Staff reports

The year 2016 threw a few knuckle balls and opened the door to new kinds of discussions, both political and social. It's hard to say with certainty what 2017 holds in store, but there are some things we know will happen, based on our reporting in 2016. In honor of the new year, here are 17 of them.

Politics in play

Will Mayor Lovely Warren be re-elected? Politics will have a far more local flavor in 2017. All eyes will be on Rochester's mayoral race as incumbent Lovely Warren comes to the end of her first term in office. She is expected to face a challenge from County Legislator James Sheppard, the former police chief, in a contest that would pit the two competing factions of the local Democratic Party against each other. But there may be a third contestant in the mix. Former TV reporter Rachel Barnhart, who lost a fiercely fought primary for a state Assembly seat, has formed an exploratory committee to help her decide whether to throw her hat in the ring, too.

The other political race sure to garner attention this year will be the one for Monroe County sheriff. Republican Patrick O'Flynn was first elected to the post in 2001 and hasn't faced a significant challenge in three re-election campaigns.

New Yorkers will also vote in November on whether to hold a state constitutional convention.

— Sean Lahman

Casino to open

Del Lago Resort & Casino to begin operating on Feb. 1. Rochester-area mall mogul Thomas Wilmot has waited a long time — 4,598 days since his plans for a downtown casino first hit the cover of the Democrat and Chronicle — and on Feb. 1 his $440 million del Lago Resort & Casino will open with the promise of 1,800 new jobs and projections of roughly 3 million guests during its first year of operation.

The grandiose project in the Seneca County town of Tyre has faced opposition from tribal casinos and the operators of the Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack, who fear its economic pull, while receiving the backing of government leaders who praise its economic impact and creation of jobs.

— Todd Clausen

'Top Chef' alum Fabio Viviani previews casino restaurant

Higher education changes

A new leader at RIT and a new campus for MCC. The next president of Rochester Institute of Technology is expected to be selected next month. RIT President Bill Destler’s announcement last May that he would be stepping down at the end of this school year set in motion a selection process for his successor. A 24-member RIT Presidential Search Committee was created and intends to announce a selection in January, according to RIT spokesman Bob Finnerty. The final selection is made by RIT’s board of trustees, and the new president is expected to start July 1.

By the beginning of the next school year, Monroe Community College’s downtown campus is slated to open at its new site, a complex of reconstructed, connected buildings that were once part of Eastman Kodak Co.’s corporate headquarters, at the corner of Morrie Silver Way and State Street, near Frontier Field. Moving will occur over the summer. MCC will initially use about 255,000 square feet at the new site, leaving about 300,000 square feet of undeveloped space available for use under the Start-Up NY program or by other interested parties, said MCC spokeswoman Cynthia Cooper Mapes.

— James Goodman

Big anniversary ahead

Get ready for the 100th anniversary of women voting in New York. Three years before the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, the right of women in New York to vote was officially recognized. And 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of that recognition. To honor the historic landmark, Gov. Andrew Cuomo in August created a Women’s Suffrage 100th Anniversary Commemoration Commission, headed by Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul. That commission aims to host a series of events statewide over the coming year to celebrate the suffrage movement and commemorate events such as the Seneca Falls Convention, the first women’s rights convention, which was held in Seneca Falls in the summer of 1848. It’s only fitting that Rochester, home to Susan B. Anthony, and the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca County should be included in any celebration of suffrage. More information should become available in coming months.

— Meaghan McDermott

Courts and justice

Rideout and Stagles trials to be argued. A pair of high-profile trials are likely to garner national attention, both involving victims allegedly killed by members of their own family. Four people will stand trial in June for their alleged role in the murder of 50-year-old Craig Rideout: his two sons, his estranged wife and her lover.

The father of 3-year-old Brook Stagles faces charges in her death, as does his girlfriend. Prosecutors say the girl was beaten to death, her body covered in bruises from head to toe.

Plus, the fate of City Court Judge Leticia Astacio is likely to be resolved. She was removed from her judicial duties after violating the terms of her DWI conviction.

— Sean Lahman

Downtown development

Clarification on Parcel 5 and Inner Loop replacement on the way. Taking the turn into 2017 means keeping an eye on important projects that could help reshape newly ascendant downtown Rochester. Perhaps first among those is answering the question of what’s going to happen on Midtown’s Parcel 5. City staffers have been working since October in a confidential process vetting which of four developer proposals for the site would be allowed to move forward: an open space-based minimalist project, a performing arts center, a mixed-use commercial and condominium concept or carving the site up into smaller slots. During a luncheon in December, Mayor Lovely Warren said her administration would be releasing details soon.

Also of significant importance: the ongoing redevelopment of the former Inner Loop. Warren has recommended three projects there go forward: a massive expansion of the Strong National Museum of Play that would include commercial and residential space, and a “Neighborhood of Play” theme with new street fixtures, decorative sidewalks and sculptures, and two other mixed-use apartment buildings. Negotiations over the projects are ongoing and any land sales would need approval from City Council.

