Rochester Riverside Hotel would be razed to make way for proposed riverfront performing arts center

Brian Sharp | Democrat and Chronicle

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A new proposal for a performing arts center would raze the downtown Rochester Riverside Hotel hotel and move the project off the Midtown parcel.

Mayor Lovely Warren has called a Tuesday morning news press conference at the First Federal Plaza on the opposite riverbank of the hotel, formerly the Radisson Hotel Rochester Riverside, to announce "an exciting new downtown development project."

The new plan would include a Broadway theater, a smaller theater and housing, would connect with the Riverside Convention Center across the street and with the city's plans for improvements along the Genesee River, said Sandy Parker, spokeswoman for the proposed Golisano Performing Arts Center.

"We didn't realize (developer Dave) Christa was looking to demolish the Radisson, and when he proposed that a light bulb just went off," she said, adding that the plans were first brought to officials about two months ago. "To me, it just makes more sense than the Parcel 5 project."

The previous proposal was to build a theater and residential tower on Parcel 5 at Midtown, several blocks to the east. That $135 million proposal has its critics, and also a considerable funding gap. Rochester Broadway Theater League is driving the plans, and had partnered with developer Robert Morgan, whose MorganCompanies has come under federal scrutiny of late resulting in fraud charges against Morgan's son, nephew and two others.

Further details on the new proposal were not available. Christa and city officials did not immediately return calls seeking comment. Parker described preliminary designs as "fabulous," and said she knows the plan is expensive, but that her understanding is Golisano remains on board with his $25 million pledge toward construction.

Christa bought and renamed the hotel last October along with developers Robert Morgan, Tom Masaschi and Angelo Ingrassia. The 460-room hotel, built in 1970, sold for $7.2 million, according to the city's online property records. Christa and Morgan also own the Hyatt Regency Rochester nearby and also on East Main Street.

BDSHARP@Gannett.com