Jones Community Residence
Housing for Alcohol & Substance Use Rehabilitation
Rochester, New York
Catholic Charities Family and Community Services
In the established Jones Square Park neighborhood just north of Rochester’s Center City, an existing circa 1907 Colonial Revival house has been rehabilitated as a residence to serve adult males recovering from Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders. Period details were carefully preserved such as the exterior Paladian-style dormer windows, front porch, dentilled cornice, interior natural oak trim, crown mouldings, paneling, stair and railings. Emphasis was placed on providing a calming, natural color palate and a therapeutic environment to contribute to the residents’ recovery.
To provide accessibility to the entire residence, a modest addition takes cues from a home that once stood on that portion of the site, with a simple gable roof, horizontal lap siding, and punched double hung windows. A transparent glazed entrance lobby and new electric traction elevator were added, strategically separated from the original house with a recessed connector link.
The program includes single, double, and triple-occupancy sleeping rooms, common bathrooms, lounges, recreation, and dining space with a large kitchen. On-site support includes counseling offices and nursing staff. Circulation was simplified by tying the front entrance to the new addition with a central corridor, providing straightforward organization and views through the building. The entire residence was outfitted with new insulation, energy-efficient windows, air sealing throughout, and electric VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) units with individual controls.
The location of the residence allows its occupants to walk to essential services, and beautiful Jones Square Park, with its large shade trees, grand lawn and walk paths just a block away. By rehabilitating the house and adding onto it, rather than demolition and new construction, the Owner and funding agency (OASAS) placed a high priority on preservation and urban design.
The residence was rehabilitated with a very modest budget. This was accomplished by saving, rather than removing the original building, while preserving the important period details, and providing sleeping rooms that can group multiple residents when needed. It was a gem that needed attention and polishing, and it now serves as an example for other homes in the neighborhood.
