October/November 2009 Vol. 31 No. 5 SWPC south wedge planning committee OFFICAL NEWSPAPER OF THE SOUTH WEDGE SWPC is a neighborhood organization funded for and by the South Wedge community St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality Wedge Three Vie for New Facade Boosts South Ave. the Golden Hammer by Nancy O’Donnell This year three South mixed-used facility. The Wedge-based community activ- 10-story Art Deco structure, ists were nominated for Flower constructed in the late 1920s, City Habitat for Humanity’s now uses a geothermal heating “Golden Hammer Award”: and cooling system as well John Billone, Jr., president as other energy conserving of Flower City Management, features. South Wedge Planning Com- Billone received the award on mittee Executive Director Rob- Sept. 16 at a luncheon in honor ert Boyd and Wilton Enterprise of the nominees. (Boulder Coffee owner) Lyjha Wilton. The Golden Hammer Award recognizes “a business or individual who has made a significant contribution to the City of Rochester in the areas of economic development and/or neighborhood revitalization.” Billone’s green sensibility is well known in Rochester. Flower City Management renovated the Medical Arts Robert Boyd, John Billone Jr., Lyjha Building at 277 Alexander Wilton at the award ceremony New St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality Facade. (Photo courtesy of MRA Architecture) Street as a green, sustainable A long-awaited renovation 1935, came from New York City ment Coordinator] who said to St. Joseph’s House of Hospi- to help launch the house. The he’d help us get a grant.” tality on South Avenue begins center is one of only two loca- Earlier the staff had felt Indie Music Festival in October. The renovation will tions in the Rochester area that that applying for grant money include restoration to its his- provide hot meals seven days a would take time away from toric façade and a new side en- week, clothing and shelter for their mission. “We put all our trance for waiting guests. The “the needy, the hungry and the energy in caring for the home- to Rock the Wedge construction was made possible homeless.” less,” said Sigrist. through a grant from the Roch- St. Joe’s President Tim Sig- The building’s history--a ester Area Community Founda- rist described the process of dry goods store with huge front tion and an anonymous donor. renovation as an “odyssey” that windows--added to the delay. St. Joe’s, as it’s known by involved a number of delays. The building was constructed staff and neighbors, is the old- “The planning exceeded in 1850 for a family-owned est Catholic Worker facility in two years,” said Sigrist. “At “grocery and provisions” store the U.S. still based in its origi- first we thought we’d do it operated by brothers David and nal location. It’s been in opera- ourselves—a bit of paint, put Issac Abeles, Sigrist said. For tion at 402 South Avenue since in some new wood— until we many years it also doubled as 1941. Dorothy Day, the founder talked with George Lorson, the residence for the owners. of the movement that began in [SWPC’s Real Estate Develop- continued on page 8 The BASWA Holiday by Nancy O’Donnell Rochester Independent Mu- Festival.The City of Rochester PAID sic Festival (RiF2) expands in joins the excitement, moving U.S. Postage Rochester, NY Rochester, both the number of bands and the giant symbol of its 175th an- Permit No. 4041 Decorating Contest Non-Profit Organization Decorate your shop and nights of music when it moves niversary celebration--the Big Wish Globe--from the Public win a prize! Decorations to the South Wedge October 1-3. From a one-night/six act debut Market to the Wedge for the fes- should be installed by No- at Water Street Music Hall in tival. vember 30. A three-member 2008, RiF2 has grown to three “The second year of the panel of judges from City ticketed nights at The German Rochester Independent Music Hall, the Neighborhood House and the Keg on Gregory Festival – part of the City’s spe- th Service Center and the Street and Boulder Coffee Com- cial 175 Coming Home celebra- tion – is yet another dynamic neighborhood will pick the pany on Alexander St. The Bug Jar on Monroe Avenue will also event for Rochesterians and winners on Dec. 9. host bands. beyond to enjoy,” said Mayor First prize $300, Second “This vibrant neighbor- Robert J. Duffy. Prize $200, and Third Prize hood has been so welcoming See RiF2 info on page 5, $100. For more info, visit and supportive,” said RiF Ex- page 12 for the exciting line up http://baswa.org. ecutive Producer Ned Corman, of performers, or visit www. a major catalyst in the launch of rochesterindiefest.com