The Rochester Planning Commission reviewed plans of a new mixed-use development at 415 Walnut St, adjacent to The Roxy Theater. The plan was submitted by The Roxy’s owner Glenn Wilhelm with a gathering lounge and social space on the first floor and apartment units on the second floor.
The project, which the application referred to as “The Roxy House,” proposes to build a ground floor social space with a 285-square-foot lounge, a 315-square-foot social room, and a 156-square-foot kitchen. According to the application’s narrative, “the proposed first story gathering space for patrons prior to the start of a show at the theater would be categorized an ancillary use to the Roxy.” A new ADA-compliant ramp will also be built on the side of the building.
“[During] The Roxy’s first year of operation, we have noticed a need for a gathering space for some groups of 25-40 people, prior to coming to The Roxy shows. These groups are looking for a place to gather and are having trouble finding adequate availability for groups of this size at local establishments,” said Wilhelm in the site plan narrative.
The second floor will have a 1,220-square-foot 2-bedroom residential apartment, connected to the ground floor via an intermediate landing. It is unclear when the event space and apartment will be complete. What Now Detroit reached out to Wilhelm but hadn’t heard back by the time of this coverage.
