Southeast Neighborhoods - PACE

Southeast Quadrant - PACE Neighborhood

The PACE Neighborhood receives its name from four streets - Prince Street, Alexander Street, College Street and Erion Crescent. This small web of streets enjoys an enviable advantage - all are within walking distance of a premier cultural landmark, in addition to its most artistic neighborhood, NOTA (The Neighborhood of the Arts).

The majority of 19th century residences in PACE can be found on Erion Crescent and Birch Crescent. The remainder of the neighborhood contains large institutions of art, education and philanthropy. These include The University of Rochester’s Memorial Art Gallery, The Rochester City School District’s School of the Arts, and two of the area’s most prominent humanitarian organizations, The Red Cross of Greater Rochester and the United Way.

PACE neighborhood boundaries extend to East Main Street on the north (Prince Street to the Inner Loop), Goodman Street (University Avenue to Circle Street) on the east, the Inner Loop again on the west and south to the University Avenue (northern side).

Memorial-Art-Gallery-kidsThe University of Rochester Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) on University Avenue is PACE’s most prestigious neighbor. Founded in 1913, the Gallery was originally conceived as a memorial to the son of Emily S. Watson, the daughter-in-law of a prominent City leader Hiram Sibley. Watson was aided in her quest to create a civic art museum by University of Rochester President Rush Rhee.

 The Museum’s earliest exhibits were modest, composed of art pieces on loan from George Eastman and other wealthy area residents. Almost a century later, it houses a permanent collection that includes antiquities from around the world along with George Eastman’s collection of 60 paintings that range from El Greco to Milton Avery. Also on display is an 18th century Baroque Italian pipe organ, the only one in the Americas, owned by the Eastman School of Music. Every Sunday, music students play short recitals on the 600-pipe organ for visitors.  MAG also hosts the annual Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition and Clothesline Art Festival that attracts thousands of visitors from around the region.

The Museum has been expanded over the years in 1926, 1968 and again in May 1987, when an enclosed sculpture garden was built to link a museum wing to the Cutler Union. The English Gothic–style Cutler Union was a former student union for U of R’s former campus on Prince Street; currently, it is used for MAG classes and social events. The construction of the Centennial Sculpture Park is planned to celebrate MAG’s 100th anniversary. The Park will feature a sculpture by American artist Tom Otterness and include work by Deborah Butterfield, George Rickey, Tony Smith and Rochester resident Albert Paley.

SOTA-atriumOn College Avenue, The United Way of Greater Rochester, a long-time humanitarian organization, acts as a financial conduit to aid the community to “advance the common good” through a variety of programs. Nearby on Prince Street, the Red Cross of Greater Rochester Chapter was founded in 1881. This local volunteer chapter, in concert with the International Red Cross, helps people within the Finger Lakes Region to “prepare for, prevent and respond to emergencies."

Also on Prince Street, The School of the Arts (SOTA), a City of Rochester progressive alternative public middle and high school, trains students in the fine arts: Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Music (Instrumental or Vocal), Theatre Technology, and Visual Arts. Its alumnae includes actor Scott Leo "Taye" Diggs, best known for his work on Broadway in the musical Rent and in the Hollywood film When Stella Got Her Groove Back, and TV’s The Practice.

Additional Information

If you would like additional information on this neighborhood, please contact the Southeast Quadrant Neighborhood Service Center: 

320 N Goodman St - Suite 209
Rochester, New York 14607
(585) 428-7640
Email: Erica.Hernandez@cityofrochester.gov