Vacuum Oil Brownfield Opportunity Area

The City of Rochester continues to move forward with its goal of redeveloping former industrial sites along the South Genesee River. This area is impacted by a series of large, blighted brownfield properties, relics of this neighborhood’s industrial past. Bergmann completed the Nomination Study phase of the Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) program and continues work on the Implementation Strategy phase of the program.

The key objective of this neighborhood-based planning process was to identify realistic strategies that will build on the success of neighboring redevelopments and revitalize the former industrial sites, as well as other vacant and underutilized sites located along the waterfront in the study area. To maintain momentum at the neighborhood level, a wide variety of public involvement opportunities were incorporated into the planning process. Visioning workshops, design charettes, stakeholder meetings, and neighborhood-based outreach efforts were incorporated at key intervals throughout the planning process to ensure continued and substantive involvement at all levels.

A long-term vision and master plan was developed by the City, residents and Bergmann during a process that ran from 2010 to 2013. The master plan identified additional studies and planning that was necessary in order for the community’s vision to become a reality. Our multi-disciplinary team continues to provide technical and design expertise to advance project objectives.