Construction is well under way on a prime 1.72-acre lot at the corner of Route 96 and High Street Extension in Victor. The Historic High Point retail project — on the drafting table since before 2008 — is being driven by Rochester developer Fred Rainaldi, Jr., and Beachland Consulting.
Site preparation began several weeks ago on a new 7,870-square-foot retail building on the historic wooded parcel adjacent to Valentown Hall, the Olive Garden and UNO Chicago Grill.
Rainaldi told Victor Planning Board members in March that he had secured The North Face, a manufacturer specializing in performance apparel, equipment, and footwear, to open its first flagship store in Victor and serve as the anchor for the project. The store will occupy the entire space in the new building.
“Four years ago I flew to California to introduce Victor to North Face,” said Rainaldi during the March 27 planning board meeting. “What we are proposing to you is the first ground up LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified flagship store for this entity that exists in the country. This is a store that is going to be programmed to accept professional athletes.”
In addition to the new structure — which has been designed in compliance with standards set by the Victor Historical Advisory Committee — plans also call for the restoration of an existing, historically significant 1,800-square-foot cobblestone schoolhouse. A tenant has not yet been announced for the schoolhouse, according to Victor Planning Board Chair Joe Logan.
Original project plans called for three retail buildings but the plan was later amended to two. Other vacant homes are still on the parcel — one which belonged to former Victor Town Justice Charles Rose. What will happen to them remains to be seen. Logan said “no plans for change have yet been announced.”
The North Face building will include a more than passing nod to its natural surroundings.
“There will be a series of reclaimed barns, real cobble,” said Rainaldi to board members. “This is LEED certified but we are also using a lot of indigenous materials that are going to be important to not only the character but a major opportunity to change the trend in retail in our market in Rochester. This is an important emphasis on quality of life through health and wellness. This isn’t your average store.”
Logan confirmed that some of the existing mature trees, landscaping and interpretive signs would be preserved in the green space adjacent to High Street Extension and the parking lot.
“This fits in beautifully with the emphasis we have on parks and trails that we have in town, the mountain biking emphasis we have in Dryer Park and just in general, the fitness and health of the community,” said Logan during the March meeting. “This is wonderful.”
A completion date for this one-phase project has not yet been announced to the Planning Board.
When contacted for further comment, Rainaldi did not respond to phone calls or emails. Doug Eldred of architect and engineering firm BME Associates, who is spearheading the project with Rainaldi, also offered no comment.
Construction is well under way on a prime 1.72-acre lot at the corner of Route 96 and High Street Extension in Victor. The Historic High Point retail project — on the drafting table since before 2008 — is being driven by Rochester developer Fred Rainaldi, Jr., and Beachland Consulting.
Site preparation began several weeks ago on a new 7,870-square-foot retail building on the historic wooded parcel adjacent to Valentown Hall, the Olive Garden and UNO Chicago Grill.
Rainaldi told Victor Planning Board members in March that he had secured The North Face, a manufacturer specializing in performance apparel, equipment, and footwear, to open its first flagship store in Victor and serve as the anchor for the project. The store will occupy the entire space in the new building.
“Four years ago I flew to California to introduce Victor to North Face,” said Rainaldi during the March 27 planning board meeting. “What we are proposing to you is the first ground up LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified flagship store for this entity that exists in the country. This is a store that is going to be programmed to accept professional athletes.”
In addition to the new structure — which has been designed in compliance with standards set by the Victor Historical Advisory Committee — plans also call for the restoration of an existing, historically significant 1,800-square-foot cobblestone schoolhouse. A tenant has not yet been announced for the schoolhouse, according to Victor Planning Board Chair Joe Logan.
Original project plans called for three retail buildings but the plan was later amended to two. Other vacant homes are still on the parcel — one which belonged to former Victor Town Justice Charles Rose. What will happen to them remains to be seen. Logan said “no plans for change have yet been announced.”
The North Face building will include a more than passing nod to its natural surroundings.
“There will be a series of reclaimed barns, real cobble,” said Rainaldi to board members. “This is LEED certified but we are also using a lot of indigenous materials that are going to be important to not only the character but a major opportunity to change the trend in retail in our market in Rochester. This is an important emphasis on quality of life through health and wellness. This isn’t your average store.”
Logan confirmed that some of the existing mature trees, landscaping and interpretive signs would be preserved in the green space adjacent to High Street Extension and the parking lot.
“This fits in beautifully with the emphasis we have on parks and trails that we have in town, the mountain biking emphasis we have in Dryer Park and just in general, the fitness and health of the community,” said Logan during the March meeting. “This is wonderful.”
A completion date for this one-phase project has not yet been announced to the Planning Board.
When contacted for further comment, Rainaldi did not respond to phone calls or emails. Doug Eldred of architect and engineering firm BME Associates, who is spearheading the project with Rainaldi, also offered no comment.
