Rochester Spotlight Company Profile: Buckingham Properties

Name: Kenneth Glazer 

Title: Chairman

Company: Buckingham Properties

What is the most exciting job/project/goal for your company in 2019?
This year the spotlight is definitely on Alex Park – a mixed-use campus we’re developing on the eight-acre site of the former Genesee Hospital. We acquired the site back in 2006, and after several rounds of planning, construction is now full steam ahead. We just celebrated the grand opening of our first retail tenant, Central Rock Gym – a new 20,000 s/f state-of-the-art rock climbing facility which was built-to-suit. A 78,000 s/f mixed-use building is currently under construction which includes the future home of Mindex Technologies and forty-eight residential units. The project includes several more mixed-use buildings to fill out the neighborhood.

What would you tell another company looking to move to the Rochester Region?
I would say that now is really a great time to come and see what Rochester has to offer. The city – downtown in particular – is making a comeback in a very real way, and Buckingham is proud to be making a real impact on our community. The momentum and energy downtown is palpable. We’re seeing companies move back downtown after retreating to the suburbs, and the demand for downtown residential units is very strong. One of Buckingham’s major redevelopment projects in the heart of downtown Rochester – Tower280, is nearly fully leased – with 15,000 s/f of retail and office space currently being built-out. We’re seeing restaurants, service retailers, and innovation and creative class companies in particular really taking hold.

What was your company’s greatest achievement of 2018?
Last year, Buckingham had a very successful lease-up at Legacy Tower, downtown Rochester’s premiere Class A office tower, which was formerly the world headquarters for Bausch & Lomb. When we acquired the property in 2014, the building was half vacant. In 2018, we signed, renewed, and expanded several tenants, and are currently renovating over 80,000 s/f for Woods Oviatt Gilman, a prominent Rochester-based law firm who will take possession this spring. We’re proud to say that the building is now at 90% occupancy.