property

Proposed Rezoning Could Transform Brighton Suburb

City planners seek to rezone 85 acres along East Avenue in Brighton to permit denser housing and retail near the University of Rochester medical campus.

By Rochester Property Desk · Published July 8, 2026

How we reported this

This article was written by AI from the linked sources and was not reviewed by a journalist before publishing. The Daily Rochester is part of The Daily Network and follows our reasonable editorial care.

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Rochester planners filed a rezoning application on July 6 that would change 85 acres in Brighton from single-family residential to mixed-use zoning.

The move arrives as Monroe County reports a 4.2 percent rental vacancy rate and average home prices in Brighton climbed to $312,000 last quarter, up 9 percent from 2025. Officials say the change could add 1,100 new units while the region absorbs demand from workers at nearby medical and tech employers.

The parcels sit between East Avenue and the Erie Canal trail, within walking distance of the Brighton Public Library branch on Westfall Road and the Brighton Central School District offices on French Road. Property records list current owners as the estate of a local developer and two family trusts that have held the land since the 1970s.

Site Details and Market Data

Under existing R-1 zoning the land supports roughly four units per acre. The new MU-2 designation would allow up to 20 units per acre plus ground-floor retail. A 2024 traffic study by the Genesee Transportation Council counted 18,400 daily vehicles on East Avenue at the site entrance, a volume that could support small commercial tenants without major road widening.

Assessed land values average $48,000 per acre today. Comparable rezoned parcels near the canal in 2023 sold for $185,000 per acre after approvals, according to county deed filings.

Public Review Timeline

The Brighton Planning Board will hold its first hearing on August 12 at the Brighton Town Hall. Residents can review the full application and traffic study on the town website or request printed copies at the town clerk’s office on Elmwood Avenue. Written comments are due by August 5.

This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.

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