On January 22, 2024, Rochester’s City Council approved the designation of the Downtown Commercial Historic District due to the importance of this original central business districts' value in contributing to the development, heritage, and cultural significance of Rochester.

Since then, the City of Rochester and Destination Medical Center initiated a planning process to create a Vision Plan for the Historic District with a specific focus on the public realm. This new project aims to envision a future for the outdoor public spaces in the district and is a key step to improve the public realm. It will provide a roadmap for creating cohesive, inclusive, and well-designed spaces that reflect the community needs and aspirations for the Historic District.

This website is fully dedicated to community outreach, communications, and updates about this project. Community outreach and engagement is beginning to take shape. Stay tuned to this page for more information on dates and ways to engage, including in upcoming workshops, online mapping, online surveys, and more!