Become a Part of the Project!
Check out the most recent opportunities to vote on artwork or even submit your own for consideration as part of the project.
Project Beginnings
In 1998, the City of Rochester joined enthusiastic neighbors, artists, and developers to devise a plan to revive the University Avenue area in the city’s southeast quadrant. With art galleries and world-
renowned museums in close proximity to each other, the project team decided to rebuild streets and sidewalks in a way that would honor and feature these unique assets. What resulted was a neighborhood that converted basic infrastructure into everyday, accessible art. The area of “ARTWalk” became alive with public art in a myriad of forms like sculpture, benches, bus stations, mosaic light poles, and stamped sidewalks. ARTWalk of Rochester- a 501(c)3 organization- championed the project and transformed the vision into a stunning, permanent reality.
In a few short years, the outdoor art museum has been credited with driving down crime rates, raising property values, creating jobs, addressing social issues, and returning deteriorating building stock to healthy and constructive uses. By attracting and retaining homeowners and business owners to its popular neighborhood, ARTWalk has brought increased tax revenues to the city. The outdoor art trail has quickly become a popular stop for out-of-town visitors. The project received the Common Good Planning Center's “Uncommonly Good” award and the US Conference of Mayors “2003 City Livability Award.”
Current Project Funding
Building on both the momentum created by ARTWalk’s proven success and an existing need to reconstruct a portion of University Avenue from Union Street to Goodman Street, the City submitted a plan to replace aging streets and sidewalks to the federal government for consideration in the first round of stimulus funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Since the project had already progressed through much of the design phase, it was considered a “shovel ready” site and was the recipient of more than $3.84 million in federal support.
In addition to their input, many of the museums, galleries, and private businesses along the project’s planned route are contributing resources to help what they see as a continuation of the revitalization of their section of the city. It is anticipated that for each dollar of federal funds spent on the design enhancement of the area, at least $4 of additional private investment will be leveraged in the project.
Current Project Work
A steering committee of representatives from stakeholder organizations has been meeting since January 2009 to review plans for the design development phase, which was completed in Fall 2010. The bid documents are being finalized and construction on the ARTWalk Extension will begin in June 2010. Public workshops were held throughout the design phase to solicit citizen input and participation.
Project stakeholders have been working hard to extend the example set by the rest of the art-rich neighborhood. In order to honor and continue the focus on art, public art will be a large component of this project.
Questions?
For more details on the ARTWalk Extension project:
- Contact City of Rochester project manager, Mr. Paul Way, at (585) 428-6860, or email him.
- Contact ARTWalk of Rochester's project manager, Ms. Anne Lovely at (585) 857-0053, or email her.