Court Rules In Favor of Veterans - Historic Meeting Place To Remain On University Avenue

ROCHESTER, NY   May 6, 2014 – New York State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Stander today ruled in favor of the hundreds of veterans who gather routinely at the Monroe Voiture building with his decisions on four Article 78 proceedings brought against the veterans the City of Rochester and local developer Morgan Management by the George Eastman House.

Morgan Management will be renovating the 1923-built Voiture building, the last veteran’s post in the City of Rochester.  The building is located at 933 University Avenue adjacent to the Eastman House property.  Judge Stander’s ruling puts to rest an 18-month-old argument over use of the land.

“This is a great day for the more than a dozen veterans groups of Rochester who have come to call Monroe Voiture home,” Paul Ciminelli, an Army veteran and attorney for the veterans, said.  “Judge Stander essentially upheld the decisions of the City of Rochester Preservation Board and the City of Rochester Planning Commission, each of which had each carefully reviewed and approved plans for this project.”

In addition to renovation of the decrepit Voiture building, Morgan Management plans to build a luxury 99-unit apartment building on the site.

Joining the city Preservation Board in approving design compatibility of the project is the Landmark Society of Western New York, which had independently offered comments.    

            “This project was carefully designed to be sensitive to the preservation district guidelines,” noted Ciminelli. “For the veterans who deserve a safe and accessible place to meet, and for the community that demands high quality residential architecture, this project is an absolute win-win.”  

Editor’s Note:  For more information or images of the proposed project contact Paul V. Ciminelli, Esquire, Ciminelli & Ciminelli, Attorneys and Counselors at Law, PLLC, (585) 235-0980 x15, Paul.Ciminelli@CiminelliLaw.com