Letter to Admiral Robert J. Papp Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard United States Coast Guard

Letter

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the U.S. Coast Guard to swiftly turn over an underutilized River Street land parcel to the City of Rochester, clearing the way for the City's $19 million Port Revitalization Project to move forward. Standing at the Rochester Port, Schumer stated that by the Fall of 2012, the City will be ready to break ground on the Port Revitalization Project. The backbone of that project is the reconstruction and realignment of River Street, which will become the primary access road into the Port area. Currently River Street runs through a portion of the Coast Guard's undeveloped parcel of land at 527 River Street. The City is seeking to acquire that parcel in order to complete the realignment, and the Coast Guard recently estimated that the land transfer could take between 5 and 10 years. Schumer stated that this timeline is unacceptable, and would put the entire Port Revitalization project and its anticipated 90 new construction jobs and 30 permanent jobs at risk. In a personal letter to the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Admiral Robert Papp, Schumer pushed the Coast Guard to transfer the property immediately so that the new public marina at the Port of Rochester can move forward as planned, and provide a huge economic boost to the City of Rochester.

"During difficult economic times, the Coast Guard must turn this surplus property into an economic driver, not a roadblock to job creation," said Schumer. "That is why I'm urging the Coast Guard to expedite action on this critically important property transfer, so that the City of Rochester can move forward with the Port Revitalization Project's plan to construct the Rochester public marina all while creating 120 jobs in the process. Not only will this redevelopment have crucial short term economic benefits in the City of Rochester, but the construction of the Rochester Marina will also be the catalyst to drive new public and private sector development in the future."

Standing at the City of Rochester Port with Mark Gregor, City of Rochester Port Redevelopment Manager, Schumer urged the Coast Guard to immediately complete the transfer of their 527 River Street property to the City of Rochester, so that the City's Port Redevelopment plan can move forward. A critical piece of Rochester's $19 million revitalization plan calls for the realignment of River Street to make it the primary access road to the Port Marina area. This reconfiguration of River Street requires it to pass through a small portion of the Coast Guard's property, and in order to maintain the Port Revitalization Project's construction timeline to break ground in the Fall of 2012, it is critical that the City of Rochester obtain this property immediately. However, the Coast Guard recently estimated that the transfer process could take 5 to 10 years. Schumer stated that this timeframe is simply unacceptable, as it will halt the public marina project that is expected to be an economic boon for the Rochester area.

The Coast Guard has told the City of Rochester and Schumer's office that the transfer process is likely to take years, as the agency seeks funding to complete the necessary environmental study on the impact of the transfer. However, the city has offered to pay for the necessary studies in order to expedite the process, but the Coast Guard has yet to take the city up on their offer to move the ball forward. Schumer pointed out the critical economic benefits that the City Port Redevelopment project would have on Rochester and the surrounding region, especially in light of the nation's economic challenges. The marina development is estimated to create 90 new construction jobs and 30 permanent indirect and marine-related jobs in the short-term. Once the marina is built, subsequently planned phases of the project are expected to generate substantial private-sector investment. These subsequent phases are projected to create about 2,500 construction jobs and 300 permanent jobs and add between $530,000 and $1.6 million annually to Rochester's tax roll.

Schumer's visit to the Marina is the most recent step in his push to make the City Port Redevelopment project a reality. In March 2011, he helped secure a $1.45 million federal grant to help fund the Marina construction. Schumer stated that this federal investment must be put to work as soon as possible, so that job creation and economic benefits come to Rochester during these tough economic times.

The Marina construction project involves removing some of the city-owned surface parking lots adjacent to the Port Terminal Building, acquiring the surplus Coast Guard parcel, and dredging a basin to form the new 80-slip Marina. The Marina is the centerpiece of a Phase I Port Public Marina and Mixed Use Development Project that the City is conducting now to redevelop the Port of Rochester Lake Ontario waterfront area. The project will use $18.9 million in public investments to leverage millions in new private sector development. An October 2009 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle poll showed that this Marina project, and the waterfront redevelopment project as a whole garnered the most public support of any community project in Rochester.

Schumer also noted that the completion of the land transfer would also be of benefit to the Coast Guard, as the relocation of River Street parcel will consolidate USCG property now bisected by River Street. By moving River Street to the west, the USCG will have virtually the same amount of usable space, without a road running through the middle of the parcel. The City of Rochester is also prepared to financially compensate the USCG to complete the acquisition and appropriate environmental investigations of the property.??

Moreover, public safety concerns alone warrant a realignment of River Street, since ambulances, emergency personnel and vehicles currently have restricted access to respond to emergencies at the Port and water front areas along the western shore of the Genesee River. The improved alignment of River Street will improve access to better respond to emergencies, particularly as the site builds up over the coming years.

A copy of Senator Schumer's letter to Admiral Robert Papp appears below:

Admiral Robert J. Papp

Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard

United States Coast Guard

Headquarters

2100 2nd Street Southwest Stop 7000

Washington, DC 20593-7000

Dear Admiral Papp,

I write to request your immediate attention and cooperation on an issue regarding Coast Guard property in Rochester. The City of Rochester is undertaking a $20 million Port Revitalization and Marina Construction project, but lack of progress on the transfer of a small parcel of Coast Guard property could jeopardize this job-boosting project.

The backbone of the Port Revitalization site plan is the reconstruction and realignment of River Street which will become the primary access road into the Port area to serve the planned new 80-slip public marina. Currently River Street runs through a portion of a federally-owned parcel of undeveloped land at 527 River Street controlled by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). The realignment of River Street is the lynchpin of this project, and in order to realign the street, the City of Rochester must gain control of this underutilized parcel.

I appreciate that USCG representatives have responded to City officials' requests to acquire this property over the past several years, however time is running out to accomplish the transfer. Recent estimates from the USCG that the transfer could take five to ten years is confounding. The City has now advanced the requisite design and planning work and secured sufficient funding, including a $1.45 million federal Fish and Wildlife grant, to be ready to break ground as soon as the fall of 2012.

Simply put, in order to maintain this deadline and put a shovel in the ground next year, the City first needs control of this parcel. In light of the nation's economic challenges, I ask that you expedite this transfer in order to jumpstart the development which is estimated to create a significant number of new construction and marine-related jobs. Completion of the transfer will also be of benefit to the USCG since the relocation of River Street will consolidate USCG property which is now bisected by River Street. By moving River Street to the west, the USCG will still end up with nearly the same amount of usable space, and without a road running through the middle of the parcel. The City of Rochester is also prepared to financially compensate the USCG to complete the acquisition and appropriate environmental investigations of the property.

Taking this underutilized federal property and turning it over the City of Rochester for redevelopment maximizes this land for the benefit of both the local and national economy. Again, I urge the Coast Guard to expedite action on this critically important property transfer. To that end, I invite you to meet with the Mayor of Rochester and myself, during his visit to Washington on October 13, 201. Thank you for your service and for your attention to this matter.

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