|
Irondequoit, N.Y. —
For all those who thought creating an Irondequoit town center in the Cooper-Titus-Hudson area was a pipe dream: Meet Mike and Wendy Nolan.
Mike Nolan was raised in Irondequoit, next to West Irondequoit’s Seneca School, and stresses that he’s not a developer, but he has formed a company, I-Square, LLC, to develop and operate a family-friendly Irondequoit Town Center on the south side of Titus Avenue between Stranahan Park and Grange Place.
“Having a town center would give people more reason to stay. We already have great school districts,” Nolan said. “A town center is one of the few missing links … every upscale town has one; why don’t we?”
He and his wife are determined to remedy the situation.
Nolan already owns all of the properties from Union Park east, and just this week has rolled out the plan he and Wendy, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla. transplant, envision. He also owns some other properties in the area, including the “Irondequoit Hots” building, and is negotiating to purchase more.
Before anyone gets worried, he plans to develop his plan and retain all existing businesses at the same time.
“This is about growing small businesses and adding more,” said Wendy Nolan.
“And it’s not about us,” Mike Nolan stressed. “It’s about a great opportunity to give back to the community.”
Realtor Steve Walther knew Nolan as a child. He lived next door.
“This is about a young man up who grew up in Irondequoit and who is staying and investing in Irondequoit,” Walther said. “I wish there were more people out there like that.”
“I think he has the capability of pulling this (town center plan) together,” Walther added.
Nolan purchased the family business in 2000, and said it has grown to 10 times its size in the past 10 years. SPEX makes automotive, appliance, Navy and electrical parts.
“It’s American manufacturing right to its core … and it’s right here in Rochester,” said Nolan, who formerly worked as general manager of the Bob Johnson Chevrolet auto group for nine years.
He said the genesis of his plans for Irondequoit started when a drugstore was proposed a few years ago in the same block he now owns. Most of the small businesses there would have been pushed out.
He and his wife were building their new home, off Kings Highway North, at the same time, Nolan said, and the thought of that project didn’t sit well.
“Our number 1 and 2 reasons for doing this are to retain the businesses that are here and to create a town center,” Nolan said.
As a youngster, he remembers the area having an arcade and comic book store.
“We’d ride our bikes down to them,” he recalled. “But there’s nothing left in this area for kids … and that’s too bad.”
“We’re starting new,” Nolan said.
The grassroots citizens group HIPP — Helping Irondequoit Plan for Progress — is already on board.
“We’re very impressed and excited,” said HIPP member Diane Zaccarine. “Mike is a local Irondequoit person who has been successful with his manufacturing business and has a vision for us that I think Irondequoit is worthy of … We’re grateful and excited to see how this unfolds.”
Nolan’s proposal starts with an extension of Cooper Road through the center of the project. There are not yet any municipal approvals for that aspect of the project.
Once the road is in, construction would begin facing the extension. Once that new strip is completed, the businesses now facing Titus between Stranahan and Union parks would be relocated and their current buildings would be demolished and rebuilt.
“We won’t interrupt businesses that are there now,” Mike Nolan stressed. “We’re always pro-independent — on everything we do.”
The Nolans’ vision — Mike estimates that it it will cost $10 to $12 million — follows the “mixed use” design guidelines included in a plan, and championed by the HIPP group and others, that was developed by the town several years ago.
“Everything will be high-end and built to last; it will be built to look like a town center should,” Nolan said.
He and Wendy envision an area that is conducive to walking — on 10 to 12-foot sidewalks — and gathering.
“We want it to be a place people come and stay and shop and eat,” Wendy said.
They also expect the project could over double the number of retail business spaces in the area.
At the back of the project would be a four-story apartment building chosen, Mike explains, to add depth to the area.
In front of the apartment building would be an outdoor stage and gathering area.
At the southeast corner of the new Cooper-Titus intersection, the Nolans envision a high-end restaurant, perhaps with a rooftop wine bar, anchoring the spot.
“We’re looking for an operator for that,” Mike said with a smile.
They’re also hoping for “lots of stuff for kids,” starting with an ice cream parlor.
They’re also considering an aquatic center Mike envisions as “a full-scale after-school club” — complete with a juice bar, pool and spa — “but nothing electronic.”
He wants everything to be available at a reasonable cost.
“If it all ends up being expensive, that drives people away,” Nolan said.
Of course “making money” is on their “top 10” list for the project, “but it’s fifth on the list,” Nolan said.
“And we’d love to make a mark on the community, but that’s 10th on the list … This is about kids, community, local business — and giving us all something to do.”
Copyright 2011 Irondequoit Post
|
