Progress with the East Rochester Village Hall Move
By: Ali Touhey
Updated: February 1, 2013
East Rochester-- East Rochester village officials have been trying to move the village offices for years.
East Rochester Mayor Frederick Ricci met with Senator Ted O'Brien on Friday, following concerns about $750,000 from the state's capitol fund promised by former Senator Jim Alesi. The money is needed if the village hall is going to move locations.
After all, the current hall has seen better days.
"It's falling apart," explained Mayor Ricci. "It's too difficult to maintain."
For example, the roof leaks when it rains.
"To be safe, when we go home at night we put the plastic up so that in the morning everything is where it should be," said village administrator, Martin D'Ambrose.
Yet another problem, the building isn't handicap accessible. Stairs are the only way up to the second floor. So, anytime someone in a wheel chair wants to attend a court proceeding they have to move any hearings back downstairs.
"It's not convenient but it's all we can do. We priced an elevator about 15 years ago and it was just not feasible."
They've also run out of room.
That's why the plan is to move from the current offices to the nearby Eyer Building.
It was given to the village as a gift about four years ago.
They'd demolish the current hall and library to create additional parking. A project with an $8 million pricetag.
The village board has already approved a 5.5 million loan that would need to be paid back over 30 years.
The remaining money coming from state aid and various grants.
According to the mayor, state funds are still up in the air. Still, he says the project would be cost neutral. And here's why: 15,000 square feet of the Eyer Building would be used for commercial space.
"We'll have major tenants in there. A lot of the income that's created from the lease space will be used to pay for the rest of the project, as well as offset the cost of any bond that we take out."
Residents we spoke with hope the move actually happens.
"I support it. It's nice to have a change," said Jennifer Catalano.
"I think it's going to change the face and the look of the village East Rochester."
Senator O'Brien didn't respond to our requests for comment.
The mayor hopes to know more by the next village meeting scheduled for February 11.
