Developer Rendering Developer Rendering Park Point at RIT is a mixed-use apartment and commercial complex built on a 60-acre parcel of land on the northeast corner of the RIT campus at Jefferson Road and John Street. Developer Wilmorite built a $72.7 million complex consisting of housing and retail space. The 636,000-square-foot development features 300 apartment units (with 918 beds), a 40,000-square-foot Barnes & Noble bookstore and 40,000 square feet of restaurants, pubs and retail shops.
The first shops began opening on August 15th, 2008, and the official opening ceremony was held later that year on September 27th. The complex was a cherished project of past-president RIT President Albert J. Simone. "We're doing this to increase a sense of community on RIT's campus," said Simone.
"That way, students can have a place to release their energies after a hard day on campus and still be together with their classmates and see faculty and staff in a social setting." In the middle of the triangular-shaped project is an area designated as Simone Square in honor of Simone, who retired in June of 2007 after 15 years as president. There will also be a statue erected in his honor. Commercial space surrounds Simone Square in two four-story buildings.
Shopping and retail are on the first floors and housing on the upper levels. Housing at Park Point is not guaranteed to RIT students, but open to the public; this upset some of the student body when it opened. This commercial venture also created some disdain among RIT students, both because of the increase in housing prices and because the Barnes & Noble @ RIT bookstore took the place of the campus bookstore.
The campus bookstore previously resided in a central location in the Student Alumni Union, close to the academic side of campus and very convenient. Current Tenants Cornerstone Advisory Group, a financial planning company Lovin' Cup a coffee café, wine bar and music bistro M&T Bank ATM Mecate Royal of India Former Tenants Abbott's Frozen Custard Aladdin's Natural Eatery, a Mediterranean restaurant Bay Goodman Pizza Brandani’s Pizza Casa Moreno, a Mexican restaurant Gallery Salon Too KC's BBQ King David's Restaurant, a Mediterranean restaurant M&T Bank branch Paradiso Pizza Schramrocks Irish Pub TC Riley's a sports bar and Irish pub Texas Bar-B-Q Joint Very Berry Frozen Yogurt Wok With You Amenities for Residents Fitness center • Sand volleyball courts • In-ground pool Notes and References Park Point at RIT on Wikipedia 6/22/2007: Formal groundbreaking.
New Name announced as Park Point at RIT