the Rochester International Jazz from the business association Happy of the south wedge area Indie Music FestivalHolidays Oct 1 -3. (BASWA) See schedule on page 12. South Wedge Planning Committee Planning South Wedge Avenue 224 Mt. Hope 14620 Rochester, New York The Wedge 2 October - November 2009 patio.” Halter also worked with first moved back. Despite that others in creating Star Alley out some investor-owners of “nice Star of the Wedge – of “an empty dirt lot between 1880s building feel they should two South Avenue businesses,” be able to do anything they filling it with sunflowers and want to their property”; “You Dave Halter garden benches. He also helped don’t just let [an owner] gut the by Nancy O’Donnell in the redesign of Marie Daley heart and soul of a neighbor- Park. hood,” said Halter, who is ex- Dave Halter is a South Halter especially enjoyed cited by the new Wedge. Wedge lifer. Sure he took time rehabbing the boarded over fa- “It’s a very cohesive neigh- off to be a Navy pilot and Disco çade of the SWPC headquarters borhood with its original el- Party Planner, but after all his on Mount Hope Avenue, then ements, 1880 married to the adventures, he returned to his st South Wedge Planning Committee boarded over. 1900s and to the 21 century. 224 Mt. Hope Avenue • Rochester, New York 14620 childhood neighborhood and to “John Dennis and I started We’ve preserved the real feel of (585) 256-1740 FAX (585) 256-1497 help in its transformation. pulling down the boards, and a neighborhood,” said Halter. Dave Halter. (Photo by Johannes Halter grew up on Mt. Ver- we said, ‘Oh, my God!’ There Halter isn’t slowing down. Bockwoldt) Officers non Avenue and went to school were giant windows from the He’s still involved with Mt. Lyjha Wilton, Chair Tracy Saville, Vice Chair at School #24. Along the way he borhood and moved from West- 1880s totally covered over in- Hope Avenue projects, keeping studied engineering at the GM Anthony Sciarabba, Treasurer minster Street to Caroline Street side and out. We realized what a presence that reminds build- Sarah Johnstone, Secretary Institute, flew SNJs and T28 and began buying properties on a fantastic front we’ve got.” ers not to “block over views Navy planes out of Florida, and South Avenue. Halter can say he’ll never of the river” that were lost for Board Members earned a B.S. in Industrial Arts Demetrius Castro, Neighbor “Most of the Wedge was really ever leave the Wedge. decades. He’s also doing a ma- Rachel Chaffee, Neighbor from Buffalo State University. ragged [in 1986],” said Halter. “I’m bronzed,” said Halter. jor research survey—“all the Felicia “Bo” Clark, Neighbor “I got married and had my The building he bought for his A statue of him (aka Nathan- facts and figures” of all the John Dennis, Neighbor two girls. Lisa lives in Wood- Dave Halter, Business home [the old Geissner’s Meat iel Rochester) sits in Nathaniel buildings on the East Side of Chris Jones, Business stock, N.Y. and Kira lives in Pas- Market], required massive ren- Square Park at South Avenue the Mount Hope Avenue from Donna Roethel Lenhard, Neighbor adena, California,” said Halter. ovation. “I found the kitchen and Alexander Street. Gregory Street to Byron Street. Frank Logan, Neighbor After a divorce, Halter Monica McCullough, Stakeholder floor had three layers of lino- “When we working on the Halter doesn’t hesitate to Ben Munson, Neighbor entered his “disco phase.” leum.” design of the park and talking praise the people he’s worked Chris Peterson, Neighbor Cheryl Stevens, Neighbor “I had a house with 16 rooms, Halter’s next transforma- about putting up a statute, the with to rebuild his South Wedge. and I ran parties with bands JoAnn Thomas, Neighbor tion was as general contractor sculptor, Pepsy Kettavong, said “One of the things that Michael Trojian, Stakeholder and beer,” said Halter. “They and woodworker, and he began to me ‘you look just like [Roch- I’m most proud is the qual- John vanKerkhove, Neighbor just kept getting bigger and big- rehabbing his properties one at Chris Widmaier, Neighbor ester],’ said Halter. ity of the projects and the qual- Tanya Zwahlen, Neighbor ger. At one I had 400 people.” a time. He leapt into commu- “He took some photos and ity of the people in the South Once he rented the Avon- nity activism and began volun- I sat for him. I try not to get a Wedge,” said Halter. “And by Honorary Livonia train and had it stop teering at the South East Area the amount that we’ve been able Vince Corsall, Mitchell Dannenberg, bloated head,” laughed Halter. Joe DiDonato, Mack McDowell in a cornfield where partiers Coalition (SEAC) and the South “No one recognizes me.