City of Rochester
News Release
(Wednesday, March 16, 2016) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren launched the long-awaited revitalization of Rochester’s Bull’s Head neighborhood today by celebrating the start of the demolition of the vacant and dilapidated United Cleaners building on Genesee Street, which has become a source of blight in the neighborhood.
“City leaders have been talking about the need to revitalize the Bull’s Head neighborhood for more than two decades,” said Mayor Warren. “Today, we are done talking. Today, we are going to remove this symbol of neglect from our city and bring new life to the Bull’s Head Neighborhood. As a western gateway to Rochester, Bull’s Head can drive investment across the city and accelerate our efforts to create more jobs, safer, more vibrant neighborhoods and provide a quality education for all of our citizens.”
The United Cleaners building at 68 Genesee Street has been vacant for many years and is classified as an environmental hazard. The building was constructed in the 1930s and has served as a dry cleaners and auto sales and service center.
The demolition coincides with the start of a concerted process to revitalize the historic Bull’s Head Neighborhood. The City has contracted Fisher Associates to engage neighborhood stakeholders to prepare a plan to revitalize the neighborhood with improved job and business opportunities, quality housing and enhanced public amenities.
The Bull’s Head revitalization plan would be used to qualify the neighborhood for additional state and federal grant opportunities, which would be used to leverage millions of dollars in private investments. Mayor Warren has committed $10.6 million in the Capital Improvement Budget for land acquisition and public improvements in the neighborhood.
The Bull’s Head neighborhood is located on the western edge of the city and was a favorite rest stop for westward-moving cattle drivers in the 1860s and hosted a cattle market and a tavern with a bull’s head over its front door.
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News Media: For more information, contact Press Officer Jessica Alaimo at 428-7135.