>>
JUST AHEAD ON "NEED TO KNOW,"
ROCHESTER'S WATERWAYS HAVE
TRADITIONALLY BEEN A SOURCE OF
RECREATION, BUT PLANS ARE UNDER
WAY TO TURN THEM INTO AN
ECONOMIC RESOURCE.
WE'LL TALK WITH COUNTY AND CITY
LEADERS ABOUT THEIR PLANS TO
DEVELOP ROCHESTER'S WATERFRONT.
PLUS YOUNG PEOPLE STRUTTED THEIR
STUFF IN AN ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL
COMPETITION RIGHT HERE IN
ROCHESTER.
WE'LL BRING YOU THEIR REMARKABLE
TALENTS AND THE WINNER.
BUT FIRST WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT
COMING UP NEXT ON "NEED TO
KNOW."
>> IT'S UNIQUE PROPERTY.
IT'S PROPERTY THAT HAS
HISTORICALLY BEEN VERY, VERY
UNDERVALUED.
>> THIS IS "NEED TO KNOW," THE
ROCHESTER AREA'S ONLY IN-DEPTH
NEWS PROGRAM.
"NEED TO KNOW" IS A PRODUCTION
OF WXXI NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
COVERING ISSUES, POLITICS,
EDUCATION AND CURRENT EVENTS.
>> "NEED TO KNOW" IS MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE DAISY MARQUIS
JONES FOUNDATION, BY DORSCHEL
LEXUS, AND THROUGH THE SUPPORT
OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
>> Wyatt: THANK YOU FOR JOINING
US.
I'M WYATT DOREMUS FILLING IN FOR
GARY WALKER.
AT THE END OF SUMMER, MANY
ROCHESTERIANS ARE HEADING TO
LOCAL WATERWAYS TO SOAK UP THE
LAST REMNANTS OF SUMMER FUN.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS ALSO
FOCUSING ON OUR WATERFRONTS, NOT
THE WEEKEND PLANS BUT FOR
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
DEVELOPING THE PORT OF ROCHESTER
AND THE SURROUNDING CHARLOTTE
AREA FOR NEXT SUMMER'S
ANTICIPATED LAUNCH OF FAST FERRY
SERVICE IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR
CITY LEADERS TO BE A POTENTIAL
ECONOMIC WINDFALL FROM THE FAST
FERRY INDUSTRY IN TERMS OF NEW
BUSINESSES, JOBS AND RESIDENTIAL
DEVELOPMENTS.
WHILE THE FERRY PROJECT
DOMINATES THE LOCAL HEADLINES,
THE CITY IS ALSO WANTING
WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
ON THE GENESEE RIVER AND THE
ERIE CANAL.
THEY ALSO SAND PATCH RIVERBOAT
SERVICE AND UPSCALE RESIDENTIAL
DEVELOPMENTS WILL BRING NEEDED
DOLLARS INTO THE WATERFRONT
AREA.
SO JUST WHERE DO OUR WATERFRONT
PROJECTS STAND?
"NEED TO KNOW'S" MATT CUMMINGS
WILL GIVE US AN OVERVIEW.
>> Matt: CARRIE STRONG HAS
WORKED AT THIS ABBOTT'S FROZEN
CUSTARD STORE ON LAKE AVENUE FOR
THE PAST NINE YEARS.
SHE'S HEARD ALL ABOUT PLANS FOR
DEVELOPING THE PORT OF
ROCHESTER.
SHE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
>> WE'VE DONE A LOT OF
RENOVATIONS TO THE BUILDING.
YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF NEW
REMODELING.
WE ADDED A DECK ON, AND THAT'S A
BIG BONUS FOR THE FERRY THAT'S
COMING.
WE HAVE MORE SEATING.
WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE
TO LOOK INTO IN THE FUTURE IF
THIS IS GOING TO BE AN OPEN ALL
YEAR ROUND, WILL WE CONSIDER
DOING IT INDOOR, CONSIDERING
THAT IT WILL BE WINTERTIME BUT,
I MEAN, PEOPLE WILL ENJOY EATING
CUSTARD IN THE WINTERTIME
REGARDLESS IF THE SUN'S OUT OR
NOT, SO I THINK THE FAST FERRY
WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO OUR
COMPANY.
>> Matt: WHEN IT COMES TO
WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT, LOCAL
ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON THE PORT
OF ROCHESTER IN CHARLOTTE.
CANADIAN AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEMS PLANS TO OFFER
HIGH-SPEED FERRY SERVICE BETWEEN
ROCHESTER AND TORONTO BEGINNING
NEXT SUMMER.
MONROE COUNTY'S PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS DID NOT
RESPOND TO OUR INQUIRIES ABOUT
WATERFRONT PLANS, BUT
ROCHESTER'S DEPUTY MAYOR JEFFREY
CARLTON SAYS THE CITY SEES THE
FERRY AS A POTENTIAL ECONOMIC
BOON.
>> AT THE HARBOR, WE HAVE A
MULTI-STAGE $78 MILLION
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT GOING IN,
WHICH WE EXPECT WILL GENERATE
SOME 300, $400 MILLION IN
PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
FUNDS.
