< Back to Previous Page Midtown Plaza Redevelopment Progress Announced (Rochester, New York) Mayor Robert J. Duffy held a news conference today to discuss the Midtown Plaza redevelopment project. Joining the Mayor were Empire State Development (ESD) Chief Operating Officer, Ken Schoetz; PAETEC Holdings, Inc. Chairman and CEO, Arunas A. Chesonis; and members of the Midtown Rising project advisory and stakeholder committees. The officials provided a status update of their progress and explained the process and opportunities for public information and input and unveiled the website MidtownRochesterRising.com. The website will serve as a public portal to information about the project. It contains media releases, milestones, schedules, images, business relocation information and parking and traffic news. The website will be updated frequently and maintained by the City’s Economic Development Department. “I want to provide the public with information about what we’ve done, where we are and where we are going with the Midtown Plaza properties,” said Mayor Duffy. “Thanks to Governor Paterson and Arunas Chesonis, we have a long-term strategy to revitalize the heart of our city. That strategy involves capitalizing on our city’s unique assets and utilizing public-private partnerships to spur investment and greater economic development. This project will lay the foundation for recreating downtown as the place to live, work and do business.” ESD is providing $55 million for asbestos abatement and demolition of Rochester’s Midtown Plaza to make way for the new corporate headquarters building for PAETEC Holdings, Inc., and a mixed use urban space. “New York State is very pleased to be playing such a vital role in the rebirth of Rochester’s Midtown Plaza,” said Upstate ESD Chief Operating Officer, Ken Schoetz. “This important project is set to serve as a catalyst for a downtown revival, stimulating additional private ventures and job creation. Governor Paterson is committed to strengthening our Upstate cities by supporting projects like this that are the cornerstone for sustained and continuous growth. The redevelopment of Midtown Plaza is a central component in contributing to Rochester’s economic stability and global competitiveness. The forwardmovement of this pivotal project is both encouraging and exciting, as it reinforces the bright future that lies ahead for Rochester.” One of the largest telecommunication companies in the United States, PAETEC 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 more than 1,000 employees (including the 800 existing employees). Contact New York real estate lawyers from the law firm of Weinstein, Chase, Messinger and Peters, P.C. ,