Nov. 16 -- Dear Answer Man: Regarding the former Wonder Bread site, what is the current status with this now empty site ready for redevelopment? -- Fan of Historical Rochester.
Dear Fan,
Well, as the weather turns from warm to "I can't find my mittens," it seems less and less likely that the site of the former Rochester Bread Co. will see construction begin soon on that property's next phase, something called Bakery Flats, a planned 210-unit, eight-story residential building.
The old building, constructed in 1928, using a design by Rochester architect Harold Crawford, stood for nearly a century. Some -- perhaps including you, dear Fan -- had hoped the building would be named a historical structure and placed on a list making its demolition a difficult task. Alas, when evaluated by the city's historic preservation committee, the old building met just one of eight criteria that would land it on the city's historic preservation list.
So, when developers came along hoping to turn the site -- long gone were the days when Wonder Bread and snack cakes were baked in the building -- into a multifamily structure with perhaps 20 townhomes and 190 apartments, the city council approved a zoning change on March 6, 2023, clearing the way for the project.
Speaking of clearing the way, the demolition of the old building took place later that summer. But since then, nothing.
No concrete poured. No steel beams were put in place. No one is filling out change-of-address forms to move into apartment number such-and-such, 300 11th Ave. NW.
What did happen is that The Prow Co., led by Rochester developer Don Prow, sold the site in fall 2023 to Regency Multifamily under the name Regency Consolidated Residential LLC. The price was $5.35 million.
Answer Man reached out to the fine folks at Regency Multifamily, an Illinois-based company with more than 4,500 apartment units across several Midwest states. Included among its holdings is The Pines apartments near Northern Hills Golf Course and Red44, a 159-unit complex at 839 16th St. SW.
Shane Allen, a senior vice president with Regency Multifamily said building a new multifamily structure is still the company's plan, but they are currently "still in the design phase with no set construction start date."
A lot of factors have put construction on hold. First, whatever plans Prow had for the site are not necessarily exactly what Regency will deliver. While Regency certainly plans to build something similar, the Illinois company wants to develop its own design.
On top of that, typical development issues are in play. Regency has other projects that are higher on its priority list, Allen said, and everything from interest rates to watching what Mayo Clinic does first with its "Bold. Forward. Unbound. In Rochester." project also has Regency taking its time.
In the meantime, passersby will need to wait a little longer until Bakery Flats becomes a reality.
Don't delay in building your knowledge. Send questions to Answer Man at [email protected] .