WE SEE HARBOR TOWN, YOU KNOW,
BEING CHANGED TO A 12-MONTH
DESTINATION AREA WITH
SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS OF NEW
SHOPS, NEW BUSINESS LOCATIONS
AND QUITE A FEW RESIDENTIAL
LOCATIONS BECAUSE IT'S A VERY
DESIRABLE PLACE TO BE.
>> Matt: PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE
PROJECT HAS GROWN IN RECENT
YEARS, WHILE FINALIZING THE
DETAILS IS PROVING TO BE
DIFFICULT.
JUST LAST WEEK, ROCHESTER'S CITY
COUNCIL POSTPONED THEIR VOTE ON
A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH CANADIAN
AMERICAN UNTIL A CONTRACT MAKES
PROVISIONS FOR THE CITY TO PULL
OUT OF THE LEAD IN THE EVENT
CANADIAN AMERICAN CANNOT SECURE
ALL THE NECESSARY FINANCING OR,
IF AFTER THE DEAL IS CLOSED,
SOMETHING PREVENTS THE COMPANY
FROM DELIVERING THE SERVICE.
CANADIAN AMERICAN HAS SECURED
$70 MILLION IN PRIVATE
FINANCING, BUT A PUBLIC
FINANCING PACKAGE IS STILL
NEEDED.
>> IN A NUTSHELL, THE PRIVATE
FINANCING IS SECURED.
THEY HAVE SECURED THEIR MONEY.
WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE IS EMPIRE
STATE DEVELOPMENT DO TEN MILLION
AND ONTARIO SUPER BUILD, WHICH
IS THE TRANSPORTATION ARM IN THE
PROVINCE, TO DO TEN MILLION.
>> Matt: WHILE PUBLIC ATTENTION
REMAINS ON THE FAST FERRY, THE
CITY BELIEVES OTHER WATERFRONT
OPPORTUNITIES EXIST.
>> WE KNOW THAT WE'RE
ENCOURAGING THE SCULLING UP
TOWARD THE UNIVERSITY OF
ROCHESTER THAT'S SUPPOSEDLY SOME
OF THE BEST SCULL WATER IN THE
WORLD BECAUSE OF WHERE THE TREES
LINE UP.
THERE ARE CONTINUING PLANS TO
USE THE RACEWAY SYSTEM AS A
WHITE WATER RAFTING FACILITIES,
AND WE HAVE SOME HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT PLANS ON BOTH SIDES
OF THE RIVER THAT ARE FURTHER
OFF IN NATURE.
BUT THAT WILL BE PLANNED -- WE
PLAN TO UTILIZE THOSE PARCELS,
WE THINK, PARTICULARLY AS YOU
GET OUT OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA, AS
HIGH VALUE OR VALUE ADDED
RESIDENTIAL CONDO NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> Matt: CARLSON SAYS WATERFRONT
DEVELOPMENT IS KEY TO THE CITY'S
ECONOMIC FUTURE.
>> BECAUSE IT'S UNIQUE.
IT'S UNIQUE PROPERTY.
IT'S PROPERTY THAT HAS
HISTORICALLY BEEN VERY, VERY
UNDERVALUED, UNDERAPPRECIATED,
UNDERVALUED.
ALL OF A SUDDEN PEOPLE ARE
BECOMING, BECAUSE OF THE CONCERN
OF THE ENVIRONMENT, BECAUSE OF
NATURAL BEAUTY AND THE LIKE,
BECAUSE OF SIMPLY THE CLEANING
UP OF THE RIVER, YOU KNOW.
PEOPLE HAVE BECOME ENAMORED WITH
THAT AND WE'RE -- IF YOU HAVE
PROPERTY DEVELOPED ALONG THERE,
YOU'RE GOING TO GET MORE UPSCALE
PROPERTY, WHICH IS REALLY WHAT
WE NEED.
>> Matt: WHILE WATERFRONT
DEVELOPMENT IS A PRIORITY,
MAKING THE SHORELINE AREAS
PALATABLE TO ITS PATRONS IS ALSO
A CONCERN.
U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND
COUNTY EXPERTS HAVE BEGUN
TESTING WAYS OF GETTING RID OF
ODOROUS ALGAE AT ONTARIO BEACH,
A PROBLEM THAT CLOSES THE
SHORELINE TO SWIMMERS FOR ABOUT
ONE-THIRD OF EVERY SUMMER.
>> GETTING THE ALGAE OUT OF
THERE IS IMPORTANT FOR THE OLD
FACTORIES, YOU KNOW.
THE SMELL IS NOT PLEASANT WHEN
THE ALGAE GOES UP, AND THERE ARE
A VARIETY OF MODELS ON HOW TO DO
IT.
BASICALLY IT'S CAUSED BY THE
JETTY WALL, TRAPPING THE FLOW OF
WATER, AND THE ALGAE NEEDS TO BE
EITHER PUMPED AROUND OR PUMPED
UNDER OR EVAPORATED.
