The history of the 14621
This northeast Rochester neighborhood takes its name from its zip code, 14621, and stretches toward the east bank of the Genesee River gorge. Much of it was still open fields in the late 1880s, when Hudson Avenue was a dirt road and Norton Street marked the city’s northern line.
Streets were carved out of those fields at the end of the 19th century. St. Stanislaus Kostka parish bought land at Hudson Avenue and Norton Street in 1889 and put up a small wooden chapel in 1890, and nearby streets took the names of St. Stanislaus, Kosciuszko and Sobieski.
The present St. Stanislaus Kostka Church went up in 1907 to 1909 in the Romanesque Revival style, with a domed steeple that rises about 120 feet. It remains one of the most recognizable buildings on the northeast side.
Along the river, Frederick Law Olmsted prepared a general plan for Seneca Park in 1893 as part of the city park system he began designing in 1888. Animals were first shown in the park in 1894, the start of what became the Seneca Park Zoo, and the park’s east and west banks were listed together on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
The Rochester School for the Deaf, founded in 1876, has occupied its St. Paul Street campus on the east bank of the river since 1878.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1876 | Rochester School for the Deaf founded; it moved to its St. Paul Street campus in 1878 |
| 1889 | Land purchased at Hudson Avenue and Norton Street for St. Stanislaus Kostka Church |
| 1893 | Olmsted completes a general plan for Seneca Park along the Genesee gorge |
| 1894 | Animals first displayed in Seneca Park, the beginning of the Seneca Park Zoo |
| 1909 | Present Romanesque Revival St. Stanislaus Kostka Church completed |
| 2003 | Seneca Park East and West listed on the National Register of Historic Places |
Did you know?
When St. Stanislaus Kostka parish bought its land in 1889, Hudson Avenue was a dirt road and Norton Street marked the northern edge of the city.
The homes in the 14621 today
Most of the housing dates from the late 1800s through the early 1900s, when streets were laid out off Hudson Avenue, Joseph Avenue and North Clinton Avenue, so expect older wood-frame single and two-family houses on narrow city lots. You will also find newer infill housing in a few pockets. Check the county assessment record for each home’s build year, since ages vary block to block.
Historic designation
Seneca Park East and West is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (2003). No neighborhood-wide historic district was found. What that means for an older Rochester home.
Landmarks and parks
- Seneca Park - Olmsted-planned park along the Genesee River gorge, listed on the National Register in 2003
- Seneca Park Zoo - began with animal exhibits in the park in 1894
- St. Stanislaus Kostka Church - 1909 Romanesque Revival church at Hudson Avenue and Norton Street
- Rochester School for the Deaf - on its St. Paul Street campus since 1878
- Seth Green Drive - access road down into the lower Genesee gorge
Buying a home in the 14621
Fall for the house, then do the homework. These are the first things we check here, on top of the usual inspection:
- Lead paint: most homes here predate 1978, so ask for the lead disclosure and consider a lead inspection or risk assessment.
- Two-family layouts: if the house has two units, confirm the legal use and any certificate of occupancy with the City before counting on rental income.
- Older systems: ask about the age of the roof, heating plant and electrical service, and have the sewer lateral to the street scoped on homes of this age.
- The full city, school and county tax bill for the exact parcel
- School assignment for the exact address, confirmed with the Rochester City School District
The bigger picture on city taxes, lead rules, two-family homes and the City’s homebuyer grant is in our City of Rochester guide.
Selling a home in the 14621
Buyers who search for the 14621 are often looking for exactly what makes it the 14621: the homes, the history and places like Seneca Park. We put that story in the marketing, price the home against true comparables, and launch it to draw a crowd. How we sell · What is my the 14621 home worth?
The 14621 FAQ
Where is the 14621?
the 14621 is in the northeast part of the City of Rochester. Boundaries follow the City’s Celebrate City Living program and are approximate; confirm the municipality and parcel for any address.
What kinds of homes are in the 14621?
Most of the housing dates from the late 1800s through the early 1900s, when streets were laid out off Hudson Avenue, Joseph Avenue and North Clinton Avenue, so expect older wood-frame single and two-family houses on narrow city lots. You will also find newer infill housing in a few pockets. Check the county assessment record for each home’s build year, since ages vary block to block.
Is the 14621 a historic district?
Yes. Seneca Park East and West is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (2003). No neighborhood-wide historic district was found.
How do I find homes for sale in the 14621?
Search current listings on our team site, or tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll set up a search for the 14621 and the neighborhoods around it.
Sources
- St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish history
- The Cultural Landscape Foundation: Seneca Park
- City of Rochester: Seneca Park
- NPS NPGallery: Seneca Park East and West (03000969)
- Rochester School for the Deaf: 150th anniversary
- Neighborhood names and boundaries: Celebrate City Living, a City of Rochester partnership
We describe neighborhoods by their history, homes and landmarks, never by who lives there. For school or safety questions, use the official sources so you can decide for yourself.
Thinking about the 14621?
Buying or selling, tell us the street and we’ll tell you what we’d look at first.
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