Rochester council OKs $20M state pass-through for Terrence Building demolition

On Oct. 20, Rochester City Council approved legislation authorizing the city to receive $20 million from Empire State Development and appropriate it to Terrence Building owner 293 A Alden Road LLC for demolition. The vote advances a funding mechanism; it does not establish that the money has been disbursed or demolition has begun.

Council had voted to demolish the building in 2017, but that was a separate action. WXXI reported earlier demolition estimates of $15 million to $20 million. The newly authorized amount matches the top of that reported range, but it is not an established final cost.

The 17-story former state psychiatric hospital closed in 1995 and has been vacant since. Its owner has separately proposed a mixed-use development with more than 500 affordable and market-rate homes. Does the council vote approve those homes? No. It concerns demolition funding and does not establish housing approval, financing or a construction schedule.