>> Matt: CARLSON SAYS
DEVELOPMENT PLANS DO NOT INCLUDE
IDEAS FROM BUFFALO'S WATERFRONT
RENOVATION BUT RATHER FROM
CLEVELAND'S HARBOR
REDEVELOPMENT.
FOR CARRIE STRONG,
IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE IDEAS
CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH.
>> WE'RE HOPING FOR IT.
WE DEFINITELY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE
IT.
THERE'S ONLY BENEFITS TO HAVE
THE FERRY COME.
(Music)
>> Wyatt: CITY COUNCIL HAS YET
TO HOLD ANOTHER VOTE ON THE
LEASE AGREEMENT.
AT STAKE IS A 3.4-MILLION-DOLLAR
FEDERAL GRANT TO MONROE COUNTY.
THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY
ADMINISTRATION HAS RECLAIMED THE
MONEY BOTH FROM THE FERRY BOAT
DISCRETIONARY FUND BECAUSE A
SOLID AGREEMENT WITH THE FERRY
OPERATOR HAS NOT BEEN REACHED.
HOWEVER THE STATE TRANSPORTATION
DEPARTMENT SAID IT WOULD APPEAL
THE FEDERAL DECISION TO TAKE
FUNDING AWAY IF A SOLID
AGREEMENT APPEARS IMMINENT.
JOINING ME IN THE STUDIO ARE TOM
GROSSO, ORGANIZER OF WORLD
CANALS CONFERENCE, AND HE'S THE
PRESIDENT OF THE CANAL SOCIETY
OF NEW YORK STATE, AND JEFFREY
CARLTON, ROCHESTER'S DEPUTY
MAYOR.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Wyatt: LET ME ASK YOU BOTH,
THERE WAS A STUDY DONE RECENTLY
FOR A PRIVATE GROUP OF BUSINESS
PEOPLE THAT WANT TO TRY AND
IMPROVE ROCHESTER'S IMAGE, AND
WHAT THE STUDY FOUND WAS THAT
ROCHESTER DOESN'T SUFFER FROM A
NEGATIVE IMAGE BUT A LACK OF
IMAGE.
HOW IMPORTANT IS DEVELOPMENT OF
OUR WATER RESOURCES TO THAT
IMAGE?
>> OH, I THINK IT'S ENORMOUSLY
IMPORTANT THAT BECAUSE IT LEADS
TO A QUALITY OF LIFE THAT IS
UNPARALLELED ANYWHERE.
SO WE HAVE TO DEVELOP THAT --
THE CANAL SITE, PART OF IT
ESPECIALLY.
YOU KNOW, ON OUR WATERWAYS IN
GENERAL AND THE CANAL IN
PARTICULAR I THINK BECAUSE IT'S
A BRAND NAME, AND SO WE HAVE TO
DO A BETTER JOB AT THAT.
>> Wyatt: HAVE WE MADE STRIDES
IN EITHER DIRECTION?
>> I THINK SO.
I THINK THAT OUR ABILITY TO
IDENTIFY THE FACT THAT WE REALLY
DON'T HAVE A NEGATIVE IMAGE BUT
WE ARE NOT PROMPTLY PLAYERS IN
THE OVERALL MARKETING OF
REGIONAL AREAS THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY IS REALLY A BELLWETHER
FOR US.
>> WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HAPPEN IS
THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER
AND ATTEMPTING TO ASSEMBLE THE
RIGHT KIND OF MARKETING PACKAGE.
>> WHEN YOU MARKET A REGION, YOU
MARKET NOT ONLY THE BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITY, WHICH IS VERY GOOD
HERE.
WE ARE THE SECOND-LARGEST
PRIVATE-SECTOR JOB CREATOR IN
THE STATE, SURPASSING THE
BUFFALO REGION; BUT YOU ALSO
HAVE TO MARKET THE QUALITY OF
LIFE, AND I THINK THE WATERWAYS,
THE RIVERS AND THE LIKE THAT WE
ARE DEVELOPING NOW ARE VERY MUCH
PART OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT
WILL MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE FOR
PEOPLE TO MOVE HERE AND WORK FOR
OUR CORPORATION.
>> Wyatt: LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THESE
INDIVIDUAL WATERWAYS SEPARATELY.
THE YOUTH, YOU ORGANIZED THE
WORLD CANALS CONFERENCE HERE
LAST YEAR.
YOU'VE BEEN TO THE SUBSEQUENT ONE.
WHAT'S FALLOUT FROM THAT?
>> THE IMMEDIATE FALLOUT, I
THINK, FROM THE WORLD CANALS
CONFERENCE HERE
IN ROCHESTER IS THAT THE
AQUEDUCT, WHICH WAS ON THE BACK
BURNER PERHAPS.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
IT. THE CITY'S BEEN HAVING
COMMITTEES CREATED AND SO FORTH
FOR YEARS AND
YEARS, AND NOW IT'S ON THE FRONT
BURNER.
I MEAN, THERE ARE PLANS BEING
DRAWN UP.
APPLICATIONS ARE GOING IN FOR
FUNDING TO USE THE AQUEDUCT AS A
PEDESTRIAN WAY AND INTERPRET IT
PROPERLY.
