ROCHESTER — The southern end of IBM’s former campus may have a new target in the future. The land could be used for other housing in Rochester, while the city is in position as a possible site for the planned sports and recreation complex. .
“No agreement has been reached at this time,” IRG Realty Advisors Vice President Evan Vlaeminck told campus residents Tuesday.
Vlaeminck said the plan aims to identify the potential progression from the 180 to 200 acres of undeveloped land in the 490-acre Array. Any additions to the area would avoid existing buildings.
“We have every intention of continuing to lease, expand and expand the existing old IBM campus and keep it productive, successful and as a component of Rochester’s business community,” he said.
Plans also call for widening Northwest 37th Street to reconnect with Valleyhigh Drive and create an area for possible hotels or retail stores. The city is currently reviewing a request to subdivide the assets to create a variety of developable lots.
“We need more than ever to open this facility to the grid,” Vlaeminck said. “The reasons for its closure are in the rearview mirror. “
While IBM continues to lease the site, operations have been scaled back and previous security measures, other than restricting access, are no longer in place.
While some neighbors expressed interest in seeing the progression of advertising on the north end of the property, considerations largely revolved around the south end, where neighboring homes on the north side of 26th Street to the northwest abutt an open field.
Vlaeminck said the open area was designed for possible residential development in the 1950s, when it was owned by IBM, and that the new proposal builds on that concept.
Citing the need for more housing options, he said IRG Realty Advisors had been in talks with asset developers, but no deal had been finalized. The plan includes the construction of potential townhouses without delay north of the existing neighborhood, with the option to build apartment structures closer to the existing advertising and advertising structures.
Alexander Berlick, assignment manager for Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. , said existing plans call for the structure of a trail along the southern boundary, offering a potential buffer zone for neighbors as well as a connection to other pedestrian services as it develops.
At the same time, he said many major points will be decided as developers move forward in creating faster plans.
“This is a general plan, it remains adaptable,” he said of the existing proposal. “Nothing is set in stone. ”
Vlaeminck also showed that the owners have discussed promoting the southern portion of the assets to the city for the creation of a regional sports and recreation complex, which is expected to be built with $65 million in local asset taxes. complex to be built on 75 to 90 acres.
“There are things I have a confidentiality agreement for,” he told neighbors.
He said there are no site plans for a proposed sports and recreation facility at the northwest Rochester site, but the plans will connect to existing streets and parking lots.
“We made a commitment to the people to paint with them in the sports complex,” he said. “We have not signed with the people. The town also has other avenues to explore for the sports complex. »
City staff also cited discussions about possible purchases to locate the facility outside the existing city limits. One possible location is east of the Shoppes on Main shopping center in southeast Rochester, and another is west of Valleyhigh Road and the 60th Avenue roundabout just northwest of Rochester.
For now, Vlaeminck said there are a variety of features for the former IBM site, which come with additional work, adding the completion of a traffic study and a long-term environmental assessment.
“It’s not something that’s going to happen next week, or even next year,” he said of the planned progression at the site. “This is a long-term evolution to make this campus more incorporated into the community. “