JOSANA is a revitalizing northwest Rochester neighborhood
The Jay-Orchard Street Area Neighborhood Association organized to combat blight and violence on the west side of Rochester in the early 2000s. Through intentional place-building and the creation of a master plan, a neighborhood called JOSANA was also born. “JOSANA is an acronym for a redeveloping neighborhood that’s done great community building and has good highway access and walkability,” says Daniela Polidor, a real estate salesperson at Empire Realty Group with 12 years of experience serving the Rochester market. For years, tragedy and decades of abandonment had earned JOSANA the name “Ghost Town.” However, the latest decades of work by national and local community groups have improved access to services and affordable housing next to a blossoming sports and recreation district along the Genesee River.
Single- and multifamily prewar homes, new construction
The closely packed homes on JOSANA’s blocks favor the simple National styles popular in the late-19th and early 20th centuries. Most date back to that period, and may show signs of age or neglect, but some only mimic those styles. “Habitat for Humanity built 100 homes within half a mile of School 17,” Polidor says. “They look like new homes because they were all built in the last 20 years.” Single-family homes sell for around $40,000 to $140,000, depending on their condition. Multifamily properties marketed to investors range from $50,000 to $430,000, depending on their condition and number of rentable units. The majority of residents rent rather than own their homes. The neighborhood’s age means streets are lined with sidewalks and a healthy tree canopy in many areas. JOSANA has a CAP Index Crime Score of 8 out of 10, higher than the national average of 4.
School choice in Rochester’s Northwest Zone
Students can choose from the Rochester City School District’s Northwest Zone or citywide schools. Kids might attend Enrico Fermi School No. 17, which earns a C-minus from Niche, before moving on to Thurgood Marshall Middle School, which is not currently graded by Niche. Rochester Early College International High School scores a B-plus. Students apply to Rochester Early College High to earn college credit through Monroe Community College.
Neighborhood recreation and paths along the Genesee River
Kids head to School 17’s playground and sports courts even after school ends. Susan B. Anthony Square Park is a shady pocket park near the historic home and museum where its namesake suffragette once lived. Within a half mile of home, residents can hit the outdoor playground and indoor basketball court at Campbell Street Recreation Center. Closer to a mile away, the Genesee Riverway Trail parallels the water before taking pedestrians across the Pont de Rennes bridge toward downtown.
Shopping and dining in and around JOSANA
Corner stores like Eagle Deli and Market stock snacks and serve sandwiches around JOSANA. La Terraza serves takeout Dominican staples out of a building covered in a colorful, inspirational mural. Tops Friendly Markets is about a mile away for groceries. Residents head to a denser commercial strip along Main Street for specialty businesses and restaurants that serve global and decidedly regional comfort food. Nick Tahou Hots invented Rochester’s famous Garbage Plate, a paper plate stacked high with a hefty serving of home fries, macaroni salad and meat.
Riverfront Rochester stadiums and local houses of worship
Just east of JOSANA, the Rochester Community Sports Complex hosts professional soccer league games and training sessions for Rochester City School District teams. A few blocks away, Innovative Field is the home of the Rochester Red Wings Minor League baseball team. These athletic arenas are central to Rochester’s ongoing plans to revitalize its riverfront areas for entertainment and recreation. Residents might attend religious services at houses of worship like Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal Movimiento Internacional Rochester and Al Rasol Al Azam Mosque.
Walking, busing and driving around Rochester
Extensive sidewalks, some bike lanes, a handful of Regional Transit Service bus routes and Interstate 490 connect JOSANA to downtown Rochester, which is less than 2 miles away. Rochester Regional Health Unity Specialty Hospital is less than a mile away, but small clinics also offer primary and dental care out of School 17. Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport is about 4 miles from home.
Noise near I-490
As one of Rochester’s busiest roadways, I-490 can be a source of traffic noise. Sound barrier walls along the highway help to dampen sound.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Richard Orczyk,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
4,171
Median Age
33
Population under 18
31.9%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
12.1%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$23,083
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$39,872
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
75.3%
College Graduates
11.8%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
4.6%
% Population in Labor Force
41.7%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
35''
Average Winter Low Temperature
19°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
65''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
65/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
77/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
51/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
