Left to Right: Ruben Parr, Anthony Soprano, David Rocco, Mayor Thomas S. Richards, Ron Christenson and Sunil Cheriyan

(Friday, July 12, 2013)- Mayor Thomas S. Richards joined University of Rochester President Joel Seligman, developer Ron Christenson, President of the Christenson Corporation, City Council President Lovely A. Warren, Councilmembers Dana Miller and Loretta Scott and community representatives from the 19111 Ward Community Association, PLEX (Plymouth Avenue and Exchange Street) neighborhood, Sector 4 Community Development Corp., the SouthWest Common Council and the Genesee Corridor Business Association for a groundbreaking ceremony today at The Flats at Brooks Crossing, 1500 S. Plymouth Ave.

“The Flats at Brooks Crossing will be an excellent addition to Rochester’s southwest that will create jobs,” said Mayor Richards. “When this project is complete, we’ll welcome 170 residents to the neighborhood … 170 residents, who will use local services, eat in local restaurants and add to the vitality of the Brooks Landing area, continuing the momentum of community revitalization in the neighborhood .”

The $18.7 million project consists of a 12-story mixed-use building near the corner of Brooks Avenue and Genesee Street, with a second, 4,000 square foot, sing le-story building facing Genesee Street. Approximately 200 construction jobs will be created during the course of construction, and 40 permanent jobs are expected to be created when the buildings are complete, as early as summer 2014.

The University of Rochester will be the main tenant of the riverfront building, with 10 floors of housing accommodating 170 students, a common area and a lower-level scull boat house. A 5,000 square foot restaurant will open on the first floor of the building. The 19th Ward Community Association, residents from PLEX and representatives of the Sector 4 Community Development Corporation, SouthWest Common Council and the Genesee Corridor Business Association have been very involved with the Brooks Landing planning processes over the past 25 years and offered input at public meetings held regarding the development of the Brooks Landing area. Community members, as well as the Christenson Corporation hope that a credit union will become the tenant of the single-story building .