Charrette Design Guidelines Unveiled

The evening of March 27th, 2008 saw the official unveiling of The Upper Monroe Charrette Design Guidelines created by the Rochester Regional Community Design Center (RRCDC), Commissioned by UMNA, the guidelines’ purpose is to further the Charrette implementation process. Over thirty people witnessed the presentation by Roger Brown of the RRCDC that focused on questions of building appearance and aesthetics and using the design guidelines as a long term tool to improve the physical appearance of Monroe Avenue. Also present was City Council Vice President (and Upper Monroe neighbor) William Pritchard who was impressed with both the results and neighborhood turnout. The meeting also included a discussion of other issues concerning the neighborhood and what we all can do to help. If you are interested in being involved, please see the member form on page 4 of this newsletter. A copy of the Design Guidelines will be soon available at the neighborhood website: www.uppermonroeavenue.org

Survey Results Identify Top Five Desired Businesses in Upper Monroe

Many thanks to all our neighbors who completed the Upper Monroe Business Survey, which was included in the Fall 2007 Upper Monroe News. According to survey respondents, we here in Upper Monroe are clamoring most for a coffee shop and a bakery, although a more recent survey might have produced strong votes for a Chinese restaurant and a sub shop, given the recent departure of just such establishments. Survey results have been delivered to Bill Jones, who is working to foster economic development in our neighborhood. The Charrette Implementation Committee has access to the survey for development of their plans as well. And of course we should all remember to support the fine local businesses that are already here. The top five vote-getters were: coffee shop, bakery, restaurant, theater/ performance venue, and park space. Once again, thanks to all who took the time to complete the survey!

Charrette Implementation Struggles Along

As chairperson of the UMNA Charrette Implementation Committee, I can tell you we have been struggling with implementation of the neighborhood charrette recommendations during the past year. The story is too long to tell here in a brief newsletter, so I encourage you to go to UMNA’s web site at http://www.uppermonroeavenue.org/Design%20Charrette.html to get the full story.

There has been progress: We constructed a community garden at the corner of Belmont and Monroe using a $2,000 NeighborGood grant from the Rochester Area Foundation. We discussed state multi-modal funding of the Culver Road narrowing project with Assemblymember Susan John’s staff. David Walsh is leading the Armory Site sub-committee, which is considering actions for the Culver Road Armory site (including a possible $4,000 City grant thanks to City Councilman Bill Pritchard). Architectural renderings and cost estimates have been developed for the New Life Presbyterian Church front yard “piazza” thanks to a $1,000 grant from the Genesee Valley Presbytery and Victor Presbyterian church. A Gateway Sub-committee conducted its own pedestrian counts on the I-490/Monroe Avenue bridge and has had discussions with the City’s bridge engineer. And the Urban Village/Design Guidelines sub-committee is negotiating an agreement with the Rochester Regional Design Center (RRCDC) for design guidelines for several buildings in the 900 block of Monroe.

As I reflect on the above projects, I see we have indeed been busy in implementing charrette ideas. But we have much more to do. Coming up with ideas to improve our neighborhood is the fun part; implementing those ideas is the struggle, but ultimtately the most satisfying part. We welcome your involvement in keeping this initiative going. We encourage you to pick a charrette sub-committee (or the over-all Charrette Committee itself) and to help implement UMNA neighborhood improvements in that sub-area. Without this involvement, all our work with the charrette may be lost. Please give us a hand.

A Project for the Whole Community

By Josh Bauroth

Over the past year you may have noticed banners, posters, meetings, ice cream socials, and a certain buzz around the neighborhood. That’s because individuals and organizations interested in making Upper Monroe a better place to live have devoted endless hours and energy to organizing, holding, and following up on our Upper Monroe Neighborhood Charrette.

A Charrette is a sort of public brainstorming meeting with architects, designers, volunteers and neighbors figuring out how they want their neighborhood to be. We held ours in October, 2004. After the initial Charette, two separate public feedbacks and a final presentation of results have been held.

To view the charrette vision plan, go to http://uppermonroeavenue.org/Design%20Charrette.html . During the past month you may have been contacted in regard to committee participation in one of five subjects (Gateways to Upper Monroe, the Urban Village, Culver Avenue, the Armory, or Neighborhood theme). If you haven’t, contact a member of UMNA to get involved in directing our neighborhood’s future!

The Charrette has given us a direction, help us get there! Finally, take a walk past the new Belmont Garden (at the corner of Belmont and Monroe) to see one of the first concrete results of the Upper Monroe Neighborhood Charrette. It’s a beautiful site!

CHARRETTE PROGRESS

This past year has seen many exciting developments arising from the Upper Monroe Charrette. As you may know, a charrette is a sort of neighborhood brainstorming session with neighbors, designers and architects figuring out their vision for the neighborhood’s future. Upper Monroe volunteers have hosted numerous meetings and events in the past two years and have achieved a great deal already.

