Gallina Development Corp. has officially unveiled Prive at The Metropolitan, a stunning 4,000-square-foot luxury event and retreat space located on the 26th floor of The Metropolitan building in downtown Rochester, New York. Published December 3, 2025, by Rochester Business Journal.
Prive represents the capstone of The Metropolitan's comprehensive redevelopment project, which began in 2015 when Gallina Development purchased the property, formerly known as Lincoln First Tower and Chase Tower. The venue features three bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, a vast living and entertainment space, and a hidden catering kitchen.
The space boasts the highest residential views in Rochester, offering unobstructed panoramas of the city skyline, surrounding suburbs, the Bristol Hills to the south, Lake Ontario to the north, and the Genesee River directly below. On the clearest days, visitors can even glimpse Toronto across Lake Ontario.
Prive can accommodate up to 50 dinner guests or 75 guests for cocktail parties and corporate retreats. The venue is fully ADA compliant and features premium amenities including a stove, refrigerator, washer, and dryer. Behind a pocket-door bookshelf lies the entrance to the hidden catering kitchen, designed for seamless event hosting.
Gallina Development envisions multiple uses for the space, including special getaways, family gatherings such as weddings and reunions, corporate retreats, exclusive dinner parties, and high-end event hosting. According to Lauren Gallina Payne, marketing director for Gallina Development, "We want to showcase our city in a way that isn't done," with the intent to provide a unique Rochester experience comparable to luxury venues in New York City, Toronto, and Miami.
The space completed its build-out in May 2025 and underwent a soft launch before its official public debut. Prive has already hosted several dozen events, including a notable stay by Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington and his family, whose wife has ties to Rochester.
The Metropolitan building itself continues to thrive as a major downtown redevelopment success story. Of the building's 26 floors, floors 17-26 are residential with all 110 apartments fully leased. The next available apartment is expected in February 2025, with prospective tenant appointments already scheduled. This demonstrates strong demand for downtown Rochester living among young professionals and those relocating from major metropolitan areas.
Standing just shy of 400 feet tall, The Metropolitan is the second-tallest building in Rochester, outmatched only by Innovation Square (also a Gallina Development project at approximately 440 feet). The Metropolitan's top floors now showcase some of the most exclusive accommodations and entertainment spaces in the region.
"This is a product we're really proud of," said Gallina Payne. "The building has a nod to mid-century feel, and we try to stay true to that with a little modern twist." The design successfully balances the building's 1973 architectural heritage with contemporary luxury.
Prive represents a significant shift in Rochester's commercial real estate landscape, particularly for downtown development. The successful completion and immediate market traction of this luxury venue demonstrates growing investor confidence in downtown Rochester as a destination for premium real estate and event spaces. The strong leasing performance of The Metropolitan's residential units indicates sustained demand for upscale urban living in the city center.
This project exemplifies how adaptive reuse and strategic redevelopment can transform historic commercial buildings into modern mixed-use spaces that attract both residents and high-end clientele. The Metropolitan's transition from a legacy banking headquarters into a vibrant residential and hospitality destination mirrors broader trends in downtown revitalization across the Northeast.
For construction professionals, this project demonstrates the viability of premium mixed-use development in secondary markets, with strong residential leasing metrics supporting ongoing investment in downtown renovations. The rapid occupancy and market adoption suggest contractors and developers should consider similar adaptive reuse opportunities in established commercial districts.
Source: Rochester Business Journal, December 3, 2025, by Kevin Oklobzija
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