Riverview Apartments, the largest private development in the Brooks-Genesee area in more than four decades, opens with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 7. The event will include a welcome from President Joel Seligman and tours of the student residences for government officials, community residents, and University staff and students.
"Riverview Apartments is an important step in creating a college town across the river from campus that will strengthen the partnership between the University and its neighbors," said President Joel Seligman. "This is the first of many upcoming projects that will create a neighborhood thriving with economic and social activity."
"Riverview Apartments have been a true partnership," added Seligman. "This project owes its success to the cooperation and support of many players including the City of Rochester, Matrix Development Corp. and both the Plymouth Exchange and 19th Ward neighborhoods. From the University, I want to particularly thank Ronald Paprocki, our chief financial officer, for his leadership in this collaboration."
The five-building, 120-unit complex, located off Plymouth Avenue and across the Genesee River from River Campus, was built and is owned by Matrix Development Corporation of Amherst, N.Y., and is leased by the University. The apartments will be available only to University students.
"We are very proud of this development because it not only improves the neighborhood and waterfront, it complements other developments in the area, including Brooks Landing, the Olean/Kennedy project and Kennedy Towers," said Mayor Robert Duffy. "I applaud the University of Rochester for their leadership on this and numerous other efforts to make Rochester a greater place to live, work and do business."
Student representatives from Riverview will also be volunteer members of both the Plymouth Exchange and 19th Ward neighborhood associations and will engage in several community projects. "The University is working with the neighbors to design programs that will connect our students to the community," said Laurel Contomanolis, director of residential life. Similar to student resident assistants in dorms, community assistants at Riverview will coordinate student volunteer involvement, such as shoveling the walks of senior citizens and mentoring children in area schools.
"Student response to Riverview has been stronger than we expected," said Contomanolis. "The complex filled to capacity and has generated a lengthy waiting list." The waterfront building is just a short walk across the pedestrian bridge to the River Campus. The fully-furnished apartments offer amenities not found in other on-campus housing, including air conditioning, kitchens, and separate living rooms. Each of the three- and four-story buildings is also equipped with laundry and vending facilities.