While obvious projects such as the Belmont Garden attract our attention, there has been a LOT of work behind the scenes that should bear fruit in the near future. For example, in collaboration with property owners on Monroe Avenue, we have commissioned design guidelines for new building facades, architectural drawings for the front of the New Life Church, a submission for public funding of traffic studies at our three gateways, and on-going subcommittee work drawing out plans for areas such as Culver Road and the Armory site. These are not necessarily “sexy” tasks, but they are crucial to our future. The pool of volunteers, who are putting forth the effort and time to complete these tasks, are doing a huge service to our neighborhood as a whole.

But we could use your help. If you are interested in contributing to one of the charrette subcommittees, please contact Joshua Bauroth at 429-5445. Please take a moment to help the neighborhood out.

Upper Monroe receives $8,000 Kodak charrette implementation grant

The Upper Monroe Planning Collaboration which includes UMNA reps has received some great news--Kodak has awarded it $8,000 to help pay for charrette expenses and to help implement charrette ideas. The Planning Collaborative is now in the process of deciding how to best spend the funds. This grant is a great boost toward seeing that our charrette ideas become reality. Many thanks to the Eastman Kodak Company for supporting our neighborhood improvement efforts. Could we borrow a Kodak logo?

Upper Monroe Planning Collaborative decides to pay the Rochester Regional Design Center (RRDC) $5,000 to develop a "Physical Vison Plan"

The RRDC is a non-profit group of volunteer architects who help neighborhoods conduct neighborhood design charrettes and help with charrette follow-up activities. RRDC has conducted charrettes throughout Monroe County and it was instrumental in bringing architects and planners together to help with the Upper Monroe charrette. The Planning Collaborative paid RRDC $3,000 to assist with the charrette and the City paid another $3,000. For these funds, RRDC helped with the charrette and produced a transcript of the charrette ideas complete with scanned drawings from the charrette tables. The report will form the basis for the project selection focus groups that will meet on February 10th. The report is now being reviewed by Planning Collaborative members.

RRDC has proposed the creation of a "Physical Vision Plan" with concept drawings for at least five sub-areas or specific projects selected by the neighborhood. This "post-charrette" work would cost $5,000. The Physical Plan will be used to create a neighborhood theme and to provide a framework for all improvements in the neighborhood.

The sub-area/project architectural renderings and drawings will be used to seek public and private grants for project implementation. While the $5,000 could be used for implementation projects (garden materials, sculptures, banners and the like), the Planning Collaborative saw the need to have a comprehensive framework and vision to insure all future neighborhood improvement projects fit together. We also saw the need to "spend some money to make (find) some money," that is have professional drawings to make it easier to obtain future grants. In addition, the neighborhood and the Planning Collaborative only have limited time and energy to develop a neighborhood vision and select projects for implementation. RRDC can help keep the charrette ideas moving forward by using volunteer architects as resources.

So, we will be working with RRDC over the next six months or so to develop this "Physical Vision Plan" for our neighborhood. Neighborhood residents are needed to help decide what to include in this vision. The Implementation Focus Group meeting on February 10th will go a long way in selecting priority projects; however, follow-up meetings will be needed as well. Come join us for these meetings. Help develop the "Physical Vision" for our neighborhood. Contact John Thomas at 442-2035 or john@cityofrochester.gov if you want to be involved (and aren't already on our charrette implementation e-mail list).

What do YOU think of the idea of a Monroe "Florridor?"

One of the Upper Monroe charrette tasks was to develop ideas for a "theme" for the neighborhood. Several suggestions emerged, including building on the Crosman Seed Company history and its connection with the flower seed industry in the 1800's. Another idea was to continue the "wrought iron" theme of Huey's "Le Lemon Grass" wrought iron railings up and down Monroe Avenue. One creative soul who shall remain anonymous to protect the innocent suggested we combine the two ideas and develop a Monroe Crosman Seed Flower Corridor with a focus on wrought iron designs--a florridor, get it? For example, we could include wrought iron flowers and other wrought iron designs into all the neighborhood improvement projects along Monroe. Whatscha think? Is this a good or a bad idea? Send an email or contact any of the UMNA Officers. Or, talk about it on our blog: http://umnablog.blogspot.com/

UMNA submits Application for 2005 NeighborGood grant

UMNA has submitted an application for a $2,000 grant to design and construct a Belmont Corner garden at 1088 Monroe Avenue (north west corner across Belmont from Jeremiah's). Using City assistance, the project would replace the chain link fence with a flower garden complete with a "flowerette" art piece designed and manufactured by an area metal smith. The art piece base would be made with mosaic glass collected by neighborhood children. The garden was suggested as part of the October Upper Monroe design charrette. Thus, the garden could be considered the first neighborhood improvement project coming out of the charrette.

The grant was submitted to the Rochester Area Community Foundation in December with grant announcements expected in March. Should UMNA obtain the grant, we will be looking for neighborhood residents to help with the design and plantings. Stay tuned....

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