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From State Funding Approved for Demolition of Terrence Building in Rochester

How could state funding for demolition affect the Rochester city council?

Already happening What happens if… A possibility worth considering, not a forecast.

Rochester city council must process $20 million state funding for demolition Governor Kathy Hochul announced $20 million in state funding to support the asbestos abatement and demolition of the Terrence Building in Rochester. To move the project forward, the City Council must act as a pass-through for this funding to reimburse the developer, Whitestone Development Partners. The City Council has already voted unanimously to take on this role, allowing the demolition process to proceed, though the abatement and demolition phases are estimated to take about a year each.

Reported by 1 independent outlet Written Oct 10
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How it reaches city council

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The facts so far

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  • Governor Kathy Hochul announced $20 million in state funding for asbestos abatement and demolition.13wham.com
  • The Terrence Building is a 17-story, 500,000-square-foot structure abandoned in 1995.13wham.com
  • The Rochester City Council voted unanimously to act as a pass-through for the $20 million in state funding.13wham.com
  • The asbestos abatement and demolition processes could take about a year each.13wham.com

Why it matters

The demolition of the Terrence Building is considered transformational for the southeast section of Rochester and is critical for housing needs. Officials previously announced that more than 500 housing units would eventually take the building's place, addressing a long-standing issue of the building being an eyesore and a hot spot for vandals since it was abandoned in 1995.

This project is a response to the building's severe deterioration, which has been riddled with asbestos and has seen police responding 17 times in 2026 for suspicious calls. The City Council's role as the pass-through mechanism is essential to unlock the state funding and allow the redevelopment to begin.

What we don't know yet

  • What is the final timeline for the asbestos abatement and demolition processes?
  • How will the community weigh in on the plans for replacing the building with housing units?

What would change this answer

The City Council delays the pass-through voteThe demolition timeline will become uncertain, potentially stalling the housing development.
Whitestone Development Partners changes its terms or declines the reimbursementThe City Council's role as a pass-through body would be nullified, halting the project.

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  • About Rochester Fee

    Does the city council's role as a pass-through mechanism involve any specific local fees or taxes related to the Terrence Building's demolition?

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The full eventState Funding Approved for Demolition of Terrence Building in Rochester Everything aboutcity council

Brind's analysis is written by AI from the reporting linked above and can be wrong. This explainer is a possibility worth considering, not a forecast: steps marked as Brind's reasoning are not stated in the reporting. It is not investment advice; do your own research.