Midtown Plaza coming down; PAETEC moving in

WHEC Channel 10 ^ | 10/16/07 | staff writer

[PissAndVinegar]

Midtown Plaza will be remediated and demolished, and the site will be redeveloped as mixed-use urban space that will include a new corporate headquarters for PAETEC Communications. One of the largest telecommunication companies in the United States, PAETEC Communications plans to build a new 500,000 square foot, Class A facility on a portion of the Midtown property.

The proposed PAETEC facility is anticipated to house 1,000 employees (including the 600 existing employees) and will be the new location for the company's corporate headquarters, data and other operations. Under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding, the City will acquire the site from the current owners.

Subject to legislative approval, the state will be responsible for the remediation and demolition costs needed to make the site "shovel-ready" for PAETEC (estimated to be $50 million). The parties to the agreement will work together in the coming months to develop an overall site and use plan for the project and a community participation plan prior to finalizing the formal development agreement.

"While each of our core communities is different, they do have one thing in common -- they have all been held back by too many competing priorities," continued Governor Spitzer. "Each region has a deep well of potential that has remained untapped because of key projects that have stalled and been mired in gridlock. Our 'City by City' plan will break this gridlock because we have established priorities and will provide the leadership, collaborative approach, funding, and the will to get them done."

Mayor Robert J. Duffy said, "Today marks the beginning of the renaissance of Downtown Rochester. Governor Spitzer promised to revitalize the economies of upstate cities and he is keeping his promise. By funding the removal and clean up of Midtown Plaza, the Governor has cleared the way for the location of the world headquarters of PAETEC Downtown. This project will be the catalyst that will reshape and regenerate our center city. Thank you to Governor Spitzer and to PAETEC CEO Arunas Chesonis for their vision and belief in Downtown Rochester."

PAETEC Chairman and CEO Arunas A. Chesonis said: "This agreement demonstrates a fruitful spirit of cooperation between Rochester's business community and our local and state governments. We're excited about this strategic site to locate PAETEC's new world headquarters and all the benefits that a revitalized downtown Rochester has to offer."

[PissAndVinegar]

So the 'champion of the common man' has sold out to big business and has no regard for the urbanites.

Where are all the vagrants, punks skipping school and hoodrats going to congregate during the day if this is turned into a corporate headquarters!

[Slapshot68]

Ugh...and it’s PAETEC. Talk about a scummy company.

[ikka]

I have never even heard of PAETEC, and I deal with telecom companies on a regular basis!

[pacobell]

This is great news! In the 60’s Midtown Plaza was a great place to shop, especially for Christmas. It has declined tremendously over the years. Rochester deserves much better. It really is a great little city. The cost and politics not withstanding, I look forward to the progress.

[mass55th]

I was born and raised in Rochester and well remember Midtown Plaza and the Clock of Nations. I remember they used to have the monorail for kids there at Christmas time. My oldest son was born in ‘66, and he loved riding it. My two sister’s worked for Rochester Telephone and worked at Midtown. I used to shop at Barbara Moss and one other clothing store that had very nice woman’s clothing. I can’t remember the name of it at the moment, but it was one of my favorite stores. It wasn’t McCurdy’s or Forman’s. I also remember when they opened the Wegman’s grocery store in the mall. I live east of Syracuse now, and the closest Wegman’s to me now is about an hour away.