New Irondequoit community center officially opens on former Medley Centre site

IRONDEQUOIT, N.Y. (WHEC) — The former site of the Irondequoit Mall is alive again after a $9 million investment. Monday, the Town officially opened "Skyview on the Ridge".

What was once old, is now new again. Parts of the former Irondequoit Mall have been transformed into a 42,000 square foot Community Center. Dana Paxson and his wife attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and shared their first impressions with News10NBC.

"I think this Town Community Center is a beautiful thing. I really do. This is a wonderful thing to add to the community, and I have a feeling it’s going to grow as long as the community keeps growing, which I think it’s going to be doing," Paxson said.

Skyview on the Ridge is now the new home for the town’s Recreation Department. Paxson says he’s already joined as a member.

"The two of us like to walk, and there is walking trail here, right here right, and so we’re going to be on that probably, but probably doing a little bit of exercise work otherwise," Paxson said.

The Center will offer exercise classes, host youth sporting events, and places for seniors to gather.

"It’s important because we can keep Irondequoit residents here. You know in previous years they had to go to other towns, and that’s not fair. You know they invest in Irondequoit, and so to be able to recreate in your town continue to build relationships in your town is immeasurable," said Irondequoit Director of Recreation Katrina Hall.

The rec center is anchored on one side by a senior living facility and a school of nursing on the other.

"Seeing that other towns had one, people wanted us to do it so you can start getting the ball rolling, and you finally come to a reality, and this is what you get with hard work," said Acting Town Supervisor John Perticone.

The former Irondequoit Mall still lingers on. We asked if the new space may contain retail stores in the future.

"I mean now it’s probably a good time to bring some retail in because now I think you may attract maybe people who wouldn’t necessarily want to come here, but now they see what’s going on here I think it will help," Perticone said.

Open house for the public begins on Tuesday and runs until Sunday.