Rochester, New York
Bull's Head: The Scenic Route to Growth, Equity, and Inclusion
Once the bustling, commercially vibrant western gateway of Rochester, the Bull’s Head neighborhood has experienced significant disinvestment over the last several decades, becoming a place that many merely pass through. Past planning efforts by the city have been unable to substantially reverse the decline of the neighborhood. However, recent efforts by the city to positively impact this area led to the establishment of a 12-acre redevelopment site that the city hopes will spark regeneration within the commercial center of Bull’s Head and beyond. The city of Rochester (this panel’s sponsor) asked ULI to convene a virtual Advisory Services panel (vASP) focusing on this 12-acre site to provide strategic recommendations on retail development potential, small and local business recruitment strategies, and the neighborhood’s identity within the city and region as the area redevelops.
During its three-and-a-half-day engagement, the panel acknowledged the challenges, both past and present, that have affected this community over time and those that continue to present barriers today. Recommendations focused on taking advantage of the opportunities that exist within Bull’s Head now and building an economic and market foundation to develop supportable retail over time. The panel also focused on critical steps for developing an inclusive and shared vision for Bull’s Head involving an intentional approach to community engagement. A crucial component of success would include the ability to incubate and nurture a community where equity is key, with more opportunities to create businesses, jobs, and housing options that reflect the choices of the community and foster a sense of belonging.
Recognizing the challenges of converting plans into action, the panel provided high-level implementation strategies and an approach that focuses on the completion of actions in the short, medium, and long terms to establish a shared vision for Bull’s Head and make it a reality.
Report Summary: Once the bustling, commercially vibrant western gateway of Rochester, the Bull’s Head neighborhood has experienced significant disinvestment over the last several decades, becoming a place that many merely pass through. Past planning efforts by the city have been unable to substantially reverse the decline of the neighborhood. However, recent efforts by the city to positively impact this area led to the establishment of a 12-acre redevelopment site that the city hopes will spark regeneration within the commercial center of Bull’s Head and beyond. The city of Rochester (this panel’s sponsor) asked ULI to convene a virtual Advisory Services panel (vASP) focusing on this 12-acre site to provide strategic recommendations on retail development potential, small and local business recruitment strategies, and the neighborhood’s identity within the city and region as the area redevelops.
During its three-and-a-half-day engagement, the panel acknowledged the challenges, both past and present, that have affected this community over time and those that continue to present barriers today. Recommendations focused on taking advantage of the opportunities that exist within Bull’s Head now and building an economic and market foundation to develop supportable retail over time. The panel also focused on critical steps for developing an inclusive and shared vision for Bull’s Head involving an intentional approach to community engagement. A crucial component of success would include the ability to incubate and nurture a community where equity is key, with more opportunities to create businesses, jobs, and housing options that reflect the choices of the community and foster a sense of belonging.
Recognizing the challenges of converting plans into action, the panel provided high-level implementation strategies and an approach that focuses on the completion of actions in the short, medium, and long terms to establish a shared vision for Bull’s Head and make it a reality.