YOU SEE THE ACTIVITY ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE RIVER, NEAR THE COURT
STREET DAM, AND SO I THINK
EVERYTHING IS JUST MOVING
FORWARD AT A GREATER PACE, I
THINK, BECAUSE OF THE WORLD
CANALS CONFERENCE.
>> Wyatt: DOES THE CANAL, DOES
ANY CANAL -- IS IT JUST NOW
SUBJECT TO TOURISM OR IS THERE
SOME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PROBLEM POSSIBILITY?
>> I THINK THE TOURISM IS AN
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THING,
BECAUSE IT ATTRACTS BUSINESSES
AND PEOPLE COME.
THEY'LL SPEND SOME MONEY, RENT
BOATS, HIRE BOATS, TAKE A
CRUISE.
SO IT ALL HAS ECONOMIC, YOU
KNOW, IMPLICATIONS.
>> YEAH.
I AGREE WITH TOM.
THE TOURISM AS AN INDUSTRY IS
THE SECOND-LARGEST INDUSTRY IN
THIS STATE, SO JUST COMING ON
THE CANAL CERTAINLY WOULD
PROVIDE SOME ECONOMIC BENEFIT.
BUT I DO THINK THAT WE'RE VERY
METHODICALLY LOOKING AT THE
VARIOUS PARCELS THAT WE DO HAVE
AND TRYING TO PUT THE RIGHT MIX
OF COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL
DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL BE
ATTRACTIVE, THAT WILL TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE SIGNATURE
LOCATION NATURE OF BEING ON THE
RIVER OR ON THE CANAL.
I MEAN IT'S NOT LOST TO PEOPLE
THAT KODAK DEVELOPED THE CANAL
POND INITIALLY THAT THE SIGNATURE
ADDRESSED.
TWENTY YEARS AGO, NOBODY WOULD
HAVE DONE THAT, AND I THINK THAT
WHAT THAT SPEAKS TO IS A MUCH MORE
BROADER AWARENESS OF WATER
RESOURCES AND OUR ABILITY TO USE
THE WATER RESOURCES NOW.
YEARS AGO YOU REMEMBER THE OLD
FRONT STREET AND WATER STREET.
THEIR BUILDINGS ACTUALLY BLOCKED
THE VIEW OF THE RIVER.
THEY THREW GARBAGE INTO THE
RIVER AND THE RIVER WAS
GENERALLY --
>> ONE BIG SORE.
>> THAT KIND OF THINKING HAS
BEEN TOTALLY REVERSED ITSELF,
AND WITH THE EMPHASIS ON
CLEANING THE RIVER AND THE LAKE,
PEOPLE ARE TAKING A REAL PRIDE
IN TAKING THIS NATURAL RESOURCE
BACK.
AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF
ADVANCE TO THAT.
>> Wyatt: LET'S GO TO THE OTHER
END OF THE RIVER AND TALK ABOUT
THE FAST FERRY SERVICE.
FIRST OF ALL, WHO'S GOING TO USE
IT?
WHY IS THAT GOING TO BE A
PROBLEM?
>> I THINK THAT'S THE ONE QUESTION.
THE ANSWER
IS MANY, MANY TIMES AND WE STILL
HEAR PEOPLE.
THIS IS NOT A BOAT RIDE FOR
FOLKS TO GO FROM ROCHESTER TO
TORONTO OR VICE VERSA, ALTHOUGH
YOU COULD USE IT AS THAT.
IT IS BASICALLY A TRANSPORTATION
CORRIDOR.
IT'S A FLOATING BRIDGE, IF YOU
WILL, WHERE WE EXPECT HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND
VEHICLES TO MOVE FROM NORTHERN
ONTARIO TO THE EASTERN SEABOARD
AND FROM THE EASTERN SEABOARD TO
NORTHERN ONTARIO.
IT COULD VERY WELL HAVE A
PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE WAY WE
SHIP JUST-IN-TIME GOODS, VALUE ADDED
FREIGHT, LIKE OVERNIGHT EXPRESS
FREIGHT, JUST A VARIETY OF
THINGS LIKE THAT; MAIL FOR
EXAMPLE.
YOU KNOW, JUST -- IT ALSO HAS
THE ABILITY TO BRING BUSINESSES
TOGETHER.
IT'S ONLY A TWO-HOUR RIDE.
IT BECOMES VERY EASY TO DO
BUSINESS BETWEEN ROCHESTER AND
TORONTO.
THIS FERRY HAS THE POTENTIAL OF
PUTTING ROCHESTER ON THE MAP.
IT BECOMES A CLASS "A"
EMIGRATION PORT OF ENTRY, AND
THAT'S A SUBSTANTIAL SIGNATURE
FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND CERTAINLY
ONE WE WANT TO MARKET.
>> IF YOU COME AND YOU LIVE IN THIS REGION
AND YOU HAVE A TWO-HOUR ACCESS
TO THE CITY OF TORONTO, WHICH IS
ONE OF THE FINER CITIES IN NORTH
AMERICA.
