Pieces of a former hotel in downtown Rochester are falling off — again

Work should begin as soon as Thursday to shore up or remove the soffit along the top of the former Hotel Cadillac building after parts of it fell off onto the sidewalk below.

Nobody was injured. The city has blocked off sections of the adjacent streets, also pointing to repeat problems of loose sections on the former Richford Hotel.

The city has been pushing for redevelopment of the blighted, century-old properties, meeting frequently with developers. The two structures sit at the southeast edge of the Midtown block and require considerable investment.

"The city would like to see more progress, more momentum," city Corporation Counsel Patrick Beath said Wednesday, referring specifically to the Cadillac building. "We have an owner with means, we have a developer with experience."

Both buildings are owned by limited liability companies, with the Richford tracing back to Judith Hain of Irondequoit., and the Cadillac to Christa Companies, records show.

“It is a high priority for everyone right now, to make sure everything gets fixed and no more pieces fall off,” said Robert Cain, director of real estate development with Pittsford-based CSD Housing, the developer working on the Cadillac.

Wind and water damage has caused some building components to break free on both structures. The same happened last year with the Cadillac and the past two years with the Richford.

"Given the persistent public safety issues, the city is now requiring the building owners to alleviate the hazards in the coming days and provide a licensed engineer report stating that all hazards have been mitigated," the city said in a news release. "The street and sidewalks will remain closed until the City is assured of the safety of the structures."

Repair work being planned on the former Hotel Cadillac would remove any loose items and encapsulate the rest to prevent further damage and risk. That could happen as soon as Thursday, and the street would reopen. Cain expects the sidewalk to remain blocked long-term.

CSD Housing has site control, but it has faced delays in securing tax credits. The latest projection is to line up financing and start work in spring 2025, Cain said. Initial estimates put the renovation at $19 million, converting the building into 42 apartments .

Plans for the Richford call for a $20 million makeover turning the building into market-rate apartments, plus offices, street-level retail and a rooftop patio.

Last year the city set a demolition hearing for the Richford, trying to force action on that building. At the time, the administration said that the fact the building had sat behind barricades for a year was a clear indication of the hazard it posed in a high-traffic area. The push led to some immediate work to shore up the building, as well as structural studies and the development plan.

"The next step is any loose stone or temporary boards will be firmly affixed to the building," said developer Patrick Dutton with Fortified, which is working with the Richford owner on redevelopment. "We hope to remove the barricades from around the Richford in the coming weeks. Strong progress is being made every day ... to bring this historic building back to life."

Behind the barricades Wednesday there were no signs of building debris — just a bent metal table frame overturned and strung with caution tape on the sidewalk adjacent to the Hotel Cadillac.