This Rochester Corner Is Looking a Lot Different Lately

As we've said before, one of the only constants in life is change. And a certain corner in downtown Rochester sure is changing these days.

A few weeks ago, I posted about the fate of the various Rosie Bell buildings along 4th Street and Broadway in downtown Rochester and how they finally had a date with the wrecking ball.

The buildings, originally hoped to be developed into performing arts center, had been sitting vacant for nearly a decade on a corner that now could be some prime real estate, as DMC planning starts kicking into high gear here in the Med City.

Which is why the corner of 4th and Broadway looks strikingly different these days. Yes, crews have been hard at work demolishing those three buildings.  When I walked by Wednesday afternoon, it looked to me like they'd torn two almost completely down.

And with demolition set for the other building, that corner will change looks again in the not-too-distant future, as well. While it's kind of cool to envision what modern buildings might eventually take shape in this space, I'll admit that seeing these old guys torn down gave me a slight pause, too.

I mean, records indicate they were originally built way back in 1878. Rutherford Hayes was president then, and Rochester's population was right around 5,000. Fast-forward 139 years, Donald Trump's in the White House and Rochester's population is now around 112,000.  That's quite a change!

Just think of all the things that have happened during all those years those buildings have been standing. I wonder what will take their place?