>> Wyatt: YOU MENTIONED IN THE
PACKAGE I BELIEVE THERE'S AN
IMPACT POTENTIALY OF THREE TO $4
MILLION.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK THAT'S NOT SOMETHING
THAT'S JUST GOING TO GO TO THE
CHARLOTTE AREA OR EVEN TO THE
CITY ITSELF.
IT'S A REGIONAL IMPACT ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE LAKE.
AND A LOT OF THAT BECOMES
CONTINGENT ON HOW GOOD ARE OUR
PLANS ESSENTIALLY TO GET THOSE
TRAVELERS TO STAY A DAY, GET
PEOPLE TO COME DOWN IN CHARTER
BUSES AND EITHER SHOP OR GOLF OR
SKI OR DO SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT THEY MAY HAVE PROBLEMS
DOING IN TORONTO, AND FOR THEM
VICE VERSA.
THEY'RE GOING TO MARKET SOME OF
THE AMBIENCE AND
SOME OF THE QUALITIES THAT THEY
HAVE UP THERE.
BUT I THINKS, AS YOU'RE PASSING THROUGH, IF
YOU HAVE CANADIAN SNOWBIRDS
GOING TO FLORIDA, HOW CAN WE GET
THEM TO STAY?
IS IT JUST A LUNCH?
CAN WE GET THEM TO STAY
OVERNIGHT?
THAT'S WHERE THE INDUSTRY IS.
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE REALLY GOING
TO GO.
IT'S NOT REALLY THE TICKET BACK
AND FORTH.
>> Wyatt: WHEN YOU TALK TO AREA
BUSINESS LEADERS HERE, ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE THE
MOST DIFFICULTY DOING IS
ATTRACTING YOUNG PEOPLE TO COME
AND WORK HERE IN ROCHESTER.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE
KEY --
>> BUT ONCE THEY ARE HERE,
THEY ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM OF
TRANSFERRING THEM SOMEWHERE
ELSE.
I THINK ONCE THEY'RE HERE,
THEY REALIZE WHAT A GREAT PLACE
THIS IS AND REALLY DO WANT TO STAY.
HOW DO WE GET OVER THAT?
FOR A CERTAIN -- CERTAIN
FOLKS AMONG US ARE OUR WORST
ENEMIES.
YOU KNOW, WE SAY WHAT A GORGEOUS
DAY IT IS!
SMELL SOMETHING.
THAT DOESN'T HELP OUR MARKETING
CAMPAIGN (Chuckling)
WHEN WE WANT TO GET FOLKS.
>> I THINK WE'VE MADE A STEP FORWARD WITH
CELEBRATING WINTER.
LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST TIME, I
BELIEVE.
AND I THINK WE HAVE TO DO MORE
OF THAT.
I MEAN, THAT'S OUR -- I MEAN,
WHAT IS WRONG WITH WINTER?
LET'S HAVE FUN WITH IT.
>> THE BREAD AND BUTTER IS WHAT
CAN YOU DO SOME PLACE?
IF YOU'RE GOING TO BRING SOMEONE
NEW INTO THE COMMUNITY, IF
YOU'RE GOING TO GET WORKERS OUT
OF THE SILICON VALLEY, WHY WOULD
YOU GET THEM?
NUMBER ONE, THEY NOW HAVE A
TWO-HOUR COMMUTE BECAUSE THEY
CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE AROUND
WHERE THEY WORK.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TOPS A TEN,
FIFTEEN-MINUTE COMMUTE HERE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING
VALUES WHERE YOU CAN GET A
SUBSTANTIAL BANG FOR YOUR BUCK,
PARTICULARLY IF YOU COME FROM A
HIGH-VALUED REAL ESTATE AREA.
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, THE
GOLFING, SKIING AND THE LAKES
AND THE RIVERS AND THE LIKE.
ALL OF THIS CONTRIBUTES TO THE
IMAGE THAT PEOPLE HAVE WHEN
THEY'RE GOING TO COME EITHER
THEMSELVES OR WITH THEIR
FAMILIES TO THIS COMMUNITY.
YEAH, WE ARE IN THE SNOW BELT,
AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY
THERE'S SNOW OUT THERE, AND WE
DO.
AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE EVER
GOING TO REALLY SELL IT BY
SAYING, WELL, YOU KNOW, ONCE
EVERY WINTER WE HAVE A GREAT BIG
SNOWFEST AND WE MAKE SNOW
CASTLES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> BUM THAT'S PART OF IT.
>> IT'S PART OF THE OVERALL
PACKAGE THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
AND I THINK THE VALUE OF HAVING
A NICE DEVELOPMENT OF
RESIDENTIAL UNITS AND COMMERCIAL
UNITS AND RETAIL UNITS OFF IN
THE HARBOR IS GOING TO BE VERY
IMPORTANT.
I THINK THE ABILITY TO GET TO
TORONTO IS GOING TO BE VERY
IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE SO HIGH ON THIS
PROJECT.
IT WAS A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT
PROJECT TO DO.
WE'VE BEEN AT IT FOR AWHILE.
