Rochester Approved $20 Million for Building Demolition
The city will distribute state funds for the removal of the long-vacant Terrence Building to clear the site for housing.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Construction
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The Rochester City Council has unanimously approved the transfer of $20 million in state funding to facilitate the abatement and demolition of the 17-story Terrence Building. The project, led by developer Whitestone Development Partners, aims to clear the abandoned site for the future construction of over 500 housing units.
Why it matters
The removal of this major structure addresses safety and blight issues that prompted 17 police responses in 2026, while unlocking a large site for high-density residential development. The project signifies a shift toward converting defunct commercial assets to ease housing shortages.
The city approved the transfer of $20 million in state funding for the 500,000-square-foot Terrence Building site. The structure, which has sat abandoned since 1995, requires extensive asbestos abatement before the proposed 500 housing units can break ground.
The players
Whitestone Development Partners
A development firm specializing in urban revitalization and large-scale residential construction projects.
Rochester City Council
The legislative body responsible for municipal zoning, urban planning policy, and the administration of local infrastructure funds.
The details
The city is serving as a pass-through entity for the state funds, a role that necessitates strict financial reviews and ongoing regulatory audits throughout the process. Whitestone Development Partners will manage the abatement and structural demolition, which are each estimated to take approximately one year. These compliance steps are essential to release the funding tranches provided by the state to rehabilitate the Elmwood Avenue property.
Timeline
1950: The Terrence Building was originally constructed.
1995: The building was officially abandoned.
October 6, 2026: Rochester City Council voted to approve the funding pass-through.
Market Landscape
This project follows the incentive patterns established by the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program to return stagnant, environmentally compromised land to productive use. It reflects a growing industry trend of utilizing state-backed subsidies to offset the high costs of remediating legacy, asbestos-contaminated commercial structures.
Operators in the development and environmental services sectors should note the rigorous audit requirements imposed on pass-through municipal funding. Firms operating near the site should prepare for year-long demolition disruption beginning late in 2026.
The takeaway
Large-scale urban redevelopment relies heavily on the success of the initial abatement phase. Developers should track the progress of the asbestos remediation as a primary signal for when site preparation for residential construction will actually commence.
Further reading
For more on local development trends, read the latest coverage in Construction.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WHAM.
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