Ken Glazer starts his mornings a little differently than most. While others reach for coffee, he grabs a cold Diet Pepsi. It’s his go-to caffeine fix and the way he kicked off his latest appearance on The Marty Grizzanti Show.
Ken, CEO of Buckingham Properties, joined Marty for a candid conversation about investing in Rochester, the legacy of his family’s company, and what it will take to keep the city moving forward.
From Sketches to Skylines
Before stepping into leadership at Buckingham, Ken built a career in architecture, and that design mindset still plays a big role in how he approaches development. While his responsibilities as CEO require balancing vision with budget, he carves out design opportunities in nearly every project to add his own personal signature to the build. Whether it’s a custom feature wall in the lobby of 260 East Broad or reimagining an old structure with new purpose, architecture remains his true passion.
It’s a passion that connects back to his father, Larry Glazer, who saw potential in buildings others had given up on. That mindset, seeing what could be instead of what is, still drives how Buckingham looks at downtown Rochester today.
Rethinking Downtown
One of the biggest hurdles downtown Rochester faces isn’t a lack of activity, it’s the misconceptions about downtown. Ken pointed out that many of the people who think downtown is unsafe don’t spend much time there. “There is still that perception that it’s not safe, which is not true,” he said. “People in the suburbs like to think that downtown is the city, but the real issues are not happening in downtown, but in specific neighborhoods.” Changing that mindset is part of the work. Downtown should feel like a neighborhood—a place where people live, shop, and spend time, not just where they go for a concert or work meeting.
The Grove at Midtown is one effort to make that happen. The mix of restaurants and retail includes Branca Midtown, Dice Versa, Patron Saint, Unwine’d, and 260 Wine + Spirits, and hosts the popular Lucky Flea market every Sunday from May through October. Visitors can also see two restored artifacts from the original Midtown Mall: the iconic Clock of Nations in Tower280 and a section of the monorail on display at 260 East Broad. There’s been a noticeable uptick in foot traffic, and with just a few spaces left, Buckingham is focused on finding the right businesses to help continue building a destination that brings people downtown every day.
Rochester’s Potential—and What Could Slow It Down
Even with the challenges, Ken is optimistic about where Rochester is headed. Investment is starting to flow into overlooked areas like High Falls, and the continued removal of the Inner Loop is helping reconnect parts of the city that once felt cut off. Projects like Tower280, which Buckingham turned from a vacant building into a successful mixed-use property, show what can happen when you pair a strong vision with long-term commitment.
But there’s one problem that could slow all of that progress: the region’s limited power infrastructure. Ken pointed out that in places like Brighton and parts of Penfield, new development is being held up because the power grid can’t handle it. The upgrades needed are expensive, and no developer wants to cover those costs without some kind of certainty. Without support from utility companies or the state, projects may stay stuck—and that’s not just a Rochester issue, it’s something other parts of New York are starting to face too.
Listen In
To hear more of Ken’s thoughts, including stories from Buckingham’s early days, how he keeps his design itch satisfied, and what he thinks Rochester needs most, check out the full episode of The Marty Grizzanti Show below:
YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Whether you’re an investor, a resident, or someone curious about the future of our city, this conversation is a candid, thoughtful look at what it takes to build—and rebuild—Rochester.
