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I'm a fan of community colleges in general, and MCC looks especially impressive. The Optical Systems Technology certificate program seems like an amazing value - low cost, two semesters, plentiful jobs locally. This could be wrong but as far as I can tell the program is offered at the Brighton campus, not the downtown campus. But I have a question about the downtown campus...
I love the Kodak skyscraper, and the first time I drove through Rochester and saw MCC right there next to it, I thought "wow imagine going to school there!" I looked up how long the downtown campus has been there and learned it is pretty new. Were the buildings already there or did MCC build? How did the community react to MCC locating there?
I'm a fan of community colleges in general, and MCC looks especially impressive. The Optical Systems Technology certificate program seems like an amazing value - low cost, two semesters, plentiful jobs locally. This could be wrong but as far as I can tell the program is offered at the Brighton campus, not the downtown campus. But I have a question about the downtown campus...
I love the Kodak skyscraper, and the first time I drove through Rochester and saw MCC right there next to it, I thought "wow imagine going to school there!" I looked up how long the downtown campus has been there and learned it is pretty new. Were the buildings already there or did MCC build? How did the community react to MCC locating there?
Regarding the Kodak Tower, the top 3 floors were added on. Not sure when. The Downtown MCC Campus is in former Kodak HQ buildings. Kodak was once #6 on the Fortune 500, so there were a lot of staff. They probably could have built a 90 story building if they wanted to. If you drive north from there on Lake ave, eventually you will run into Eastman Business Park at NY 104 (formerly Kodak Park. The research building is as tall as Kodak office.
From there, keep heading north and get a frozen custard at Abbott's at the beach.
A side note. I, myself wanted the MCC Campus to be built on land adjacent to Kodak's Research Facility. Just south, on old Kodak parking lots. That could have served the whole north side of the community, and Brighton, the south side. They are both on public transportation and the North Campus, right on NY 104 would have given the entire north side easy access.
....I love the Kodak skyscraper, and the first time I drove through Rochester and saw MCC right there next to it, I thought "wow imagine going to school there!" I looked up how long the downtown campus has been there and learned it is pretty new. Were the buildings already there or did MCC build? How did the community react to MCC locating there?
The complex that you're referring to was formerly known, in the "modern era" of Kodak, as 'Kodak Office'. The greater majority of the corporation's administrative operations were located there. Also, prior to the company's 'Elmgrove plant' being constructed/opened for business in the late 1960's, a portion of the Kodak Office complex was also home to the company's camera assembly lines. The KO buildings, to the best of my knowledge, go back to the late 1930s-early 1940s.
To answer your second question, the community had accepted the fact that the Kodak they had known, for about 125 years, had "ridden off into the sunset". And rather than see the KO complex simply sit vacant and fall into disrepair, we simply considered it a new use for an old building.....
Quote:
Originally Posted by JWRocks
....A side note. I, myself wanted the MCC Campus to be built on land adjacent to Kodak's Research Facility. Just south, on old Kodak parking lots. That could have served the whole north side of the community, and Brighton, the south side. They are both on public transportation and the North Campus, right on NY 104 would have given the entire north side easy access.
IMHO, poor planning again
How would it have been "poor planning", if they re-purposed an existing building for the school, rather than start from scratch, building a completely new building?
Last edited by leadfoot4; 08-23-2022 at 04:14 PM..
How would it have been "poor planning", if they re-purposed an existing building for the school, rather than start from scratch, building a completely new building?[/QUOTE]
Just because there was a vacant building available doesn't mean it's the right location. The DT location is so close to the Brighton Campus that it's laughable. There was a different meaning for making THIS the location. It's like 3 miles from the other campus.
Remember how they tried to revitalize a neighborhood by locating a soccer stadium there????
I got my A.S. in Business Administration at MCC (Brighton campus.) I loved MCC! I had previously gone to Buff State and I much preferred my experience at MCC (better professors, better parking, better safety on campus.) Professors at MCC were so approachable and engaged.
As for the downtown campus, I personally never liked those Kodak office buildings crowded around the tower. I just don't like how it looks. But yes it's pretty cool for students to get that location.
Just because there was a vacant building available doesn't mean it's the right location. The DT location is so close to the Brighton Campus that it's laughable. There was a different meaning for making THIS the location. It's like 3 miles from the other campus.
Remember how they tried to revitalize a neighborhood by locating a soccer stadium there????
OK, who was going to pay for the entirely new structure that you felt should have been built?
And with respect to the soccer stadium, I do agree with you, that Broad Street was far from an ideal location, but also consider that Rochester hasn't had a stable, recognized, "semi-pro" soccer team in a long time. Therefore, they put the carriage before the horse, on that deal......and secondly, there wasn't adequate parking adjacent to the stadium, another big mistake.
OK, who was going to pay for the entirely new structure that you felt should have been built?
The taxpayer, of course. Keep in mind, the entire complex was gutted and then redone. It really wouldn't cost much more for new construction. Maybe even less. Like I said, I think geographicly, it would have been a more logical location, in addition to be adjacent to Kodaks research buildings. If you think NYS has no money, just look at how much Buffalo continues to rake in of OUR tax dollars.
"These micro-credential courses prepare students for specific jobs in fields that require skilled workers. For instance, companies in the Rochester area like L3Harris, IDEX, Nesco Resource and Corning are currently seeking workers for optics-related jobs. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the demand for these kinds of credentials has increased in recent years."
Just for the sake of information, in the above linked group of optics related businesses, there's a listing of a business known as 'Rochester Precision Optics'. That's the former Kodak precision optics group, that was sold off about 16-18 years ago....
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