Harrison Thorp
Thursday, January 15, 2015 7:11 am

An official rendering shows open space and walkways for foot traffic between stores. (Courtesy images City of Rochester)

ROCHESTER - After almost a year of speculation, at least two of the tenants at the new Ridge Marketplace on Route 11 are official.

Discount clothier Marshall's and purveyor of all things pets Petco are confirmed as the first two corporate tenants.

Also unveiled this week by Rochester Economic Development Director Karen Pollard were images showing green areas planned for within the shopping complex, hoped to be welcoming for foot traffic in warmer months. The areas will include walkways and benches.

The 250,000-square-foot shopping center is to be located on Route 11 across from La Corona Mexican restaurant and Little Falls Bridge Road.

Some 40 commercial tenants will be in place by the time the project is completed in spring 2016, including a supermarket, a multi-screen movie theater and local and national chain stores.

Rendering shows grassy area for foot traffic and other events like potentially farmers' markets or children's activities.

Waterstone, the shopping complex developer, also developed the Brickyard Square shopping center in Epping, which includes tenants such as Market Basket, Marshalls, PetSmart, Michaels, 900 Degrees Wood Fired Pizza, Tortilla Flat Mexican Restaurant, and the O'Neil movie theater.

Some of the infrastructure cost for the shopping center constructions is being accommodated through a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) district similar to the TIF district located by the Rochester Airport to accommodate Safron Aerospace Composites.