Rochester is spending money to keep its dreams of a reimagined Inner Loop alive.

The mayor wants to spend two million dollars to increase the likelihood of winning federal funding.

Buckingham Properties CEO Larry Glazer has been following the project closely.

He says filling in a section of the moat-like Inner Loop will link up-and-coming neighborhoods, as well as Glazer’s Alexander Park redevelopment project, more tightly with downtown Rochester, “More importantly it creates frontage on streets, which are development sites, which have a lot of economic impact and potential value.”

Glazer says he's met with city officials to stress the economic development benefits of the Inner Loop project.

City engineers say creating a street level boulevard would add eight acres of land to Rochester's city center.

There’s more on the project and its future potential on WXXI’s Innovation Trail site.