City of Rochester
News Release
(Sat., December 10, 2011) -- Monroe Community College President Ann Kress today informed me that the Monroe Community College Board of Trustees voted to recommend that Monroe County relocate the downtown MCC campus to a site outside of downtown, at the Kodak site off State Street. I thanked President Kress for the call, but reiterated the City’s position that there needs to be a true Downtown MCC campus and by far the best location for the students and for the community is the Sibley’s site.
This is a decision that will result in the investment $72 million of state and local taxpayer dollars. I believe such a momentous decision needs community input and a full public airing of the possible sites. My first opportunity to address the board was less than a week ago. On Thursday, I asked for the opportunity to bring in the developer of the Sibley’s proposal to address any concerns the Board may have had. I am sorry for all involved, including the community, that we did not get that opportunity.
I stated to President Kress that the City will continue on its present course, and that is to pursue the Sibley’s site for a true Downtown MCC campus. One in four MCC students are city residents and funded by city taxpayers; and there is likely a greater concentration of city students at the downtown campus. Those students and all others will be better served by the RGRTA Transit Center across the street from Sibley’s; just as they will be better served by being within walking distance of the largest concentration of cultural, entertainment and commercial activity in our region.
In the weeks ahead, the City will be pursuing the Sibley’s plan so that everyone has a chance to see why the Downtown site is truly the best choice for MCC.
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