# Cobbs Hill Village Redevelopment

## Background

Cobbs Hill Village is a low cost senior housing project located inside [Hills & Parks](/about-the-neighborhood/hills-and-parks.md#cobbs-hill-park) dating back to when WWII era prisoner-of-war housing was converted to low-cost senior housing in the 1950s. Beginning about 2014 the non-profit manager/developer of Cobbs Hill Village began planning to demolish the current buildings and redevelop on the site. The effort was highly controversial and eventually wound up being decided in the NYS Supreme Court in favor of the developer after the Rochester City Council & Mayor both approved the redevelopment plan. 

The phased re-development began with partial demolition of certain buildings on the site in the Spring of 2023. Construction will continue for three years or so according to published reports of the plan. Learn more by following the links below the photos.

## Photos & Background

The historic photos below were found on public websites:

<div><figure><img src="/files/IPYuRVzE1a5CiCc0LWtg" alt="Historic photo of POW housing - Circa 1940s" width="188"><figcaption><p>Prisoner of War camp at Cobbs Hill in 1942</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="/files/omvTGC5gDet0Gv48OUYc" alt="Historic photo of POW housing - Circa 1940s" width="188"><figcaption><p>Interior shot of POW camp</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="/files/DoBZ3y2wM8nwmWinmxMC" alt="Historic photo of POW housing - Circa 1940s" width="188"><figcaption><p>Lake Riley and the Lodge circa 1940s</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="/files/Kho20XI89gBLwWg6g4ar" alt="" width="188"><figcaption><p>View of Cobbs Hill looking west circa 1956</p></figcaption></figure></div>

Democrat & Chronicle press clippings from the 1950s:

<div><figure><img src="/files/5iClVKh2wRkqgb6Zi2tp" alt="" width="188"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="/files/HxsTguXspY5uLHGvK7VI" alt="" width="188"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="/files/kuZ7WyGtWJLe0ht56OQT" alt="" width="154"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

#### News report from April 4, 2017:

{% embed url="<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RccxD4CXIeQ>" %}

## Spring, 2023

The photos below were captured since redevelopment began in the spring of 2023 by longtime tenant in Cobbs Hill Village, Lee Sengbusch.

<div><figure><img src="/files/jXGQxLJOMVHmFg8O5DXN" alt="Photo of the Cobbs Hill Village redevelopment - May, 2023" width="563"><figcaption><p>Roots cut near "protected" (per the development agreement) trees.</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="/files/hmVZJ93Mx53khg7QrBAR" alt="Photo of the Cobbs Hill Village redevelopment - May, 2023" width="423"><figcaption><p>Large oil tank discovered, excavated pm site.</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="/files/BdIsn9S7ea8kTT0SmE8X" alt="Photo of the Cobbs Hill Village redevelopment - May, 2023"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="/files/Rjjsis332KykGgpy3QDe" alt="Photo of the Cobbs Hill Village redevelopment - May, 2023" width="188"><figcaption><p>Trucks removed contaminated soil &#x26; filled with replacement soil.</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="/files/ioZNjMz8jQqQsjEnwO6e" alt="Photo of the Cobbs Hill Village redevelopment - May, 2023"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="/files/EW6hPaPUCHVlQMOlh0SN" alt="Photo of the Cobbs Hill Village redevelopment - May, 2023"><figcaption><p>First cement is delivered through a remarkably long hose.</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="/files/Y2yRBu5aSjzcYjUnkeXN" alt="Photo of the Cobbs Hill Village redevelopment - May, 2023" width="563"><figcaption><p>A new sign was added to the fence surrounding the project noting the group that lent the last 10% of the project that the State could not.</p></figcaption></figure></div>

<div><figure><img src="/files/XnyukcCX9HXHc7oSzPN5" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="/files/hLN3iNrlHmQzTbQMbSaU" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="/files/tF3Z0Siey0ukXMZoBvMO" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="/files/GVuUk0tMXqutwaHhpYs8" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="/files/quljlYKePCSPmwtnhCuG" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

## Additional Resources

* **ARTICLE:**  [A new village at Cobbs Hill | By JACOB SCHERMERHORN | June 1, 2023 | Rochester Beacon](https://rochesterbeacon.com/2023/06/01/a-new-village-at-cobbs-hill/).  This article provides information about the historical background as well as the current status of the development including the expected construction schedule through 2025 or so.
* **ARTICLE:** [Rochester Management re-creating Cobbs Hill Village](https://rbj.net/2023/05/31/rochester-management-re-creating-cobbs-hill-village/)[ | By Kevin Oklobzija | May 31, 2023 | Rochester Business Journal](https://rbj.net/2023/05/31/rochester-management-re-creating-cobbs-hill-village/)
* **WEBSITE:**  [The Cobbs Hill Village Project | Rochester Management](https://www.housingupstate.org/index.php). This is the developer's website. You will find additional links and other resources on their "Documents & Downloads" page.
* **WEBPAGE:**  [Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, New York | MATTER OF COALITION FOR HILL v. CITY OF ROCHESTER | Decided: May 07, 2021](https://www.leagle.com/decision/innyco20210507341). This is the final decision related to the lawsuit to prevent the redevelopment of Cobbs Hill Village.
* **GOFUNDME:** [The Fight to Preserve Cobbs Hill Village and Park | Coalition for Cobbs Hill](https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-affordable-housingsave-cobb039s-hill-park)
* **ARTICLE:** [Cobbs Hill neighbors, tenants sue to block redevelopment | By Brian Sharp | May 9, 2018 | Democrat and Chronicle](https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2018/05/09/cobbs-hill-village-tenants-neighbors-sue-block-redevelopment/594620002/)
* **ARTICLE:**  [Judge dismisses Cobbs Hill Village suits | By Tim Louis Macaluso | May 03, 2019 | City Newspaper](https://www.roccitynews.com/news-opinion/judge-dismisses-cobbs-hill-village-suits-10237953)
* **DOCUMENT:**  [Tree Preservation at 645 Norris Dr. Rochester, NY, Cobbs Hill village Project | By Dan J. Glading | November 13, 2O17](https://rochesterbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Urban-Forest-Diagnostics.pdf). This letter by a consultant for the developer offers the author's opinion about the impacts of development on nearby notable mature trees

<figure><img src="/files/TCohCIsrbvCwsStTuFj1" alt="" width="188"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


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