EVERYBODY'S GOTTEN IN ALL THE
CHEAP SHOTS THAT THEY CAN BUT WE
STILL KEEP PUSHING IT FORWARD
AND HAVE FAITH.
>> Wyatt: LET ME JUST ASK YOU
BOTH VERY QUICKLY.
WHAT, IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE,
WHAT CAN PEOPLE LOOK FOR AS FAR
AS PROGRESS, AS FAR AS THINGS
THAT ARE -- SIGNS THAT THINGS
ARE LOOKING UP?
>> WELL, I THINK YOU'LL SEE THE
DEVELOPMENT ON CORN HILL.
YOU'LL SEE MORE PEOPLE ON THE
TRAILS, MORE PEOPLE BIKING, MORE
PEOPLE HIKING, MORE PEOPLE
VISITING LOCAL RESTAURANTS.
>> TOM MENTIONED THE CORN HILL
DEVELOPMENT, ABOUT 15,000 SQUARE
FEET OF RETAIL, ABOUT 20,000
SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL AND
139 LUXURY APARTMENTS UP ON
GENESEE BROOKS.
WE HAVE THE GENESEE LANDING
PROJECTS WHICH WILL ALSO HAVE A
MARINA, AN OFFICE BUILDING,
PERHAPS A HOTEL AND A LARGE
THEMED RESTAURANT.
AND THEN OF COURSE WE'RE PUTTING
$78 MILLION INTO THE
INFRASTRUCTURE IN CHARLOTTE TO
PULL DEVELOPMENT FROM THE WEST
SIDE OF LAKE AVENUE ALL THE WAY
OVER TO THE RIVER.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE HOTTEST
THING GOING.
THAT'S EVEN MORE FUN.
>> Wyatt: ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR
THIS DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Wyatt: NOW FOR THE COUNTY'S
PERSPECTIVE, "NEED TO KNOW'S"
MATT CUMMINGS SAT DOWN WITH
MONROE COUNTY'S EXECUTIVE KEVIN
CREEK.
>> Matt: KEVIN, WHY DON'T WE GET
STARTED AND, RIGHT OFF THE BAT,
LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT'S MADE ALL
THESE WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS POSSIBLE FROM THE
COUNTY'S PERSPECTIVE?
>> CERTAINLY WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT
ALL THE DEVELOPMENT AND INTEREST
THAT'S TAKEN PLACE ON THE
WATERFRONT AT THIS POINT.
BUT I THINK REALLY YOU HAVE TO
RECOGNIZE THAT THE FOUNDATION
FOR A LOT OF THIS I THINK GOES
BACK REALLY 20 YEARS AGO I THINK
WHEN THE COUNTY INITIATED THE
PURE WATERS PROJECT AND TOOK
OVER THE CITY SANITARY SEWER
SYSTEM AND REALLY ELIMINATED A
LOT OF THE INDIVIDUAL SEWER
TREATMENT PLANTS THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTY, A NUMBER OF THEM LOCATED
ALL AROUND IRONDEQUOIT BAY, AND
BY PUTTING TOGETHER THAT
PROJECT, AND IT'S LIKE A $700
MILLION PROJECT.
THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL PROJECT
THAT TOOK PLACE OVER A NUMBER OF
YEARS, FINALLY FINISHED UP IN
THE EARLY '90s.
BUT THAT PROJECT REALLY HAS
CONTRIBUTED TO IMPROVING THE
QUALITY OF THE WATER BOTH IN THE
LAKE, THE BAY, ALL THE STREAMS
AROUND HERE.
SO THAT'S BEEN VERY IMPORTANT,
AND I THINK THAT THAT REALLY
SERVED AS AN IMPORTANT
FOUNDATION FOR THE INTERESTS
THAT WE ARE A -- INTEREST THAT
WE'RE SEEING NOW ON THE WATER
FRONT AND ALL THE WATERFRONTS
REALLY.
IF YOU LOOK AT IRONDEQUOIT BAY,
REALLY THE QUALITY OF THE WATER
THERE 20 YEARS AGO, I MEAN THERE
JUST WAS NO INTEREST IN LIVING
IN THE BAY, GOING ON THE BAY.
NOW WE SEE A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT
GOING ON THERE, A LOT OF REAL
ESTATE DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING.
THE COUNTY'S ALSO BEEN
SUCCESSFUL IN BUYING UP A LOT OF
THE ENVIRONMENTAL INSENSITIVE
PROPERTY ALONG THE BAY, SO WE'RE
REALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP
THAT GREAT PRISTINE-LOOKING
RESOURCE IN THE COMMUNITY HERE,
WHICH ALSO ENHANCES THE REAL
ESTATE DEVELOPMENT THAT DOES
TAKE PLACE OVER THERE.
I THINK YOU REALLY NEED TO KEEP
THIS MOVING ON A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT FRONTS, AND I THINK
THAT THAT'S WHAT'S SO EXCITING
NOW.
CERTAINLY IN CHARLOTTE I THINK
THAT THERE'S A LOT OF
OPPORTUNITIES THERE.
THE CITY IS DOING A LOT OF WORK.
