GRASSO/ZIMMER ROCHESTER DOWNTOWN REVITALISATION PLAN

Subject: Rochester Old Erie Canal

Friends and colleagues:

Greetings from sun-drenched Rochester, New York. I attach 2 documents for a plan to re-water the Old Erie Canal in downtown Rochester as an engine of economic revitalization and tourist attraction.

The attached outline and map (produced by David Edwards-May of Euromapping in France with data supplied by Tim Zimmer)) are the most up to date editions.

For  those that aren’t that familiar with Rochester transportation history here are the salient points:

  1. Old Erie Canal came to Rochester in 1822-23 and is abandoned through the city in favor of a new route around the city in 1920.   
  2. The canal route through the city is purchased by the City of Rochester and converted to a light rail/subway around 1926
  3. That portion in the immediate city center is roofed over by building Broad Street over the top of the U-shaped canal/rail bed below
  4. The “subway”/light rail transit system is abandoned in 1956
  5. Except for the Broad Street city center “tunnel section” the entire canal/rail corridor is built over or in-filled or both after 1956
  6. The City of Rochester believes the old tunnel portion of the canal/ rail right of way downtown (the Broad Street tunnel in local parlance) is in danger of collapse
  7. The city wants to fill in the “tunnel section” (approximately 21 million US dollars) and rebuild Broad Street on top- except for that portion across the Genesee River which is located in the 1842 old Erie Canal Aqueduct
  8. Myself, Rory Zimmer, his brother Tim and have come up with a plan to not fill in the canal right-of-way but recreate the old Erie Canal in downtown  and tie it in to the existing 20th century Erie Canal. This plan is shown on the attachments.
  9. Railroad enthusiasts want to restore the subway/light rail in the tunnel

If you want you may communicate your thoughts on this project by drawing on examples from your experience with the European and other inland waterways networks plus your own knowledge base.

You may address your comments or essay to:

Local Newspaper:

Speaking Out Editor  M. Kathleen Wagner phone 585-258-2414  email: dceditpage@DemocratandChronicle.com

City of Rochester:

Mr. Edward Doherty
Commissioner of Environmental Services
City Hall Room 300B
30 Church Street
 Rochester, New York 14618
 USA

Phone: 585-428-6855     email:  edoherty@cityofrochester.gov

All best cheers,

Tom

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GRASSO/ZIMMER ROCHESTER DOWNTOWN REVITALISATION PLAN

Re-watering the Old Erie Canal

1. Remove Broad Street from Rundel Library and South Avenue West to Brown Street a distance of approximately 1 mile exposing the original old Erie Canal alignment

2. Through the right-of-way restore the only intact, urban, 1842 old Erie Canal Aqueduct and the old Erie Canal to Jay Street. Connect the old restored canal to the existing Erie Canal and NYS Canal System through a round lock for boats not to exceed 100 feet long, 19.5 feet beam, and 6 feet draft on the east side of the Genesee River

3. The canalized Genesee River, behind the Court St. Dam, is 3 feet higher than the historic level of the old Erie Canal across the aqueduct. Therefore the river provides more than enough water for the entire length of restored canal

4. Construct a small conventional lock in front of the War Memorial lowering the canal 7 feet west of the lock. This permits boats to pass beneath cross streets (like Plymouth Ave.) without resorting to lift bridges. (BOTH LOCKS OPERATED BY BOATERS AND TOUR BOAT COMPANIES NO LOCK TENDER NEEDED)

5. Construct a terminal basin also used as a turn around between Brown and Jay Streets. The old Erie Canal becomes “an inner harbor”.

6. Overflow spill ways to drain water back to the Genesee River and control the water level in the canal, preventing stagnation and spilling excess water coming in from lockings, built beneath Rundel Library and one near Brown Street

7. CONCLUSION: Results in a "BRAND NAME" waterway uniting new ball parks, High Falls, historic canal side buildings/warehouses along Broad and Main Streets, Convention Center, War Memorial, restaurants with the existing Erie Canal, Cornhill Landing and proposed Brooks Avenue Landing/U of R. Unrivalled potential for economic revitalization and tourism. Has potential to blow San Antonio out of the water certainly Providence, Rhode Island and the Bricktown Canal in Oklahoma City. IS THE WEST SIDE BOOKEND COMPLIMENTING THE EAST SIDE RENNAISANCE SQUARE.

Waterway utilized by water taxis, tour boats, hire boats, pleasure boats, canoes, kayaks, row boats, and paddle boats (water torches at night)—ice skating in Winter. Landside use: strolling, biking, roller balding, dinning, shopping, lodging at hotels and B&B’s, picnicking, green space, concerts and festivals, people gathering places

8. Projected total cost probably well below 100 million dollars

T.X. Grasso & R.W. Zimmer         17 June 2005                      TOP

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