Rochester gets big money

The City of Rochester was awarded 4 million dollars Tuesday to renovate four vacant buildings into apartments and offices.

 Mimi Freund Tilton owns the Parry Building on Mill Street in Center City.  The state is giving her $300,000 towards her renovation project, which costs 2 and a half million.  "It will give us the opportunity to finish it off and make it more black then red at the bottom.”

Mimi is putting the finishing touches on six loft bedroom units.  She's already brought in one business tenant for part of the building's two floors of office space.  Born and raised in Rochester, this project is personal for her.  "You've got a real community here.  It's the start of a real place."

Monies from the “Restore New York Initiative” will also transform three historic buildings from the 19th century, The Academy Building on Fitzhugh Street and the Cox and HH Warren buildings on St. Paul Street.

Between all four, 145 apartment units will be built, as well as about 50,000 square feet of new office, business and restaurant space.  "We're going to do make sure we do everything we can to rehabilitate old neighborhoods, old buildings and improve the economy of the Rochester, Monroe County area," said Republican Senator Jim Alesi of Perinton.

The Center City project is expected to increase foot traffic and bring more business to downtown. 

The remaining two million dollars will go towards demolishing 2,800 vacant or abandoned residential properties in the city.

The village of Dansville will get two-and-a-half million dollars for the “Castle on The Hill” restoration project.

It's on the state's seven landmarks to save list.