THE TOWN OF IRONDEQUOIT HAS
GREAT PLANS DOWN THERE THAT THE
COUNTY AGAIN REALLY KIND OF
KICKED THAT OFF I THINK WITH A
LOT OF WORK THAT WE DID DOWN ON
ONTARIO BEACH PARK.
WE SPENT CLOSE TO $10 MILLION
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS DOWN
THERE IMPROVING THE BEACH -- I'M
SORRY, IMPROVING THE VARIOUS
STRUCTURES DOWN THERE, PUTTING
IN THE BOARDWALK, THE CAROUSEL,
ALL THAT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE'RE STILL
INVESTING DOWN THERE.
WE ARE IN A PARTNERSHIP RIGHT
NOW WITH THE CITY TO IMPROVE THE
ROEBUCK CENTER.
WE'RE PUTTING ABOUT A $700,000
INVESTMENT IN DOWN THERE.
SO THINGS ARE CONTINUING.
CHARLOTTE, I THINK, IS FOCUSING
A LOT OF THE INTERESTS AND
EFFORT BECAUSE YOU HAVE BOTH THE
CITY AND IRONDEQUOIT WORKING IN
THAT.
IRONDEQUOIT IS ALSO WORKING ON
THE SEA BREEZE AREA.
THEY HAVE GREAT PLANS OVER
THERE.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
I THINK THAT'S A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY.
THE COUNTY'S INVOLVED IN A
PROJECT JUST A FEW YEARS AGO,
KIND OF OPENING UP THE BLUFF ON
LAKESHORE BOULEVARD, REALLY A
WONDERFUL VISTA OF THE LAKE THAT
REALLY DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE.
SO LOTS GOING ON, BUT I THINK
YOU HAVE TO KIND OF LOOK ALL
ALONG THE SHORELINE.
THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES.
I THINK YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND
THAT A LOT OF THIS DEVELOPMENT
REALLY TAKES PLACE AT THE
MUNICIPAL LEVEL, AND THE COUNTY
REALLY ACTS AS KIND OF A
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN ALL OF THIS.
AGAIN WE FEEL THAT, IF WE CAN
KEEP MAKING GAINS ON
THAT WATER QUALITY, WE HAVE A
NUMBER OF IMPORTANT INITIATIVES
GOING ON WITH THE TOWNS NOW TO
IMPROVE ALL OF THE WATER COMING
DOWN THROUGH THE WATERSHED.
INITIATIVES WITH THE TOWNS TO,
FOR INSTANCE, IMPROVE THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF RETENTION PONDS
AND HOLDING PONDS, AGAIN WHICH
WILL IMPROVE, CONTINUE TO
IMPROVE THE BAY AND THE LAKE,
WHICH WILL FACILITATE THE CITY,
IRONDEQUOIT.
I KNOW GREECE HAS SOME GREAT
INTEREST.
THEY HAVE SOME INITIATIVES THAT
THEY ARE CONTEMPLATING ON THE
CANAL.
THE COUNTY HAS GREECE CANAL
PARK, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S
VERY IMPORTANT THERE, ALTHOUGH
WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THAT MORE
AS A RECREATIONAL PARK AS
OPPOSED TO A SIGNIFICANT
DEVELOPMENT.
>> Matt: BRIEFLY, HOW DO YOU SEE
-- HOW ARE THE COUNTY AND CITY
WORKING TOGETHER ON THESE
WATERFRONT PROJECTS?
YOU'RE MENTIONED YOU'RE KIND OF
LIKE A HELPING HAND OR A BIG
BROTHER TO HELP THE
MUNICIPALITIES.
BUT HOW IS THAT RELATIONSHIP
WORKING?
>> WELL, PRETTY WELL.
I MEAN, IT'S A CHALLENGE
SOMETIMES AND WE DO HAVE
DIFFERENCES OF OPINION AND KIND
OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON
THINGS.
LIKE I SAID BEFORE, WE'RE
WORKING TOGETHER ON THE ROEBUCK
CENTER.
THAT'S GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT
PROJECT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
DO.
I THINK A LOT OF THE DEVELOPMENT
THAT TAKES PLACE IN CHARLOTTE,
WE OWN A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF
PROPERTY UP THERE, TOO.
THE BOAT LAUNCH IS RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE OF ALL THAT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK
WITH THE CITY ON THAT.
WE'VE DONE -- WE'VE TRIED TO GET
GRANTS TOGETHER, AND WE'RE STILL
WORKING ON THOSE PROJECTS.
UHMM, YEAH, IT'S A CHALLENGE
SOMETIMES BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE
HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES,
DIFFERENT VIEWS THAT WE'RE
TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE OR
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.
BUT I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE
GOING TO GET DONE WHAT NEEDS TO
BE DONE.
>> Wyatt: LAST WEEK WE BROUGHT
YOU THE STORY OF A LOCAL ARTIST
WHOSE LATEST WORK DEPICTED
ROCHESTER'S FIGHT FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS.
TALE FOR TWO WAS UNVEILED THIS
WEEK AND IS ON DISPLAY IN THE
SUSAN B. ANTHONY SQUARE PARK.
HERE'S A LOOK.
