thanks to the generosity of Ted Collins Tree & Landscape, we are proud to announce that St. Joseph’s Park in downtown Rochester will soon be re-opened as a public space for the Rochester community. Over the next months, we will be partnering with Ted Collins Tree & Landscape to develop plans for the landscaping and design of the park space. As plans are developed, we will also be making improvements to the building edifice. Read more on our website.
The 3 Night Trip: Glorious Estates & Grand Gardens of An American Dynasty
PHOTO courtesy Longwood Gardens
Join us next September as we journey to the luxurious land of the Brandywine Valley and explore the legacy of 200 years of the DuPont family. Highlights include the Hotel DuPont, Nemours Mansion & Garden, and Longwood Gardens. Cindy Boyer, our Director of Public Programs, took an advance trip to the area last week and was so impressed with the sites that we’ve added another experience to the tour–the historic village of New Castle, Delaware (complete with colonial architecture and cobblestone-lined streets!). Click here to read Cindy’s post about her trip to the Brandywine Valley.
Preservation Updates
660 West Main, Rochester: The former church will remain standing for now. The City of Rochester has determined that the owner must go through a more involved environmental review process. To assist in assessing the building’s reuse potential, The Landmark Society has provided a $1500 grant to the Susan B. Anthony Neighborhood Association to fund a report by a structural engineer. At this time, the property owner has not yet granted access to allow the Neighborhood Association to hire an engineer to inspect the building.
Portageville Bridge, Letchworth State Park: Last week, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the replacement of the Portageville Bridge over the Genesee River in Letchworth State Park. NYSDOT and Norfolk Southern Railway, which owns the rail line, plan to replace the 1875 National Register-listed wooden trestle bridge with a modern steel arch bridge. The DEIS is available for public review on the NYSDOT website. A public hearing will be held on January 10, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. at the Genesee River Restaurant & Reception Center, 134 North Main Street in Mount Morris. The public comment period will remain open until February 1, 2013. As this is a project funded, in part, with State monies and involving an important historic resource in a widely used public park, we encourage you to read the DEIS (the Executive Summary provides a decent overview of the issues involved and alternatives considered) and submit your comments to the NYSDOT.