— Meaghan McDermott

Other city projects

Progress expected on La Marketa and "Parcel 10." It’s been more than three decades in the making, but 2017 could be the year Rochester’s La Marketa urban renewal district plans finally come to fruition. Nearly three years ago, Rochester had a developer on board for its Hispanic-themed shopping center, but instead of moving forward, opted to head back to the drawing board. And, on Dec. 21, the city did just that, issuing a Request for Proposals for a 1.7-acre site representing several city-owned parcels along “La Avenida” — North Clinton Avenue between Sullivan and Hoeltzer streets in the El Camino neighborhood. According to city documents, the concept calls for the site to act as a southern gateway to the North Clinton commercial corridor, and would create an urban neighborhood focused center of activity with open space, market areas for small businesses, and a mix of enterprises that would celebrate the area’s heritage. An information session on the request will be held at 6 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Salvation Army Temple Corps Facility, 915 N. Clinton Ave. The submission deadline for proposals is March 3.

Also on the radar outside downtown, is an upcoming push by the city to look toward development of land Mayor Warren has referred to as “Parcel 10,” a chunk of property at Exchange Boulevard and Court Street that borders the Genesee River. She has said that development there could spur along a complete rethinking of Rochester’s waterfront, and could help anchor a new loop of revitalization spurred by a refurbished Riverside Convention Center and Blue Cross Arena.

— Meaghan McDermott

Tune to entertainment

Lots of good music vibes in our future. Our summer onslaught of festivals includes two distinctive giants, one well established, one emerging. The Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival’s 16th season is June 23 through July 1. The complete lineup will be announced in March, but we already know Sheryl Crow and Mavis Staples will be headliners at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. The newly renamed KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival’s diverse collection of music, comedy, plays, dance, puppets and outdoor acrobatics drew a record 67,000 people this fall. It’s set for Sept. 14 through 23.

The Blue Cross Arena has the pop band Maroon 5 on March 5, Christian hip-hop artist TobyMac March 11 and a likely sell-out in Neil Diamond’s 50th anniversary tour on June 4, while Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center has announced an early gem, the 40th anniversary tour of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers on July 2. In the extreme crossover category, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra presents The Music of David Bowie on April 7 at Kodak Center for the Performing Arts, while Rochester City Ballet offersSpectrum (A Pink Floyd Ballet)from April 20 through 23 at the Auditorium Theatre. The RPO concludes its season with an opera: Puccini’s La Bohème on May 25 and 27. On the club scene, we’ll be watching to see whether Anthology, East Ave., continues to evolve into a key big player; it has G Love & Special Sauce on Jan. 22. And watch for the resurrection of Water Street Music Hall, currently on a renovation retreat.

— Jeff Spevak

Suburban development

New Whole Foods, Henrietta Rec Center and a reinvigorated Marketplace Mall expected to open. Changes ahead in Rochester's suburbs mostly concern development, development and more development. Henrietta will celebrate the grand opening of its brand-new $9 million recreation center on Calkins Road. Meanwhile, over in Brighton, residents are still waiting to see whether concerns about traffic tangles on Monroe Avenue can be sufficiently addressed in order to let a project that would include the area’s first Whole Foods grocery store to move forward. Also in Henrietta, The Marketplace Mall will continue its transformation from standard suburban shopping mall to a top-tier outlet center. In Sweden, residents expect to see outdoors retailer Runnings open up in a vacant former Walmart on Lake Road in the spring, and in Greece, residents still await word on which big-box retailers are interested in a pair of competing developments on West Ridge Road between Elmgrove and Manitou roads.

— Meaghan McDermott

Monroe County improvements

Work on zoo and airport improvements will begin. A multi-year plan to expand and improve the Seneca Park Zoo will get underway in 2017, one of a number of Monroe County projects planned for the new year. Construction will begin on the zoo's African section, which is expanding to accommodate giraffes and rhinos. It's the first step in a master plan that won't be completed until 2026. At the airport, improvements will be made to roadways, boarding gates and concession areas. The county will also begin work to replace its 911 dispatch system.

— Sean Lahman

Food & drink expansion

The Rochester restaurant scene will continue to grow. Many restaurants are already queued up to open in 2017. Some of the most noteworthy: Boxcar Donuts and Bitter Honey, in the same building just outside the Rochester Public Market’s Railroad Street entrance. Radio Social promises to have bowling, dining, cocktails and more under one roof near Artisan Works, but owner Dan Morgenstern is tight-lipped about details. Big news to some: We may even get a Chick-fil-A.

A kitchen incubator that will help aspiring entrepreneurs launch food businesses could help fuel this continued growth. The Rochester Downtown Development Corp. hopes to begin transforming the concourse level of The Metropolitan (formerly known as Chase Tower) in the third quarter of 2017 and open by year's end.

