Neighborhood of the Arts is a colorful, post-industrial community
The University of Rochester’s Memorial Art Gallery, scattered pockets of Victorian-era homes, and a mess of abandoned industrial buildings along railroad tracks: This was the palette that local artists and developers painted with when they crafted the Neighborhood of the Arts. Affectionately called NOTA, the neighborhood has developed a collage-like look over the past few decades, thanks to the creative ways that entertainment and living spaces have filled former factory floors. Its many trendy businesses, lively events and grand cultural institutions have made the Neighborhood of the Arts a destination for all of Rochester, and a truly mixed-use community where places to live, work and play are a short, sculpture-decorated walk away. “The Neighborhood of the Arts has the MAG, galleries like Craft Company No. 6, Writers and Books for budding authors — the kinds of things you’d see at an arts festival, they have year-round,” says Daniela Polidor, a licensed real estate salesperson with Empire Realty Group who’s specialized in Rochester for 12 years. “Really, it’s a well-named neighborhood.”
Events at the MAG and other artsy hubs
The Memorial Art Gallery, or the MAG, is the heart of the Neighborhood of the Arts. The striking Italian Renaissance-style museum once towered above the University of Rochester’s Prince Street campus and has been open to the public since its inception. The MAG’s outdoor sculpture garden hosts man events, most notably the Clothesline Art Festival. Each September, hundreds of artists sell their works to thousands of attendees during a weekend of crafting, food truck fare and live music. The West Herr Auditorium Theatre is across College Avenue, Rochester’s venue for touring Broadway productions. Smaller spaces like The Little Theatre and Writers and Books offer places for artists of many kinds to perform and work on their crafts. The NOTA Neighborhood Association’s summertime Bagel Brunches are a monthly opportunity to meet neighbors and learn about local happenings. The nearby Asbury First United Methodist Church hosts religious services and art markets of its own.
Historic Victorian homes between NOTA’s cultural institutions
Tree-shaded blocks of homes built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries fill gaps between NOTA’s museums and mixed-use districts. “You’ll get a lot of bigger Victorian homes, like the old executives’ homes near George Eastman’s house,” Polidor says. Simpler National-style homes mix with NOTA’s iconic, grand Queen Annes. While these properties often look like single-family homes, many have been reconfigured into multifamily residences. Prices typically range from around $170,000 to $370,000, depending on renovation levels and the number of rentable units. Sidewalks connect NOTA, and the sculptures and mosaic-coated lampposts along University Avenue further enhance walkability along the ArtWalk outdoor art museum. Most residents are renters rather than homeowners. The Neighborhood of the Arts has a CAP Index Crime Score of 7 out of 10, higher than the national average of 4.
Small businesses in a walkable, mixed-use area
The Village Gate shopping center was one of NOTA’s first redevelopment success stories. The former factory was first mainly used for artists’ studios and flea markets. Today, the mixed-use building boasts trendy loft apartments and some of the neighborhood’s most popular restaurants. The Gate House is an artsy-industrial spot for New American cuisine. Nearby, rotating food trucks and live musicians draw crowds to Three Heads Brewing. Locals grab a brew from Melo Coffee & Kitchen at the triangular Flatiron Building before heading to specialty shops like Staple Vintage. Price Rite Marketplace offers groceries farther down University Avenue.
Niche recreation and a sculpture-filled NOTA park
The high ceilings of the Neighborhood of the Arts' redeveloped factories have inspired a quirky community of indoor recreation businesses. Adult leagues and casual players bump, set and spike between beers on the sandy courts at Hot Shots Volleyball. Breaking Free Skatepark invites skateboarders, bikers and roller skaters to enjoy the largest indoor skatepark in the state — flower beds and community garden plots pocket city blocks with fresh blossoms. A brightly painted sculpture of a cat and hand-shaped chairs beckon residents to Merriman Park's playground and basketball court.
Attending Rochester City School District
Neighborhood of the Arts falls within the Rochester City School District’s South Zone. The district operates through school choice. Kids might attend prekindergarten through sixth grade at Francis Parker School No. 23, which earns a C-plus from Niche. The B-minus-rated School of the Arts serves seventh through 12th grades within NOTA. Young artists can showcase their talents at events like the Fringe Festival through the district’s performing and fine arts magnet school.
Walking around NOTA and commuting around Rochester
Thanks to NOTA’s extensive sidewalks and limited shared bike lanes, locals can walk and cycle between museums and businesses. Several Regional Transit Service routes serve the neighborhood, offering an alternative to driving a mile to downtown Rochester. University of Rochester Medicine Highland Hospital is around 2 miles away, and Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport is about 8 miles from home.
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Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
1,231
Median Age
37
Population under 18
16.3%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
11.3%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$56,176
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$76,075
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
98%
College Graduates
55.7%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
26.3%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
72%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
35''
Average Winter Low Temperature
19°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
65''
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
71/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
78/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
45/ 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.