(Music)
>> FROM THE SCULPTOR'S POINT OF
VIEW, IT TENDS TO BE THE
REPRESENTATION.
WE GENERALLY PERCEIVE SUSAN B.
ANTHONY AND FREDERICK DUFF AS
THE OLD AGE.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LESSON
IDEOLOGY AND YOU SAY, HEY, LET'S
GO OUT AND HAVE TEA OR GO OUT
FOR BEER, WHATEVER IT IS, YOU
KNOW, YOU HAVE TO HAVE COMFORT
IN LIFE, DON'T YOU?
WHEN YOU INVITE PEOPLE.
SO THAT SUGGESTS A RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THESE TWO PAINTERS.
IT'S LIKE THEY MAKE THEIR LIFE
WITH SUCH A GREAT UNDERSTANDING
WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT'S WRONG.
>> Wyatt: LAST MONTH, THE
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC HOSTED
ITS FIFTH ANNUAL YOUNG ARTIST
INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION.
W.X.X.I'S 91.5 FM JULIA
FIGARIS SPOKE WITH THE EVENTS
COORDINATOR ABOUT THOSE TALENTED
YOUNG MUSICIANS.
>> AS THE FIFTH ANNUAL YOUNG
ARTISTS INTERNATIONAL
COMPETITION COMES TO THE EASTMAN
SCHOOL OF MUSIC.
MY GUEST THIS AFTERNOON, I AM
VERY HAPPY TO WELCOME THE MAN
WHO PUT THIS ALL TOGETHER, DOUG
HUMPHREYS, WHO'S THE COORDINATOR
OF ALL OF THIS, AS WELL AS A
PROFESSOR AT THE EASTMAN SCHOOL
OF MUSIC CO-CHAIR OF THE PIANO
DEPARTMENT JOINS ME THIS
AFTERNOON AS WE CELEBRATE THE
TALENT OF ALL OF THESE TEENAGERS
COMING INTO THE CITY OF
ROCHESTER TO TAKE PART IN THIS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST THING
THAT ALWAYS OCCURS TO ME WHEN I
LOOK AT IT, HOW DIFFICULT THAT
PARTICULAR PIECE IS.
>> THAT 14 TO 18-YEAR-OLDS ARE
PLAYING "PATRISHKA" AND "ISLAME"
CONCERTOS.
IT'S INTERESTING THIS AGE IS
WHERE THE MOST PROGRESS AND MOST
ADVANCEMENT NEEDS TO BE TAKING
PLACE FOR STUDENTS WHO REALLY
WANT TO MAKE A CAREER -- MAKE A
CAREER IN MUSIC.
IT'S NOT LIKE A LOT OF OTHER
DISCIPLINES WHERE YOU CAN WALK
INTO COLLEGE WHEN YOU'RE 18 AND
DECIDE ON WHAT YOUR MAJOR IS.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR TECHNIQUE
IN PLACE BY THE TIME YOU'RE 12
AND 13.
THERE IS A LOT OF STRESS AND
INTENSITY INVOLVED, BUT THEY ASK
FOR THAT.
THEY WANT THAT.
THEY ARE DRIVEN BY THESE KINDS
OF OPPORTUNITIES AND THEY LOOK
FORWARD TO IT.
BUT I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING
TO REMEMBER ABOUT COMPETITIONS
IS THAT IT'S THE PREPARATION
PROCESS BECAUSE THE LEVEL OF
PRACTICE AND THE INTENSITY THAT
IT REQUIRES TO BE PREPARED AND
TO ARRIVE PREPARED TO PLAY IN
SEVERAL ROUNDS AND WITH LARGE
AMOUNTS OF REPERTOIRE, BIG
REPERTOIRE AND ALL OF THAT IS
WHAT BUILDS THE PROCESS OF
MUSICAL DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK THAT YOU START BY
LOOKING FOR THE PERSON WHO'S
TRUE TO THE SCORE, WHO HAS THE
COMPOSER'S INTENTIONS IN MIND.
YOU LOOK FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS A
PARTICULAR OR AN UNUSUAL
APPROACH IN TERMS OF THEIR OWN
TALENT AND IS ABLE TO
COMMUNICATE THEIR INDIVIDUALITY
THROUGH THE SCORE.
SO THE FACT THAT OUR STUDENT
BODY AT EASTMAN IS VERY
INTERNATIONAL AND VERY DIVERSE
IS REFLECTED IN THE ART OF PIANO
PLAYING, AND ONE OF THE GREAT
THINGS ABOUT INTERNATIONAL PIANO
COMPETITIONS IS THAT YOU FIND
THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT
COMMUNICATE AND MAKE FRIENDS AND
SHARE MUSICAL THOUGHT THAT DON'T
NECESSARILY UNDERSTAND EACH
OTHER'S LANGUAGES.
>> Wyatt: AND THIS YEAR'S WINNER
IS ESTER PARK FROM LITTLE FERRY,
NEW JERSEY.
CONGRATULATIONS, ESTER.
THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR
THIS EDITION OF "NEED TO KNOW."
WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN
NEXT WEEK.
(Music)