Presentation by Dawn Noto

Susan B Anthony Neighborhood
Association
Through preservation efforts and sensitive development we strive to
maintain our neighborhoods historic architectural significance. With
continued efforts by residents, business owners, city staff and volunteers
we can achieve our vision of a thriving visitor-friendly historic district that
showcases our diverse cultures and improves our resident’s quality of
life.
Community Preservation
Sculptures “Let's Have Tea” by Pepsy Kettavong in
2001
During the 1820's, brothers Bradford and Moses King from Connecticut
entered into a partnership with Obediah W. Bush to purchase the land
that became the Bush and King Tract. An 1832 survey map shows the
early layout of this tract. The Bush and King Tract, bounded by Canal
and New York Street,*(now Jefferson Ave), was located within the
boundaries of the newly chartered city in an area still largely
undeveloped. Three major transportation routes would border the tract
in its northern and eastern sides by the end if the 1830's, greatly
influencing the development of the area in the nineteenth century.
With the proximity of the canals and railroad to the Bush-King Tract, it
has been thought that the developers may have assumed the area
would become a neighborhood of working class (mechanic) families
and, therefore, they designated the park "Mechanics Square" for those
residents. In the early 1900's the park was re-designed by The Olmsted
Brothers. In 1971 the park was renamed to Susan B. Anthony Square
and continues to serve as a focal point for the residential area. In many
northeastern communities, urban park squares were considered crucial
to the health of a city.
Neighborhood History
The presence of the Susan B Anthony Museum & House, a National Designated Landmark since
1977, provides the neighborhood with a history that is internationally renowned.
The area today provides a rich historical and interesting setting as an
urban residential neighborhood and tourist destination.
Susan B Anthony Museum & House & Visitor
Center
Mechanics Square
Susan B Anthony Square Park
Cunningham Carriage Factory & Companies
1849 - 1968
Madison Square--West
Main
Street Historic
District
A three and one half block City of
Rochester
Preservation District,
only a quarter mile
from downtown
Rochester.
Historic Significance: Event,
Architecture/Engineering
Architectural Style: Greek Revival,
Late Victorian, Late 19th & 20th Century
Revivals
Area of Significance: Architecture,
Industry, Community Planning And
Development
Period of Significance: 1825-1849,
Susan B Anthony Local Preservation District 1949
1980
National Register of Historic Places - 1988
1850-1874, 1875-1899, 1900-1924, 1925-
Communicate through open monthly meetings
Identify issues, prioritize & take action
Collaborate with community partners to accomplish our goals. Our partners include; all residents, business and
property owners, Susan B Anthony Museum & House, City of Rochester SW Quadrant Team, Police Dept. and
Councilmembers, WNY Landmark Society, Freedomway Business Association, Voters Walk Enterprises, Frederick
Douglass Resource Center, service based providers, non-profit organizations and more.
Community building events to instill community pride and respect
Such as; Community clean up days, tending to “Lets Have Tea” gardens and our park and green spaces, neighborhood
walking groups, ice-cream socials, pancake breakfasts, PumpkinFests, craft events with families, PAC-TAC members.
neighborhood garage sales, work with outside volunteer groups & students within the community.
Most recent event Traffic Box Mural Painting Ceremony in March of 2012.
What We Do
Circa 1850 Home Restoration
Preservation Initiatives
Landmark Society & SBANA Homeowner Preservation Workshop.
Preservation Services Fund grant provided 12 homeowners with architectural evaulations, & reports
on properties.
WNY Landmark Society Mini-Grant Fund for exterior repairs to properties.
City Hospital, Established 1864
on West Ave. now West Main St.
Closed and hospital moved in 1966
Was - FIGHT Square Urban Housing Site 1960's – 1980's
Now - Susan B Anthony Square Mixed Use Housing
– 2001
SBANA Community Connections Charrette
Funds were identified and our community charrette process began in Spring of 2006. Facilitated by the Rochester Regional
Design Center, the process included a Charrette Steering Committee meeting monthly to document and prepare and many
public meetings to garner participation prior to our day of the charrette.
On Saturday June 7, 2007, over 60 participants and 20 design professionals gathered for a full day of neighborhood planning.
The day started with breakfast and introductions, Presentation by the Landmark Society on our areas history.
Participants broke out into 5 different focus area groups. From there a walking trips out into their focus areas to review and
discuss the conditions. After a delicious lunch provided by Nick Tahou's we were back to work in our groups with the design
professionals drawing our ideas on base maps. The day ended with each focus group sharing final plans and renderings.
The RRCDC prepared the draft and final report that was shared with our stakeholders publicly in the fall of 2007.
Community Planning
Neighbors and City employees prepare the site where Susan B
Anthony and 14 local women illegally voted in 1872. We worked
with the City and property owner to obtain an easement for a
monument.
Installation of 1872 Vote Box
“1872” Vote Site Dedication
City of Rochester Streetscape Improvement Project
“1872” Vote Site Easement, Monument, Installation & Dedication
Voters Block Apartments & Cafe & Homes Development
City of Rochester’s – West Main to Troup Street Playground Walking Path
Nothnagle Realty Corporate Office Relocation
Buckingham Properties purchases VOA property
Rehabilitation of eight West Main St. commercial & residential buildings
City of Rochester's Focused Investment Strategy on Jefferson Ave
Susan B Anthony House Restoration Project
Landmark Society Architectural Surveys & Mini-Grant Project
Cunningham Carriage Factory purchase by a Depaul Housing
City of Rochester’s Homes Rehabilitation Project
Ongoing private investment in neighborhood homes
Recent Developments
Frederick Douglass Community Resource
Center
Nothnagle Realty New Corporate Offices - 2011
The Voters Block Community is a $20 million scattered site project along West Main Street in
Rochester, NY. The project’s focus is at 431 West Main Street, which is the site where Susan
B. Anthony voted illegally at a barber shop in 1872. This site features new construction of a
39 unit, mixed use apartment building with a community room and a 2,300 s.f. café. The
project will also include historic rehabilitation of an 8 unit apartment building located down
the street and new construction of 45 single family homes and duplexes in the surrounding
Voters Block historic rehabilitation project
underway
City of Rochester Properties
$450,000 NYS restoration grant awarded
this year
Depaul Housing &
Buckingham Property upcoming projects
Join in our Neighborhood Events & Activities
Visit us at susanbanthonyneighborhood.org