ROCHESTER’S NEXT GROWTH WAVE TAKES SHAPE: CACI EXPANDS DEFENSE MANUFACTURING 300%, RESTORE THE SHORE PREPARES 4,200 FEET OF RIVERFRONT FOR REDEVELOPMENT, FAIRPORT ADDS CANAL-SIDE HOUSING AS AI DATA CENTER DEBATE INTENSIFIES
Rochester’s late-August story is about what the region does with its existing strengths and assets. A major national defense contractor has dramatically expanded advanced manufacturing in Pittsford, the city is preparing a former industrial riverfront for environmental cleanup, parkland and future development, Fairport is considering another historic adaptive reuse project, and Rochester’s oldest operating movie theater is looking for its next owner. At the same time, the Finger Lakes is becoming part of a statewide debate over whether the economic opportunities created by AI data centers outweigh their energy, environmental and community impacts.
