Preserve the Diginity of the Divinity School Campus

Although site specific, insensitive development of the CRCDS property would also erode the beauty of Rochester's "emerald necklace", while setting a degrading precedent.

This project will decimate one of the most beautiful areas of our city. Our Community and City Leadership need to make proper choices for the future. The agreements the developer are making are not sustainable ones. Greed is not good, relative to our environment, homes and lives. We have to start making changes for the good of everyone. Examine the truth.

Maps and photographs taken one hundred years ago show a large-scale quarry for the easy extraction of sand and gravel at the South Clinton Avenue portion of the same Highland Hill moraine hillside occupied by Colgate. Pursue due diligence with a fully-completed environmental quality review before City Council considers permission for building and excavation at this fragile and unstable site.

I live on Gregory HIll Rd. in the city of Rochester and walk through the campus many days each week. I agree that 'preserving' the buildings while destroying the campus skyline with poorly placed and too-tall buildings would destroy the campus aesthetic. Here are other issues that may not have been considered: 1) The proposed division into six parcels with the historic buildings on three different parcels suggests an endgame where the owners of the parcels with the historic buildings declare bankrupcy and the buildings are, ultimately, not preserved. (I was unable to tell if the parcels with the projected new buildings would also have the historic buildings) 2) It seems the planned apartments are much more desirable for the developers than the originally planned ones on Highland Ave -- they'll have better views. It seemed to me this was the plan all along -- Start with a proposal to build on Highland that Brighton people object to due to the view of the grassy slope. The developers wanted the buildings on Highland Park ridge all along. Agreeing to the current proposal would privilege concerns of Brighton residents over concerns of Rochester residents. I think that maintaining the view up the grassy slope from Highland is less important than maintaining the campus aesthetic and skyline for city residents. 3) I think the best end-game win for the city and residents might be to put any new apartments/hotel/commercial buildings where the mid-century dormitories currently are. The idea of rehabbing those dormitories strikes me as unlikely. They're rundown, probably without great value. Building new buildings on their footprint would have the advantage of not changing the footprint. I realize they would tower over some people on Highland Parkway and Greenview. But I think such a modest plan would affect the least number of people and best maintain the campus views and aesthetic. There are better alternatives to consider! Vote no! This plan doesn't fit!

I am pessimistic about this contractor being able to complete this project. I envision a half completed mess, destroying the beauty and tranquility of these neighborhoods.

The divinity school buildings and grounds are a treasure that we must preserve.