Rochester, NY’s historic Cox Building, once a former department store located at 36-48 St. Paul Street, has been a site of contention for many years. Built in 1888, the Romanesque style building was listed on the National Register in 1984.
It was originally constructed as a shoe factory and served mostly manufacturing purposes throughout the 20th century. The building even survived the biggest fire in Rochester’s history, which destroyed several neighboring properties, in 1904.
The seven-story stone and brick building has since fallen into disrepair, but its location in the heart of downtown provides a key opportunity for development.
The conversion of industrial spaces into commercial or residential sites has proven popular and successful in many Rust Belt cities, including at Fairport’s Cannery development and in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.
The restoration of the Cox Building, especially its beautiful Romanesque exterior, would reinvigorate the area.
The building has been added to the 2025 Landmark Society of Western New York’s Five to Revive list, which calls attention to sites across the region in need of rehabilitation.
Photo: The Cox Building, ca. 2025 (Landmark Society of Western NY).
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