Rochester Home Builders Busier Despite Cold Weather

The weather in Rochester last month was miserable, but that did not prevent local home builders from enjoying an upswing in their business. The City Building Safety Department issued 28 permits for new single-family homes worth over $7 million dollars in March. That was double the total from February and made it the busiest month for Rochester home builders since last October. Overall, the city approved 177 building permits valued at over $30 million dollars last month. That total was boosted by a $6-million dollar permit for the City Centre project being developed by the Chafoulias family at the former C.O. Brown site along South Broadway, a $4.1 million dollar permit for additions and renovations at Gage Elementary School and a $3.7-million dollar permit for a new 39-unit 5th on 5th apartment building on the south edge of downtown Rochester at the former Williams house site