ROCHESTER, NY — The Rochester Riverside Convention Center is set to undergo repairs and expansion.
The Rochester City Council voted Tuesday to approve about $13 million in funding, a mix of grants, bonds and American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds.
It is part of the Roc the Riverway project to beautify Rochester’s waterfront. It includes repairs to the exterior building envelope and river wall, as well as other site improvements and an addition to Main Street to create more space for events and be more inviting for visitors and locals.
It was not a unanimous vote. Council members Stanley Martin and Mary Lupien voted against the appropriations and bonds.
“I agree that the building needs to be repaired, but since those two costs (repairs and additions) are lumped together, I don’t think spending $11 million on the convention center expansion is the right way our city should be spending its money right now when we are in such a crisis, a human rights crisis,” Lupien said.
Construction is scheduled to begin this fall and completion is planned for the end of 2026.
