Since all else has failed, maybe it's time for building shaming, former mayor says

The Hoffman Building has been a thorn in the side of the city's downtown revitalization efforts. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - Former mayor T.J. Jean said recently that since nothing has worked to help prod downtown landlords into cooperating with the city's revitalization efforts, why not try a social media shaming.

Jean, who served three terms as mayor prior to current-mayor Caroline McCarley, said he spent a lot of time and energy trying to initiate dialogue with the trust that owns the Hoffman Building, but they rebuffed city efforts to give up the building, which they use as a tax writeoff.

"We went to see if they wanted to sell and it was insulting what they said," he said late last month, referring to a $7 million price tag the trust demanded.

Former mayor TJ Jean, seen here while moderating last month's Candidates Forum, said recently maybe it's time to start a social media campaign aimed at some of the downtown's absentee landlords. (Rochester Voice file photo)

The city of Rochester has been targeting the historic Hoffman Building as one of the lynchpins in the downtown's revitalization effort, noting in a 2011 white paper report produced by the city that it was one of the "underperforming" properties in the city that needed "repositioning."

But for several decades the owners of the Hoffman Building have been frustrating the city's efforts.

"Thirty years is long enough to be nice," Jean said.

Since all else has failed - and recognizing there's little the city can do by state statute - he suggested a social media shaming campaign might get some traction.

"If I was running (for mayor) I'd try a public relations campaign against the property owners," Jean said. "Let the community put pressure on these individuals telling them 'you're tying up our downtown, and keeping it from being viable.'"

The other option he said was to put a renewed focus or code enforcement, adding that several fall short in code compliance.

He also added while there is much frustration within the community regarding what just 30 years ago was a flourishing downtown, there are a lot of positives going on there right now.

"As much as we focus on the negative, we really have to give credit to the business owners who are doing the right thing like Mel Flanagan's Irish Pub, Skele-Tone Records and RiverStones Framing and Art Studio," he said. "That get cast in the shadows, and they're doing a great job."