The 111-year-old Rochester Public Market is expected to complete its renovation and expansion by early summer. It will have a new 13,000-square-foot indoor shed, a new outdoor shed capable of holding 48 additional vendors, more restrooms and new food stands.

— Tracy Schuhmacher

2016: The year in Rochester food — and drink

Photonics clarity

Getting on the same page. Questions have besieged the state-led backed photonics institute ever since roughly $600 million in public funding was announced 18 months ago with the help of Vice President Joe Biden.

Who would lead the project? Where will it be located?

The hub is expected to open in a former Eastman Kodak Co. building sometime in late summer. Meanwhile, a downtown headquarters has yet to be selected.

— Todd Clausen

The games we play

A new Buffalo Bills coach will pace the sidelines. A 17th straight season sans the playoffs means the Buffalo Bills are looking for a new head coach for the for fifth time in 12 years. Team owners Terry and Kim Pegula lowered the boom on Rex Ryan on Tuesday. Will interim coach Anthony Lynn get the job permanently? Or will someone completely new be brought in? Other possibilities for the new year on the sports landscape include Syracuse basketball's slide likely to continue; Rochester’s Thomas Bryant in basketball and Victor’s David Farrance in hockey could decide to turn pro; the Rochester Red Wings are hopeful that Mike Quade will be back for a third season as manager; and the Rochester Rhinos could return to D2 status if everything falls into place. We'll also learn where Rush-Henrietta senior Sammy Watson, one of the nation's top track and field recruits, will attend college.

— Jeff DiVeronica

Pay raise for some

Minimum wage increase kicks in. The first of several incremental minimum wage increases went into effect Saturday. For the lowest of wage earners in upstate New York that means a raise of 70 cents to $9.70 per hour, followed by other annual increases through Dec. 31, 2020 when it becomes $12.50. The state will then further determine how to bring the rate to $15 per hour.

Gov. Cuomo has said increasing the rate impacts 2.3 million New Yorkers and would pump $15.7 billion into the state’s economy. Business owners have said the measure would force them to push off the increase to consumers and finds new ways to reduce costs and possibly trim workforces.

— Todd Clausen

Road work

Surprise! Road construction will hamper some commutes. The old adage goes there’s really only two seasons in Rochester: winter and construction. So, while the winter weather is upon us, there are still plenty of construction projects waiting in the wings once the spring thaw hits. Many are smaller projects that won’t have enormous impact on travel or traffic, but there are two that could cause the occasional headache for drivers. The biggest is likely the state Department of Transportation’s 390/490/Lyell Avenue Interchange Project, which will reconstruct the tangle of roadways where Interstates 390 and 490 join with Route 390 and Lyell Avenue. Federal funding for the project was announced in June. At the same time Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced $10.9 million for the project and a start to fabrication for the steel elements to replace the Lyell Avenue bridge over Route 390. That replacement is expected to begin in the spring. Another project likely to cause some commuting consternation will be the $17 million Route 531 Terminus project in Sweden, where the end of Route 531 at Washington Street will be changed over to a conventional four-legged, at-grade signalized intersection. Traffic that now turns right onto Washington Street in order to proceed on Route 31 will instead go straight to Route 31. Construction there is also expected to begin in the spring.

— Meaghan McDermott

Big business moves

Some big corporate decisions will have local impact. There are a number of large corporate deals promising to shake-up some local companies, each having a major impact on the local workforce.

North American Breweries began a $49.1 million expansion at its Genesee Brewery that is expected to create roughly 130 jobs, half targeted to those currently living in poverty.

Time Warner Cable becomes Spectrum in February, bringing about 230 jobs to Henrietta about a month later. Those jobs help soften the loss of 650 other positions being moved out of the area by Verizon Communications in late January.

Meanwhile, Xerox Corp. will push ahead with its self-titled “strategic transformation” after it officially breaks up into two publicly traded companies Jan. 1. Company officials have said they expect further headcount reductions in the upcoming year, although exact targets haven’t been disclosed. The company’s Rochester-area workforce in 2016 declined by roughly 5.4 percent — or 345 positions — to end September at 6,051. After the split, Jeff Jacobson will take over as chief executive officer for Ursula Burns.

— Todd Clausen

Sharing economy to grow

Bike sharing may start; can Uber be far behind? Rochesterians are hopeful that 2017 will bring ride-sharing to our region. State lawmakers have wrestled with the details of regulations that would allow services such as Uber or Lyft to operate here. Proponents say the impact could be dramatic, offering more flexibility to people who feel they are underserved by current public transportation options. It would also help students from suburban college campuses — RIT, St. John Fisher and Nazareth — to have more interaction with the rest of the community. Carpool programs and bike sharing initiatives should also begin to gain traction in 2017.

— Sean Lahman