University Avenue Apartment Building Controversy Heats Up

The George Eastman House has set up a website opposing the construction of a proposed four-story apartment building that would be built next door.

Eastman House Director Bruce Barnes said it would drastically change the look of the neighborhood.

It has written a letter to the city and is urging others to do the same.

The Eastman House, a national historic landmark, also has interest in the neighboring property.

The veteran's organization, Monroe Voiture, sits next door to the Eastman House.

It owns the clubhouse on the space but other community groups also use it.

It has made a deal with Morgan Management to build an apartment building and a new vets clubhouse on the location.

Initial plans were for four stories and more than 100 apartments.

Neighbors had complained the initial plans were too modern for the neighborhood.

The Eastman House said it would create traffic issues and damages the aesthetics of its property, saying no building has been built more than two stories in the neighborhood since the 1970's.

"It would need to be a very radically different project for us to consider not being in opposition to it. I simply think an apartment building on that lot is not appropriate," said Bruce Barnes, Eastman House Director.

Barnes said if the project doesn't work out, the Eastman House will have a plan that would benefit the veterans group and also allow them to expand in the future.

However, Barnes said this fight is more about preserving the neighborhood, than the museum's future expansion.

Morgan Management is revealing altered building plans at a meeting at the Visual Studies Workshop at 6pm.

Rochester's preservation board still would need to approve any plans that move forward.

The Eastman House has put up an opposition website located here.

For more information about Morgan Management click here.