“Brownfield redevelopment presents another significant opportunity for the region,” he says. These projects require a strategic approach, often relying on local, state and federal incentives. Another key focus in Rochester’s development strategy is senior and affordable housing.

Downtown revitalization projects should “continue to pick up,” says Sylvester. “The area is being reimagined to bring people back into the community” with developments that couple mixed-use, residential and recreation.

Warehousing and retail work is moving more slowly due to “market saturation and shifting economic conditions,” Sylvester says, “The Rochester market is shifting from uncertainty to cautious optimism. [Its]economic future is closely tied to the broader federal economic trajectory.”