South Wedge

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southwedge_map.pngThe Southwedge Neighborhood

Location
Southeast Quadrant, near downtown and the river.
Boundaries
North - I-490
East - I-490
South - Linden Street
West - Genesee River
Neighborhood Association
[WWW]http://SouthWedge.com
[WWW]http://SouthWedge.org - Social network for residents
[WWW]http://www.BASWA.org - Business Assoc. of the South Wedge
[WWW]http://www.SWPC.org - South Wedge Planning Committee
[WWW]r/SouthWedge - Reddit

The South Wedge is Rochester Neighborhood comprised of a triangular wedge of land bordered by the Genesee River on the west, and the Erie Canal (now I-490) on the east. It is sometimes considered to include the adjacent Swillburg and Highland Park neighborhoods, as well as parts of Upper Mount Hope. Both the Wedge and the Highland Park Neighborhood share the Linden-South Historic District. A former residence of Frederick Douglass is located in the Wedge, at the corner of Hamilton and Bond Streets.

History

The neighborhood we know as the South Wedge began in the 1820s as a series of small houses owned by families tied to the Erie Canal trade. It was actually part of Brighton until Rochester annexed it in 1834 as a buffer region for future growth. In the 1840s George Ellwanger and Patrick Barry of Ellwanger and Barry fame founded their nursery on what was then Grand Avenue (South Avenue today). By the time Frederick Douglass moved to South Ave in the 1860s, the area was flourishing, with the city's first street railway, a plank road, and a hospital.

After World War II, however, the Wedge began a slow decline as residents moved to the suburbs. Businesses closed until the Wedge hit rock bottom in the 1970s. Nearly 200 homes and over 25% of all housing units were vacant and prostitution was "rampant" on South Avenue. Still, long-time residents took a stand against the decay and founded the [WWW]South Wedge Planning Committee in 1973. The Wedge was first published five years later to document the neighborhood's fight against crime, blight, and vacancy. By placing an emphasis on safety and neighborhood pride, the SWPC brought about a gradual but highly successful renaissance.1

Today, the South Wedge is said to be the fastest-growing urban neighborhood north of New York City2 and is highly regarded for its strong sense of community. It boasts several neighborhood organizations, two newspapers (The Wedge and The South Wedge Quarterly), and even a small store where you can purchase Wedge souvenirs and goods handmade by Wedge residents. Overall, it's become one of the hottest areas in the city to live, work and play.

The Wedge Today

Many apartments have comparatively lower rents but more space and amenities than other areas in town. There are a decent number of rooms to rent in the area and very few studios, but two-bedroom units and complete houses abound. Although most residential options tend to be in vintage buildings, the Wedge in recent years has also seen a major construction boom. South and Hickory Place, The Hamilton Apartments, and Erie Harbor were all completed between 2010 and 2012, offering both market-rate and affordable units. The Hamilton and Erie Harbor also promise to revitalize a tired stretch of Mount Hope Avenue from Ford to Alexander. As of October 2012 a new restaurant called [WWW]Muncheez is scheduled to move into a long-abandoned building on the corner of Mount Hope and Hickory Street.

Overall, the South Wedge is a vibrant, clean, and safe area of Rochester to live. The majority of homeowners take pride in the area, and it has an ever increasing number of interesting shops and bars. Several streets are lined with multi-colored "painted ladies" homes reminiscent of San Francisco. The Landmark Society, one of the oldest and most respected preservation groups in the nation, held its 28th annual House and Garden Tour in the Highland Park neighborhood in June 2008. Twelve houses circa 1920s were chosen for the tour including two condos in the historic Spanish tile-roofed Ellwanger Barry School3 at Linden and Meigs Street.

In May 2008 a sculpture of city founder Nathaniel Rochester was unveiled in Nathaniel Square on the corner of Alexander Street and South Avenue. The sculpture, with Rochester sitting in reflection, was the work of Pepsy Kettavong4.

South Avenue and surrounding streets now have a bright variety of art totems created by area artists. The totems transformed parking meters into sculptures.

In 2010, the Linden-South Historic District, comprised of 81 properties on South Avenue and Linden Street were named "significant in history, architecture, design, archeology and culture" by the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Additional streets being considered for this designation are Ashland Street and sections of Gregory, Hickory and Averill. The process takes at least a year.

The South Wedge Farmers Market, open Thursdays from May through November, has becoming a popular meeting place for the neighborhood. Along with produce and flowers, the market features a changing cast of musicians and craftspeople.

Transportation for University of Rochester Students

The South Wedge is a short bike ride to the River Campus and a slightly longer one to the Medical Center. (Most people associated with the latter live in the Upper Mount Hope Neighborhood.) UR also operates its own [WWW]shuttle buses, which are free to all students, staff, and faculty. The Orange Line services a wide swath of the Southeast Quadrant with stops at South and Alexander, South and Gregory, and Mount Hope and McClean.

Businesses

wedge.jpgMonument and Handbill Board at South and Gregory, 12-2010

South Avenue and Gregory Street converge in the heart of South Wedge. This intersection marks the centerpoint of the locally-owned retail shops, restaurants, cafes and bars the Wedge is known for. The area also has many small green spaces, nifty old buildings, and it is in walking distance to Highland Park and Mount Hope Cemetery.

Also check out nearby South Clinton Avenue, the border between the Swillburg and Highland Park neighborhoods, for even more local restaurants and retail.

Bars and Clubs

Food & Drink

Green Spaces

Retail

Retail - Grocery and Convenience

Salons and Spas

Services

Tattoo Parlors

Worship

Other

Awards

In 2007 the South Wedge area, including Swillburg and the Highland Park Neighborhood, swept The City Newspaper’s Readers’ Choice Awards, getting winning votes citywide for “best neighborhood” along with best coffee house (Boulder Coffee Co.), Best Wine Selection (Solera Wine Bar), Best Happy Hour (Lux Lounge), Best Meal Under $10 (John's Tex-Mex Eatery), Best Men's Clothing Store (Thread), Best Women's Clothing Store (Thread), Best Straight Bar (Lux Lounge), Best Park (Highland), Best Playground (Ellwanger Barry Park @Meigs Street and Linden Street), Best Chinese Restaurant (Ming's Noodles), Best Indian Restaurant (India House), Best Place for a Last Date (Mount Hope Cemetery), Best Outdoor Make Out Spot (Highland Park), Best Cure for Cabin Fever (Lamberton Conservatory), Best Movie Snuggle Buddy ("Princesss" the cat at the Cinema Theatre). As its reputation grows, so does its property values and community spirit.

In 2010, the South Wedge was named again "Best Neighborhood" in City Newspaper's annual Best of Rochester contest. Other South Wedge winners were: Boulder Coffee for Best Open Mic, Thread (Best Clothing Store), Best Bartender (Philip Rawleigh at Lux Lounge), and Best DJ (South Wedger Jon Herbert). Tap & Mallet on Gregory Street won Best Bar for Beer.5

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